Did money influence Dick Van Dyke's The Masked Singer debut after years of refusals? Actor shares candid explanation

Dick Van Dyke has opened up about his experience on The Masked Singer in his memoir titled 100 Rules of Living to 100.

In it, he revealed that the producers were trying to get him on the show, but both he and his wife, Arlene, had turned them down because the whole idea “weirded us out.” He explained how the show’s elaborate costumes and format felt too strange and claustrophobic.

He first appeared as the Gnome in the season 9 premiere of the show on February 15, 2023. Explaining the reason behind his debut, he said that the producers offered him so much money at that time that he couldn’t say no. He wrote:

“Hands down, the show was the most bizarre performance of my life–so much over-the-top pagentry! But you take all the balloons out of it, and the overflow of love on that soundstage was very real.”

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Dick Van Dyke shares his experience on “The Masked Singer”

Despite initial fears of looking foolish in the costume, Dick Van Dyke described the experience on The Masked Singer as “the most bizarre performance of [his] life” and said that he ultimately enjoyed it.

He returned as a Masked Ambassador in season 12. In this role, he served as an ambassador for the new contestant Dust Bunny. He provided clues to the identity while embracing the role despite being 98 years old.

Host Nick Cannon referred to him as a “national treasure.” Ken Jeong, who is one of the regular panelists on the show, said:

“You are one of the reasons that I got into comedy.”

Nicole Scherzinger, the other panelists added:

“I love you so much. The whole world loves you so much. It’s an honor to have you on our show.”

In a recent interview with The Today Show, Dick Van Dyke said that he is still looking for work and has no plans to retire. Joking about seeking new roles, the Mary Poppins actor said:

“I don't want to [retire]. It's my hobby, it's my life, I love it. I'm looking for work right now.”

He also confessed that he was offered the role of James Bond to possibly replace Sean Connery after Connery left the franchise. However, he turned down the offer because he felt his British accent was not suitable. He expressed his willingness to play Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, a role he still wishes he could do.

Dick Van Dyke will turn 100 this December. He is married to Arlene Silver whom he first met in 2006 at the SAG Awards. She was a makeup artist at the event. They tied the knot in 2012 after the passing of Dyke’s longtime love, Michelle Triola, due to lung cancer.

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In his memoir, he wrote about Silver, who is half his age. He credited her for his secret to longevity, who always keeps him “up and moving, bright and hopeful and needed.”

Before marrying Silver, Dick Van Dyke was married to his first wife, Margie Willett, for 36 years. They welcomed four children during the course of their marriage - Christian, Barry, Stacy and Carrie Beth.

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