Bold claim: aging gracefully isn’t about fading away—it’s about thriving, dancing, and staying curious even as the century mark approaches. That’s the essence of this week’s feature in Ancient Wisdom, our Sunday series where writers over 70 share how they keep vitality and joy in their lives. Starting next week, the column will join our Weekend Press rotation on Saturday mornings. If you’d rather have the piece delivered to your inbox every week, you can sign up here.
This week, the spotlight shines on Dick Van Dyke—yes, the legendary performer himself—as he explains why he’s still dancing, singing, and embracing life just a week shy of his 100th birthday.
Remember the memorable banker from Mary Poppins—the morally rigid Mr. Dawes, Senior? In the film, he’s the archetype of the villain: wealthy, unscrupulous, and physically frail. He’s half-bald, bearded, hunched, wheezy, wrapped in a shawl to ward off a chill, and gripping a cane to counter gravity. The slightest misstep makes him wobble—an image of someone who’s ancient and out of sync with the world.
Even today, if you ask who played that elderly Mr. Dawes, many would draw a blank. But a clue lies in the credits, where the actor is credited under the name “Navckid Keyd.”
Continue reading The Free Press
To support our journalism and unlock all investigative stories and provocatively insightful commentary about the world as it actually is, consider subscribing below.
Annual
$8.33/month
Billed as $100 yearly
Monthly
$10/month
Billed monthly
Already have an account?
Sign In
