Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke is reflecting on the sacrifices behind his extraordinary career, and acknowledging the toll it took on the people he loved most.<\/p>\n
In a candid new interview with People, the 99-year-old star shared that his ambition and nonstop work ethic often overshadowed his responsibilities at home. Best known for iconic roles in \u201cMary Poppins,\u201d \u201cChitty Chitty Bang Bang,\u201d and The Dick Van Dyke Show, the actor admitted that his career focus sometimes came at the expense of his family.<\/p>\n
Van Dyke revealed that, in his early years working his way out of financial hardship, his dedication to performing left little time for those closest to him. \u201cMy family probably got neglected at some point because I was really working hard to get out of poverty,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The entertainer married his first wife, Margie Willett, in 1948. Together they welcomed four children: Christian, now 75, Barry, 74, Stacy, 70, and Carrie, 64. But as Van Dyke\u2019s star rose on television, the stage, and in film, his long hours and constant work travel strained their home life. Willett ultimately ended the marriage in 1984. Looking back, Van Dyke admits that the demanding schedule he kept would be difficult for any family to endure. At one point, he was juggling early morning programs and nighttime club performances. He described a grueling routine that left him exhausted and disconnected. \u201cI had a show at 5 in the morning, and then at night I was working with a partner in nightclubs,\u201d he recalled, adding that he was \u201cgetting, like, three or four hours [of] sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n