Legendary entertainer Dick Van Dyke has canceled a scheduled appearance next week at the 92Y for health reasons, in a statement released this week by his rep.
According to an ET News report, a representative for Van Dyke stated that the entertainer would not be able to make it to the 92nd Street Y (92Y) event, scheduled for April 26 in New York City. According to its website, 92Y is a Manhattan-based, non-profit community center that “connects people at every stage of life to the worlds of education, the arts, health and wellness, and Jewish life.” Van Dyke was to be awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for Bettering Humanity through Comedy.
The entertainer canceled the scheduled event due to “fatigue and lack of sleep resulting from symptoms of a yet-to-be diagnosed neurological disorder.” His doctors had advised him against the trip at this time, and he has also canceled all future events that require air travel. Van Dyke is currently resting at his home in Southern California.
The 87-year-old Van Dyke has been beleaguered in recent months by a string of mysterious health issues. The multi-talented singer, dancer, actor, producer and director went so far as to take to his Twitter page to describe his symptoms and seek the medical advice of his followers online. On Wednesday, Van Dyke tweeted, “My head bangs every time I lay down. I’ve had every test come back that I’m perfectly healthy. Anybody got any ideas?” Fans immediately assumed the worst, and he later tweeted to clarify, “Thank you for your concern & advice. I’ve had this condition for 7 yrs. Its not terminal, just a pain.”
Van Dyke is best known for his work in musical films like Mary Poppins, Bye Bye Birdie, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, where the multi-hyphenated entertainer was able to showcase his acting, singing, and dancing skills simultaneously. He also appeared on the Emmy-winning 1960s sitcom, “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and 1990s medical-crime drama, “Diagnosis: Murder.”
The actor made headlines in 2012 when he married 40-year-old Arlene Silver, who is 47 years his junior.
Photo by Alan Light