Dick Van Dyke

Dick Van Dyke (born Richard Wayne Van Dyke December 13, 1925, in West Plains, Missouri) is an American comic actor, best known for his self-titled 1960s sitcom and his later series Diagnosis Murder. He was featured in an episode of The New Scooby-Doo Movies and narrated the Christmas special The Town Santa Forgot. Dick makes a guest appearance on The Golden Girls as Ken Whittingham, a new beau of Dorothy Zbornak, who's a successful lawyer who aspires to instead be a circus clown, which threatens their relationship in the Season 5 episode titled "Love Under The Big Top".

Biography
Although he'd had small roles beforehand, Dick, who is the older brother of actor/entertainer Jerry Van Dyke of the ABC-TV sitcom series Coach fame, was launched to stardom in the 1960 musical Bye-Bye Birdie, for which he won a Tony Award, and, later in the movie based on that play, Bye Bye Birdie (1963). He has starred in a number of films throughout the years, including Mary Poppins (1964), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) and Fitzwilly (1967), as well as a number of successful television series which won him no fewer than four Emmys and three made-for-CBS movies.

As a struggling actor, Van Dyke worked as a television game show host, among other odd jobs. He was the host of Mother's Day (1958) and Laugh Line (1959), but turned down The Price Is Right (1956).

After separating from his wife, Margie Willett, in the 1970s, Van Dyke later became involved with Michelle Triola. Margie and Dick had four children born during the first 10 years of their marriage: Barry, Carrie Beth, Christian and Stacy, all of whom are now in their 40s with their own families. Dick has seven grandchildren, including Shane, Carey, Wes and Taryn [Barry's children], and family members often appear with him on Diagnosis Murder (1993).