Dick Van Dyke has said he is “not afraid” of death, as he prepares to mark his 99th birthday next week.
The Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star, who was born on 13 December 1925, made the comment as he acknowledged he was “acutely aware that I could go any day now”.
However, he added: “I don’t know why, it doesn’t concern me, I’m not afraid of it. I have that feeling totally against anything intellectual I have, that I’m going to be alright.”
The Hollywood actor spoke out as he appeared in a new seven-minute short film to promote Coldplay‘s new song All My Love, from the group’s recently released 10th studio album Moon Music.
In the director’s cut, Van Dyke is seen dancing and duetting with lead singer Chris Martin, while also discussing his views on life and family.
After being asked what love is, he replies: “Boy, they’ve been attacking that question for centuries, I don’t know.
“It certainly is a feeling of caring about the welfare and the life of the other person as much as you care for yourself.”
The actor is also shown looking at an old photograph of himself with his late first wife Margie Willett and their children, including his daughter Stacy.
He then adds: “I’ve had dreams where I am depressed or hurt, or lonely, or something, and she (Stacy) comes to comfort me, actually comes to comfort me.”
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Dick Van Dyke at the Emmy Awards in September 1977. Pic: AP
Later in the video, he is asked to close his eyes and think about people who have meant something in his life – to which he jokingly replies: “I’m too old for this, I’ll pass out and go to sleep, I’ll take a nap.”
The star is also seen laughing and hugging some of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren – before Martin concludes the clip by singing him an impromptu song about old age.
Filmed at Van Dyke’s home in Malibu, California, a shorter version of the music video will be released on 13 December to celebrate his 99th birthday.
His career, which has spanned more than seven decades, has seen him pick up a string of awards, including Emmys and a Grammy for the Mary Poppins soundtrack.
Van Dyke has continued to work into old age – including with a cameo role in 2018’s Mary Poppins Returns, the sequel to the hit 1964 film that helped propel him to stardom.
Last year the actor was reportedly involved in a car crash in his home state but avoided any serious injuries.
