Dick Van Dyke Reacts to Winning Daytime Emmy at 98: ‘Tops Off a Lifetime’ 

Dick Van Dyke just made TV history. On June 7, the 98-year-old actor became the oldest person ever to win a Daytime Emmy when he took home a trophy for his guest star role on Days of Our Lives. 

Dick Van Dyke wins Daytime Emmy for ‘Days of Our Lives’ role 

Van Dyke was nominated for playing Mystery Man/Timothy Robicheaux in four episodes of the Peacock soap that aired in September 2023. Robicheaux was an amnesiac who recovered his memory thanks to some help from some other Days characters. 

The other nominees in the Guest Performance in a Drama category were Linden Ashby as Cameron Kirsten on The Young and the Restless, Ashley Jones as Dr. Bridget Forrester on The Bold and the Beautiful, Alley Mills as Heather Webber on General Hospital, and Guy Pearce as Mike Young on Neighbours.

Dick Van Dyke had ‘a wonderful time’ on ‘Days’ 

In his acceptance speech, Van Dyke reflected on his long career and becoming the oldest winner in the history of the Daytime Emmys. 

“I don’t believe this. I feel like I’m a spy from nighttime television!” he said, adding that he was “the oldest nominee in history.”

“If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!” he joked. (Van Dyke actually landed his Days gig thanks to a gym friendship with cast member Drake Hogestyn.) 

The Mary Poppins star went on to say that he had “a wonderful time” appearing on Days of Our Lives. But the legendary funny man admitted he occasionally struggled to keep a straight face. 

“In one scene where I’m being really serious, I broke myself up and I started to giggle, and I ruined the shot,” he confessed. “I’m not used to frowning!”

“I’m 98 years old, can you believe it?” he concluded. “Thank you so much. This really tops off a lifetime, 80 years in the business. I love you, God bless.”

Dick Van Dyke also has five Primetime Emmys

Van Dyke can add his new Emmy statuette to an already sizable collection of trophies. In addition to a Grammy and a Tony, he had five Primetime Emmys, including several for his work on the classic 1960s sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show. He won a Daytime Emmy in 1984 in the outstanding performer in children’s programming category. But being nominated in the drama category at this year’s awards was special, he told People ahead of Friday’s awards ceremony. 

​​”This is a very different honor for me; I seldom get recognized for dramatic or straight acting –comedy and musicals are my specialty after all,” he said in a statement. “I’m so honored and it will be a fun night celebrating with the entire daytime television community.” 

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