Dick Van Dyke Makes History as Oldest Daytime Emmys Winner Ever, at 98

Legendary actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke has made history, winning the 2024 Daytime Emmy award for guest performer in a daytime drama series — via his spot on Peacock’s “Days of Our Lives.” At 98, that makes Van Dyke the oldest actor to receive a Daytime Emmy win.

Van Dyke came into Friday’s 51st Daytime Emmy Awards already making a mark as the oldest Daytime Emmys nominee ever. Night one of the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards took place live on CBS on Friday, June 7, from the Westin Bonaventure hotel in Downtown Los Angeles.

“I feel like a spy from nighttime television,” Van Dyke joked. “I’m the oldest nominee in history. I can’t believe it. I was playing old men all my life. If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!”

Van Dyke said he had a “wonderful time” on “Days,” and said during one serious scene he started laughing and “runined the shot.”

“I’m 98 years old, can you believe it? This tops a lifetime of 80 years in the business. I love you, God bless,” he added.

In a special four-part story arc, Van Dyke appeared on “Days” as “Mystery Man/Timothy Robicheaux.” Here’s how it was described: “Van Dyke plays a man of mystery, an amnesiac. Marlena (Diedre Hall) is tasked with helping Van Dyke’s character bridge the gaps in his memory. To achieve this, she calls on John Black and Steve Johnson (Stephen Nichols) for help. Between memory exercises, there may be a musical number or two.”

Van Dyke wound up on “Days” via his friendship with IDrake Hogestyn, who plays John Black on “Days.” Van Dyke appeared on the Sept. 1, Sept. 4, Sept. 8 and Sept. 14 episodes of “Days,” with his wife, Arlene Silver, on the Sept. 1 episode.

Van Dyke beat out a nominee field that included Linden Ashby as Cameron Kirsten, “The Young and the Restless” (CBS); Ashley Jones as Dr. Bridget Forrester, “The Bold and the Beautiful” (CBS); Alley Mills as Heather Webber, “General Hospital” (ABC); and Guy Pearce as Mike Young, “Neighbours” (Amazon Freevee).

After working as a DJ, comedian and emcee on local radio and TV programs, Van Dyke joined “CBS Morning Show” as host, with Walter Cronkite as his news anchor and Barbara Walters as news copyrighter. He became a television star on CBS with the sitcom “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” on which he played television comedy writer Rob Petrie. The CBS birthday special will return to the iconic set of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” as well as feature archival footage from across Van Dyke’s career, encompassing “Mary Poppins,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and more.

Van Dyke has been seen a lot on CBS lately; last year, the network rang in his 98th birthday with “Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic,” an entertainment special honoring the legendary actor and performer. He also was honored with the Kennedy Center Honors in 2021, which also aired on CBS.

Also, Van Dyke won his previous Daytime Emmy in 1984, in the outstanding performer in children’s programming, for “CBS Library.”