Dick Van Dyke’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

The best Dick Van Dyke movies and TV shows feature some true classics, and while his best movies are from the era of classical Hollywood, he had several big TV shows that made him a legend on the small screen. He chose a career in entertainment when in high school, studying drama. While serving in World War II, he worked in the Special Services entertaining troops and then began his television career in 1964, where he mostly made his home over his long and illustrious career.

He appeared on several TV shows and then got a big break when he was cast in the lead of the musical Bye Bye Birdie in 1960. In 1963, he got the same role in the movie version of the play, but before that, he had already made his name as a top comic talent with his own CBS sitcom, The Dick Van Dyke Show. Add in movies like Mary Poppins and a later career on television, Dick Van Dyke has received myriad honors, including an indication to the Television Hall of Fame (1995), Hollywood Walk of Fame (1993), and Kennedy Center Honors (2020).

10

Night At The Museum (2006)

Cecil J. Fredricks

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Night at the Museum

pg

Family

Fantasy

ScreenRant logo

6/10

9/10

Release Date

December 17, 2006

Runtime

108minutes

Director

Shawn Levy

Writers

Shawn Levy

Sequel(s)

Night at the Museum 3, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Ben Stiller

    Ben Stiller

  • Headshot Of Owen Wilson In The 2006 MTV Movie Awards

    Owen Wilson

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Released in 2006, Night at the Museum was a Ben Stiller comedy movie that saw him play Larry Daley, a divorced inventor who gets a job as a night security guard at the American Museum of Natural History. It is there that he discovers that all the museum’s exhibits come to life at night after sunset, from a dinosaur that becomes a playful pet to historical figures like Attila the Hun (Patrick Gallagher) and Theodore Roosevelt (Robin Williams) and the mummy Ahkmenrah (Rami Malek).

Dick Van Dyke plays a veteran security guard named Cecil Fredericks, the man who retires and passes his job duties onto Larry. He plays an important role, as he is the man who pushes Larry to learn more about history so he can better control the exhibits. However, he is also one of the antagonists in the film, as the same tablet that brings the figures to life helps keep him and other older guards young. The movie was a huge success, making over $574 million and spawning a sequel, although Van Dyke doesn’t return.

9

The Carol Burnett Show (1977)

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The Carol Burnett Show

TV-G

Comedy

Family

Release Date

1967 – 1977

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Carol Burnett

    Carol Burnett

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Vicki Lawrence

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Harvey Korman

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    lyle waggoner

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There might not be a more iconic sketch comedy show than The Carol Burnett Show, which ran from 1967 to 1978. As the title suggests, this was a comedy showcase for comedian Carol Burnett, who brought in a fantastic cadre of actors to back her up. Names from the show include Harvey Jorman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner, and Tim Conway. In 1977, Korman led the show, and Dick Van Dyke joined the cast to replace him. However, this didn’t last for long.

Dick Van Dyke was only in 10 episodes of The Carol Burnett Show. While he was a huge name on television then, he decided he was not a good match for this sketch comedy show and wasn’t the man to replace Korman, so he departed the series in a shared decision. His appearances were in the first half of the eleventh season, and he was fresh off winning Emmy Awards for Van Dyke & Company. Steve Lawrence and Ken Berry replaced Van Dyke, but the show ended after that season.

8

Murder 101 (2006)

Dr. Jonathan Maxwell

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Murder 101: College Can Be Murder

NR

Crime

Drama

Mystery

TV Movie

Release Date

January 29, 2007

Directors

John Putch

Writers

Michael Gleason

Cast

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Barry Van Dyke

    Mike Bryant

  • Headshot Of Dick Van Dyke

    Dick Van Dyke

    Dr. Jonathan Maxwell

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Kimberly Quinn

    Kelly Fogelle

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Alex Hyde-White

    Archer Coe

Creator(s)

Dean Hargrove

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Dick Van Dyke’s last main starring series was a group of made-for-television movies that began airing in 2006. These were the Murder 101 films, which saw Van Dyke star as Dr. Jonathan Maxwell, a criminology professor who helps solve crimes. His main co-star is his real-life son Barry Van Dyke, who stars as Mike Bryant, a former cop-turned-PI who helps Dr. Maxwell in solving the crimes. Barry Van Dyke’s son Shane Van Dyke joined the series, as well as Ben Manners, Mike’s nephew who wants to be a private investigator.

Date

Title

January 7, 2006

Murder 101

January 29, 2007

Murder 101: College Can Be Murder

August 9, 2007

Murder 101: If Wishes Were Horses

January 14, 2008

Murder 101: The Locked Room Mystery

This was clearly a family affair, and there were even more members of Dick Van Dyke’s family joining the cast, including Wes Van Dyke and Carey Van Dyke (Barry’s other two sons). Kimberly Quinn also co-stars after working with Van Dyke in Diagnosis: Murder​​​​​​. The series had four movies, with the first hitting in 2006 and the fourth in 2008, and they all aired on the Hallmark Channel.

7

Dick Tracy (1990)

D.A. Fletcher

Dick Tracy

PG

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Crime

Romance

Thriller

Release Date

April 5, 1990

Runtime

105 minutes

Director

Warren Beatty

Writers

Chester Gould, Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr.

Cast

  • Headshot Of Warren Beatty

    Warren Beatty

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Charlie Korsmo

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Jim Wilkey

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Stig Eldred

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One of the more underrated comic book movies to ever come out was the 1990 detective noir, Dick Tracy. Based on the newspaper cartoon of the same name by Chester Gould, Warren Beatty directed and stars in the movie as the titular police detective in 1938 who is trying to bring down the mob lord Big Boy Caprice. The cast was incredible, with Al Pacino as the villainous Big Boy and Madonna as the femme fatale Breathless Mahoney. Beatty also shot the film in bright colors to match the comic source.

Dick Van Dyke had a smaller role in the film as the district attorney named John Fletcher, a corrupt politician who refuses to prosecute Big Boy Caprice since he is on the organized crime organization’s payroll. It was a rare villain role for Van Dyke, who usually played hapless good guys and often characters who helped the police bring down criminals. While the movie remains underappreciated to this day, it did receive seven Oscar nominations, winning Best Art Direction, Best Makeup, and Best Original Song.

6

Bye Bye Birdie (1963)

Albert Peterson

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Bye Bye Birdie

G

Comedy

Music

Release Date

April 4, 1963

Runtime

112 minutes

Director

George Sidney

Writers

Irving Brecher

Producers

Fred Kohlmar

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Dick Van Dyke

    Dick Van Dyke

    Albert F. Peterson

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Janet Leigh

    Rosie DeLeon

  • Headshot of Ann-Margret

    Ann-Margret

    Kim McAfee

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Maureen Stapleton

    Mama Mae Peterson

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Dick Van Dyke starred in the musical theater production of Bye Bye Birdie in 1960, and when the time came to adapt it to the big screen, he returned to the role for that movie as well. Bye Bye Birdie is a musical that tells the story of a rock and roll star drafted into the Army, and it is inspired by the Army drafting Elvis Presley in 1957. Dick Van Dyke plays the role of Albert Peterson, an unsuccessful songwriter who schemes to have the young star record a song that he wrote to find his own career success.

A blended image of cast members from the movie adaptations of Broadway musicals Wicked and Chicago

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The cast had some huge names, including Janet Leigh and Ann-Margret, and it received mixed reviews and was a small box-office success. However, modern reviews were much more praiseworthy, and Bye Bye Birdie has an 86% fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes. It was nominated for two Oscars and two Golden Globes, and it has remained a respected classical musical movie for decades since its release.

5

Diagnosis Murder (1993-2001)

Dr. Mark Sloan

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Diagnosis Murder: Town Without Pity

Crime

Release Date

February 2, 2002

Directors

Christopher Hibler

Cast

  • Headshot Of Dick Van Dyke

    Dick Van Dyke

    Dr. Mark Sloan

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Victoria Rowell

    Amanda Bentley-Livingston

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Charlie Schlatter

    Dr. Jesse Travis

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Barry Van Dyke

    Steve Sloan

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In 1992, Dick Van Dyke got a new scripted series to star in called Diagnosis Murder. This was both a television series and a franchise of spinoff movies. It all started out as movies, with the pilot followed by the first three films in the series (airing in 1992 and 1993). After their success, the series itself was greenlit and premiered in 1993. Van Dyke stars as Dr. Mark Sloan, a former U.S. Army doctor who is now a renowned physician who consults with the local police, often helping them solve murder mysteries.

Diagnosis: Murder Spin-off Movies

Date

Movie Title

January 5, 1992

Diagnosis of Murder

May 1, 1992

The House on Sycamore Street

February 13, 1993

A Twist of the Knife

February 6, 2002

A Town Without Pity

April 26, 2002

Without Warning

The series itself had eight seasons and 178 episodes, with the final season airing in 2001. After that, two more movies aired in 2002 to finish off the storylines. Van Dyke’s real-life son Barry Van Dyke also starred in the show as his character’s son, Steve Sloan, a police detective. The series was so successful that it even spawned a series of spinoff novels based on the TV show.

4

Divorce American Style (1967)

Richard Harmon

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Divorce American Style

Approved

Comedy

Release Date

June 21, 1967

Runtime

109 minutes

Director

Bud Yorkin

Producers

Norman Lear

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Debbie Reynolds

    Debbie Reynolds

    Barbara Harmon

  • Headshot Of Dick Van Dyke

    Dick Van Dyke

    Richard Harmon

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Jason Robards

    Nelson Downes

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    Jean Simmons

    Nancy Downes

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In 1967, Dick Van Dyke took on one of his most successful lead movie roles when he starred in the satirical comedy Divorce American Style. The film sees Van Dyke star as Richard Harmon, who seems to have a perfect life with his wife Barbara (Debbie Reynolds). However, they are always arguing, and when they realize therapy isn’t working, and they are each taking money out of their bank accounts, they file for divorce.

Jason Robards and Jean Simmons star as Richard’s friends, who try to help him during the divorce. Critics mostly praised the film, with Roger Ebert praising it as a “Hollywood comedy with teeth in it.” Screenwriters Norman Lear and Robert Kaufman earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay for the film. While Van Dyke proved himself on the big screen, he wouldn’t have as many movies over the following years, though, as he focused more on television.

3

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

Caractacus Potts

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Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

G

Comedy

Adventure

Family

Fantasy

Musical

9.5/10

Release Date

December 17, 1968

Runtime

144 minutes

Director

Ken Hughes

Writers

Ian Fleming, Roald Dahl, Ken Hughes, Richard Maibaum

Cast

  • Headshot Of Dick Van Dyke

    Dick Van Dyke

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Sally Ann Howes

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In 1968, Dick Van Dyke had one of the biggest movie roles of his career when he starred in the children’s musical fantasy Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In this film, Van Dyke stars as Caractacus Potts, a widower who develops a romantic relationship with Truly Scrumptious, the daughter of the wealthy Lord Scrumptious. When his two kids become fond of an old racing car that crashed and burned, they convince their father to restore it, and it soon becomes the magical car of the title.

Sally Ann Howes stars as Truly in this romantic story. The film was not a success at the box office, but it had legs and remains a beloved film, largely thanks to the cast and the script, co-written by Roald Dahl and based on a novel by James Bond creator Ian Fleming. The movie’s title song earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song, and critics praised the film in both reviews when it was released and in later reappraisals as well.

2

Mary Poppins (1964)

Bert / Mr. Dawes. Sr.

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Mary Poppins

G

Musical

Comedy

Fantasy

Family

ScreenRant logo

10/10

7/10

Release Date

June 18, 1965

Runtime

139 minutes

Director

Robert Stevenson

Writers

Don DaGradi, Bill Walsh

Sequel(s)

Mary Poppins Returns

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Karen Dotrice

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    Glynis Johns

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When it comes to movies, the film that Dick Van Dyke remains best known for to this day is Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins stars Julie Andrews as the titular character, a nanny who appeared to the Banks family when they needed help the most and took on the role of helping give the children a strong role model and turning their fortunes around. As for Van Dyke, he played Mary’s friend, Bert, a man who takes on various jobs and currently works as a street painter.

Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews) and Bert (Dick Van Dyke) with Banks kids in Disney film "Mary Poppins."

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Van Dyke was a treasure in this film, and was as responsible as Andrews for making it a huge success and ensuring the songs remained iconic to this very day. Van Dyke sang the songs: “A Pavement Artist,” “Jolly Holiday,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” “I Love to Laugh,” “Fidelity Fiduciary Bank,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “Step in Time,” “A Man Has Dreams,” and “Let’s Go Fly a Kite.” Mary Poppins earned 13 Oscar nominations, winning Best Song (“Chim Chim Cher-ee”) and Van Dyke earned a Golden Globes nomination.

1

The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966)

Rob Petrie

TV Show

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The Dick Van Dyke Show

TV-G

Comedy

Family

Release Date

1961 – 1965

Directors

Jerry Paris, Howard Morris, others

Writers

Carl Reiner

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Dick Van Dyke

    Dick Van Dyke

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    Mary Tyler Moore

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    Morey Amsterdam

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Rose Marie

Creator(s)

Carl Reiner

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If Dick Van Dyke is known for one thing, it should be his hit television sitcom. Van Dyke had been appearing on various comedy shows since 1955, and in 1961, he got a huge chance. He was offered his own sitcom, and The Dick Van Dyke Show was born. In the CBS series, Van Dyke starred as Rob Petrie, the head writer of a variety show produced in New York. The series shows the behind-the-scenes drama and comedy that happens while he is working for the show and also shows his home life and how it is affected by this job.

Many characters were based on real people, with creator Carl Reiner appearing in the series as a character who is a combination of Milton Berle and Jackie Gleason, while Van Dyke’s character is based on Reiner himself. The series lasted for five seasons and 158 episodes, and it made a star out of Mary Tyler Moore, who played Petrie’s wife. The Dick Van Dyke Show won 15 Emmy Awards and has been listed as one of the greatest sitcoms in television history.