As Dick Van Dyke approaches his 100th birthday, the stories he shares feel less like showbiz anecdotes and more like cherished memories pulled gently from the past. One such moment recently surfaced — a small, human story involving his dear friend and longtime co-star, Mary Tyler Moore.
On November 30, the 99-year-old actor hosted a Vandy High Tea at his Malibu, California home, a charity event held to raise funds for the Van Dyke Endowment of the Arts and the in-development Dick Van Dyke Museum. Surrounded by friends and supporters, Van Dyke took a reflective turn as he recalled the rare occasion when Moore was genuinely upset with him.
The reason, he admitted with a laugh, had nothing to do with fame, creative disagreements, or ego. Instead, it came down to a simple caricature.
Van Dyke told guests that he once drew a cartoon of Moore — and she rejected it immediately. “I made her mouth too big, and she was so pissed at me,” he confessed, drawing warm laughter from the room.
According to Van Dyke, Moore didn’t let it slide. She insisted he redraw the image, and he happily obliged. “I had to go back and draw it again,” he said. “I mean, she had a beautiful mouth, but it was generous.”
The story, lighthearted on the surface, revealed the quiet honesty and trust that defined their relationship — a bond strong enough to allow playful frustration and genuine affection to coexist. Van Dyke’s tone, guests noted, shifted as he spoke her name, underscoring how deeply he still feels her absence.
Mary Tyler Moore passed away on January 25, 2017, at the age of 80, due to cardiopulmonary arrest. Nearly eight years later, Van Dyke’s fond recollection serves as a reminder of the warmth, humor, and authenticity that made their partnership — both on and off screen — so enduring.
In remembering that small moment now, Van Dyke wasn’t just sharing a funny story. He was honoring a friendship built on respect, laughter, and the kind of closeness that only time can create.
