Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Crown Publishing (2011), Edition: 1st, 304 pages
Description
The star of one of the most popular sitcoms of the 1960s and of classic films such as "Mary Poppins" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," Dick Van Dyke pens a lively, heartwarming memoir of his multi-layered life.
User reviews
LibraryThing member msf59
The Dick Van Dyke Show ran 5 Seasons, from 1961-1966. I would have been to young to remember it, first run but I do recall this wonderful comedy being a staple in our household, along with Get Smart, Cream of Wheat, Twinkies and SpaghettiOs. This must have been in the late 60s.
My first film going
This engaging memoir, brings all these fond memories back, as Mr. Van Dyke, takes us from his childhood in Danville IL, to his military time, to his modest showbiz years, leading to Broadway and then to a long varied television and film career. To be honest, I have not watched any of his TV work in decades. “Diagnosis Murder” was not my cuppa but he still holds a special place in my cultural past. Plus, I’ll always think of MTM in those Capris. Yeah, baby. Highly recommended.
My first film going
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experience, that I can remember, is my Mother taking my sister and I, downtown Chicago, by train or bus, (she did not drive at the time) to see Mary Poppins. I must have been 6 and my sis 4, most likely humming "A Spoonful of Sugar" for weeks afterward.This engaging memoir, brings all these fond memories back, as Mr. Van Dyke, takes us from his childhood in Danville IL, to his military time, to his modest showbiz years, leading to Broadway and then to a long varied television and film career. To be honest, I have not watched any of his TV work in decades. “Diagnosis Murder” was not my cuppa but he still holds a special place in my cultural past. Plus, I’ll always think of MTM in those Capris. Yeah, baby. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member Copperskye
This was so much fun to listen to – like having Dick Van Dyke sitting next to me in the car and telling me all about his life. A lucky life, yes, but talent and likeability had a lot to do with his success as well. I spent many an hour in half hour increments as a kid, watching reruns of The Dick
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Van Dyke Show and laughing with Rob, Laura and Richie, Millie and Jerry, Sally, Buddy and Mel, and so it was great fun for me to go behind the scenes of that TV program. Very conversational in style, he starts chronologically, sharing interesting stories of his life (including his struggle with alcoholism and his divorce), his start in show business and the people he meets along the way, his movie career and other TV shows. With nary an unkind word about anyone, this was truly an entertaining audio – funny, warm and generous. And plus, Carl Reiner wrote, and reads, the introduction. A real treat for fans. Show Less
LibraryThing member laytonwoman3rd
An audio book, read, or more accurately, told by Dick himself. This was good stuff, perfectly suited to commuter-listening, which is what I use audio books for. Pretty much what you would expect from loveable, laughable Van Dyke, but there's a lot more to him than Rob Petrie. He treats his alcohol
Review written in May 2012
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addiction, the end of his long marriage, his relationship with the once-infamous Michelle Triola, and his artistic failures with what feels like humble honesty. And, as he warns you up front, if you're looking for dirt on Hollywood shenanigans, it ain't in there. If you like him, you'll like the book. And man, am I glad I had it with me last Thursday when I got caught in a two-hour traffic tie-up.Review written in May 2012
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LibraryThing member craso
This is an autobiography of the legendary actor, comedian, singer, dancer and all around entertainer Dick Van Dyke. Van Dyke does not go in-depth into his life, but he covers all the high and low points. He begins in his home town of Danneville, Illinois where he started as a radio dj. He then
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covers his rise in the entertainment field; his break thru performance on Broadway in "Bye-Bye Birdie", his hit tv show "The Dick Van Dyke Show", his memorable performance in the children's classic "Mary Poppins", and his last television show "Diagnosis Murder." He covers his personal problems; alcoholism, smoking, mid-life crisis, and divorce. He never dishes dirt and seems to genuinely like everyone he has ever worked with. He also covers his political, social, and religious beliefs. Even though this book is written in an easy to read style, it manages to say a lot. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this delightful book and I think any fan of Mr. Van Dyke would enjoy it too. Show Less
LibraryThing member wearylibrarian
If you want to read a Hollywood tell-all book then this isn't the book for you. Dick's life seems a lot like Rob Petrie's, minus Van Dyke's struggle with alcoholism. Despite writing about the dark side of Hollywood, Van Dyke tells and interesting story of how he always seemed to be in the right
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place at the right time. If you are a fan of his two TV series, you will be a fan of his book. Show Less
LibraryThing member michigantrumpet
What a delight. Even without the audiobook, I could hear Van Dyke's voice throughout. Wonderful stories from a storied career spanning from his early days in radio, night clubs, the Dick Van Dyke Show, movies, and more television. His recent lifetime honor at the SAG Awards, and star on Hollywood
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Blvd. (albeit misspelled) are well deserved. Unceasingly open and cheery, he doesn't shy away from difficult topics such as the circumstances of his birth, alcoholism, and failure in his marriage. While tough on himself, he doesn't dish on others. If you are looking for scandal, this likely isn't for you. If like me, you enjoy books about Hollywood and the Golden Age of Television, there will be plenty to please in this engaging volume. Show Less
LibraryThing member mossjon
I barely read any non-fiction (outside of the technical writing found in information technology reference guides) in any given year. When I do branch out away from fiction, I prefer to read a biography, autobiography or memoir, or a history book, usually on a particular brief period.
I breezed
A couple of excerpts that really struck a chord for me:
I was all about living a kind, righteous, moral, forgiving, and loving life seven-days a week, not just the one day when you went to church. ... And if there's not a higher power, no one's going to be worse for the wear for his or her effort. Was there one way? No, not as far as I could tell -- other than to feel loved, to love back, ... as simple as making sure you spend time helping make life a little better for other people. (from the Family Values chapter)
A few years ago, I told Esquire magazine that the Buddhists boiled it down to the essentials. They said you need three things in life: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. The message does not get any clearer. I heard walt Disney, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Carl Reiner all say the same thing in their own way. Hope is life's essential nutrient, and love is what gives life meaning. I think you need somebody to love and take care of, and someone who loves you back. In that sense, I think the New Testament got it right. So did the Beatles. Without love, nothing has any meaning. (from the Curtain Calls chapter)
When I finished the book, I wanted to give him a big hug, but of course, I'm too far away to do that. So I'll send him a little love for all the laughs and love he's shared unconditionally with me, with all of us really, for some many decades. As long as I've been alive, there's always been a Dick Van Dyke to make me smile.
I breezed
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through Dick Van Dyke's autobiography quickly, probably because it felt like he sat in my living regaling me with tales from his past in his engaging and witty manner. His charm and good will bubbled out of the pages. Even the troubles and tragedies he confessed only evoked my compassion or caring in my assessment of him. A couple of excerpts that really struck a chord for me:
I was all about living a kind, righteous, moral, forgiving, and loving life seven-days a week, not just the one day when you went to church. ... And if there's not a higher power, no one's going to be worse for the wear for his or her effort. Was there one way? No, not as far as I could tell -- other than to feel loved, to love back, ... as simple as making sure you spend time helping make life a little better for other people. (from the Family Values chapter)
A few years ago, I told Esquire magazine that the Buddhists boiled it down to the essentials. They said you need three things in life: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. The message does not get any clearer. I heard walt Disney, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Carl Reiner all say the same thing in their own way. Hope is life's essential nutrient, and love is what gives life meaning. I think you need somebody to love and take care of, and someone who loves you back. In that sense, I think the New Testament got it right. So did the Beatles. Without love, nothing has any meaning. (from the Curtain Calls chapter)
When I finished the book, I wanted to give him a big hug, but of course, I'm too far away to do that. So I'll send him a little love for all the laughs and love he's shared unconditionally with me, with all of us really, for some many decades. As long as I've been alive, there's always been a Dick Van Dyke to make me smile.
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LibraryThing member grandpahobo
This is a very frank and entertaining memoir. If you are in you 50s (like me) or older, you will probably find this more interesting than younger people.
LibraryThing member bookappeal
Dick Van Dyke reads his own memoir, detailing his rocky road up the ranks in show business, his bad luck with automobiles, and the lucky break that led to The Dick Vank Dyke Show and Mary Poppins. He reveals some personal details about the first half of his life with wife, Margie, who never really
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liked the Hollywood lifestyle and the second half of his life with Michelle, who did. Though he battled alcoholism and smoking and cheated on his wife, he comes off as a fairly decent chap. Some lessons learned are repetitive and he includes names of lots of actors and writers who may or may not be familiar to the reader. Overall, an interesting memoir, though probably more enjoyable when told in Dick's voice than when read. Show Less
LibraryThing member psherman
I was a huge fan of the Dick Van Dyke show and the character he played on it. I am not as big a fan of the author of this book. His endlessly-repeated declarations of his devotion to family values contrast puzzlingly with the fact that he cheated on his wife with another woman, and of course
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there's the drinking (which is not entirely his fault, I agree). He is extremely proud of himself, and the crowing and rampant name-dropping just get to be a bit much as the book progresses. The only balance to what he seems to describe as not so much a "lucky" life but rather the life of a pretty darn impressive human comes near the end when he (oops, could there be a crack in this perfect veneer?) lets it slip that more than one person has found him difficult to get close to. Dick dismisses that by explaining that he may have seemed somewhat distant because of all the deep thoughts he is always thinking (yes, really) about important things like God and the human condition (or could it just be simple, all-encompassing self-absorption?). I wanted so much to like this book as much as I like Rob Petrie. Very disappointing. Show Less
LibraryThing member GaylDasherSmith
His life is fascinating, but this is a very surface coverage.
LibraryThing member akmargie
I've had a soft spot for Dick Van Dyke since I first saw Mary Poppins and watched Diagnosis: Murder with my grandpa. This was a fun and heart felt memoir. I appreciated his honesty and that he's not afraid to be the curmudgeonly old guy now. He did a good job narrating too.
LibraryThing member SandSing7
I now like Dick Van Dyke less than I did before. This book read like a resume instead of a memoir - catalogues of people and movies and places with only the slightest, surface commentary. Through his life, Dick Van Dyke goes through a divorce and a battle with alcoholism, but when he talks about
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them here, he does so in a way that is completely disconnected and robotical. On screen, he seems so warm and so full of personality that I'm terribly disappointed (and frankly, surprised!) that even listening to him narrate the audiobook didn't give me that same nostalgic feeling. I won't look at him in the same way again. Show Less
LibraryThing member BoundTogetherForGood
Ahhhh...Dick van Dyke. He makes me swoon. Looks and laughter all packaged together. I find it interesting that Mary Tyler Moore is the celebrity crush of one of my brothers.
Dick manages to tell his story without really telling tales for the most part. The things he does tell seem to be common
He starts from his earliest memories. I like a memoir that does that. It gives one the sense for how a life has changed over time. He grew up in the same general area where my dad grew up. His story carries on through the date of publishing, which was 2011.
There is only one facet of his life that made me sad. He had an affair while still married to his first wife. He never exactly states that it was absolutely a wrong thing to do, either. I think he realizes that it was. I think he also must realize that he'd never have had his second (happier) marriage though, if things hadn't happened the way they did. Perhaps that is why he never comes out and says he regrets his actions exactly.
Following the end of his book, I am aware that he has since married a makeup artist. She is many years his junior but they seem to be very happily married. I wish them many happy years together.
Dick manages to tell his story without really telling tales for the most part. The things he does tell seem to be common
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knowledge, at least of certain people, if not myself. He starts from his earliest memories. I like a memoir that does that. It gives one the sense for how a life has changed over time. He grew up in the same general area where my dad grew up. His story carries on through the date of publishing, which was 2011.
There is only one facet of his life that made me sad. He had an affair while still married to his first wife. He never exactly states that it was absolutely a wrong thing to do, either. I think he realizes that it was. I think he also must realize that he'd never have had his second (happier) marriage though, if things hadn't happened the way they did. Perhaps that is why he never comes out and says he regrets his actions exactly.
Following the end of his book, I am aware that he has since married a makeup artist. She is many years his junior but they seem to be very happily married. I wish them many happy years together.
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LibraryThing member debbieaheaton
Indisputably, Dick Van Dyke is one of the greats of the golden age of television. He is admired and beloved by audiences the world over for his beaming smile, his physical dexterity, his impeccable comic timing, and his numerous screen roles.
This book is a colorful, loving, richly detailed look at
This book is a colorful, loving, richly detailed look at
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the decades of his life. It is candid and honest and will thrill every generation of readers. It is a lively and heartwarming memoir of a performer who is nothing if not a classic entertainer. Show Less
LibraryThing member ChristineEllei
Who doesn’t remember Rob Petrie tripping over the ottoman at the beginning of the Dick Van Dyke show or Bert singing and dancing with penguins? Mr. Van Dyke tells the behind the scenes secrets that led to those iconic television and movie moments and that alone would have been enough to entice me
Mr. Van Dyke shares his years as a boy and then young man growing up in the Midwest. He reveals joining the armed forces so that he could fly and how that didn’t quite pan out. His early years starting out in radio and the years of living hand to mouth, sometimes getting evicted because the rent didn’t get paid and how (and why) he persevered. Yet this is not a self-serving “look what I went through” telling of his story. He writes with honesty, as well as his trademark sense of humor, even when the reader senses that the subject matter is painful. Mr. Van Dyke never strayed from his determination to never make a television series or film that he could not enjoy with his children. I think that was the key to his success … everyone could enjoy his talent. Despite his 50 years of success in show business he still considers himself a simple “song and dance man”.
I listened to the audio book, narrated by Mr. Van Dyke himself, and although the book doesn’t need any help in the “interesting” department, it did make it a little more special.
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to read this memoir. But this book is so much more. Mr. Van Dyke shares his years as a boy and then young man growing up in the Midwest. He reveals joining the armed forces so that he could fly and how that didn’t quite pan out. His early years starting out in radio and the years of living hand to mouth, sometimes getting evicted because the rent didn’t get paid and how (and why) he persevered. Yet this is not a self-serving “look what I went through” telling of his story. He writes with honesty, as well as his trademark sense of humor, even when the reader senses that the subject matter is painful. Mr. Van Dyke never strayed from his determination to never make a television series or film that he could not enjoy with his children. I think that was the key to his success … everyone could enjoy his talent. Despite his 50 years of success in show business he still considers himself a simple “song and dance man”.
I listened to the audio book, narrated by Mr. Van Dyke himself, and although the book doesn’t need any help in the “interesting” department, it did make it a little more special.
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LibraryThing member SESchend
Surprisingly fun and engaging read that goes very quickly.
I didn't learn too many new things, other than the author seems as genuinely pleasant as the characters he's played.
There were a few turns of phrase that just made me hear his voice perfectly, and I'd wished I'd been listening to an
Worth the time if you want a light bio on an exemplary performer and person.
I didn't learn too many new things, other than the author seems as genuinely pleasant as the characters he's played.
There were a few turns of phrase that just made me hear his voice perfectly, and I'd wished I'd been listening to an
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unabridged audio version of it...but only if DVD himself did the narration. Worth the time if you want a light bio on an exemplary performer and person.
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LibraryThing member EowynA
This was a comfy book - a favorite actor telling stories about his life and funny things that happened. It felt like I was sitting down with an old friend I'd never really gotten to know well before. This was a happy book, telling the story of a talented man who remains humble, but not dismissive
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of his own talents. He's an engaging and witty man - not perfect, but doing his best. Now I want to tune in an rewatch some of those old Dick Van Dyke shows - they must be rattling around Netflix somewhere. :-) Show Less
LibraryThing member debs4jc
I have always enjoyed the performances of Dick Van Dyke, and hearing him tell the story of his life was almost just as enjoyable. He comes across as pretty much the same person he plays in many of his movies and TV shows. It was interesting to hear about some of his experiences - he seems to either
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attract mishaps that he can turn into funny stories or just have a knack for turning the mundane into a great story. His longevity, adherence to a moral code, and sense of humor have definitely stood him well in life. May we be able to enjoy his talents for many more years to come. Show Less
LibraryThing member Razinha
Candid, funny, light, nimble, personal. A nice story from a favorite actor.
LibraryThing member lissabeth21
What a great autobiography! Open and giving, you got a real sense that there is nothing secret if you just ask politely.
LibraryThing member ssimon2000
Dick Van Dyke is one of my favorite actors, but the book was sort of "meh". He was a trailblazer in show business, in radio, TV, and movies, but this book just wasn't hitting it. In an early part of the book, he describe a time he was performing for the Hollywood elite (which included Lucille Ball)
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and no one was laughing, and there was definitely no applause. That's about how I felt with the book. There were some interesting stories, and some chuckle-inducing ones, too, but overall, it was just very flat. Show Less
LibraryThing member MHanover10
Dick Van Dyke always makes me smile. I've enjoyed watching him over the years and always thought he was a great guy. This book is so enjoyable as an audio book. I loved having Dick read to me in the car as I drove to/from work. He is such a kid at heart and tried to live his life in such a good
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way. What a kind and gentle soul. He is someone who hasn't taken life for granted and has tried to get as much out of life as he can. There is so much more to him than a song and dance guy. I will forever love him. I recommend listening to this book so you can get the story from Dick himself. Show Less
LibraryThing member forsanolim
Though I knew of some of his work, I really didn't know that much about Dick Van Dyke's life, so this was an enjoyable memoir about Van Dkye's life in show business. Everything is super G-rated, even discussions of alcoholism and his affair/divorce. There's also a lot of name-dropping when
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discussing the different shows on which he worked and the different celebrities he met, so the more familiar you are with Hollywood history, I think the more likely you'd be to get a lot out of this. Show Less
LibraryThing member Coutre
Dick Van Dyke’s autobiography My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business provides a delightful retrospective of the charmed life of a brilliant talent. Van Dyke takes us through his struggling years, through early breaks, rise to the top, and his enduring successes throughout his life. During his
Van Dyke had many film and TV successes: Mary Poppins, Bye Bye Birdie, TV variety shows, a hugely successful primetime show “Diagnosis Murder,” among others. The centerpiece of his career was, of course, the Dick Van Dyke show in the early 1960s. This is also where Mary Tyler Moore got her start in show business. The most colorful character on that show might’ve been Morey Amsterdam. He was an all-around entertainer who came up through vaudeville and reportedly memorized at least 100,000 jokes for any occasion. Anecdotes of Morey provide an extra dose of fun in the life story.
Dick Van Dyke appreciated earlier actors and comedians from whom he had learned. He especially admired the ones who worked the hardest and made it look the easiest. For example, he said of Stan Laurel (of the Laurel and Hardy comedy duo), about the artistic effort in his work: “Stan took care to hide it, to conceal the hours of hard creative work that went into his movies. He didn’t want you to see that—he just wanted you to laugh, and you did!” The same can truly be said of Dick Van Dyke.
He had his share of heartbreaks, but the overall experience reading the book is positive, full of bright optimism and joy in life
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story we meet a lot of other brilliant talents, as he worked with many of the greatest actors and comedians in the industry.Van Dyke had many film and TV successes: Mary Poppins, Bye Bye Birdie, TV variety shows, a hugely successful primetime show “Diagnosis Murder,” among others. The centerpiece of his career was, of course, the Dick Van Dyke show in the early 1960s. This is also where Mary Tyler Moore got her start in show business. The most colorful character on that show might’ve been Morey Amsterdam. He was an all-around entertainer who came up through vaudeville and reportedly memorized at least 100,000 jokes for any occasion. Anecdotes of Morey provide an extra dose of fun in the life story.
Dick Van Dyke appreciated earlier actors and comedians from whom he had learned. He especially admired the ones who worked the hardest and made it look the easiest. For example, he said of Stan Laurel (of the Laurel and Hardy comedy duo), about the artistic effort in his work: “Stan took care to hide it, to conceal the hours of hard creative work that went into his movies. He didn’t want you to see that—he just wanted you to laugh, and you did!” The same can truly be said of Dick Van Dyke.
He had his share of heartbreaks, but the overall experience reading the book is positive, full of bright optimism and joy in life
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Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2011-05-03
Physical description
304 p.; 9.25 inches
ISBN
0307592235 / 9780307592231
Local notes
Signed