Dick Van Dyke

Dick Van Dyke poses for a portrait in Beverly Hills, Calif., in this Oct. 8, 2012 photo.

Van Dyke's early TV appearances with Phil Silvers and his breakout Broadway turn in the musical "Bye Bye Birdie" led to his classic sitcom, "The Dick Van Dyke Show." It won 15 Emmys during its 1961-1966 run - and yes, he didn't always trip over the ottoman.

Veteran actor Dick Van Dyke attends a screening of the musical "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" at the Pacific Theaters at The Grove, October 30, 2010 in Los Angeles. The children's favorite, recently re-released on DVD, is one of many high points in the entertainer's long career.

Dick Van Dyke dances with Janet Leigh in the film version of "Bye Bye Birdie" (1963).

Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews in the Walt Disney musical "Mary Poppins" (1964).

Chim Chim Cher-ee: Van Dyke and other chimney sweeps dance in "Mary Poppins."

Dick Van Dyke, Sally Ann Howes, Heather Ripley, Adrian Hall and their four-fendered friend in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" (1968).

The chimpanzee appearing with Van Dyke in the Walt Disney comedy "Lt. Robin Crusoe" was noted for taking his costar's coffee and cigarettes.

The 1971 satire "Cold Turkey," directed by Norman Lear, starred Dick Van Dyke as a minister leading a small Midwestern town to succeed in its bid to go one month without smoking, in order to receive a windfall from a tobacco company.

When a bee sting on his chin prevents a banker from shaving, the resulting beard leads to a counter-cultural awakening in "Some Kind of a Nut" (1969).

Dick Van Dyke uses a marker to correct the spelling of his name, separating "Vandyke" into two words, on his star during the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony honoring the comedian, Thursday, Feb. 25, 1993, Los Angeles, Calif. A corrected star was later installed.

Actress Mary Tyler Moore straightens actor Dick Van Dyke's tie, at the TV Land Awards at the Hollywood Palladium on March 2, 2003.

"Oh, Robbbbbb!" Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore accept the Legend Award for "The Dick Van Dyke Show" during the TV Land Awards 2003 in Hollywood.

Dick Van Dyke poses with his "Mary Poppins" co-stars, Julie Andrews (far right), and Karen Dotrice (who played young Jane Banks), at the after-party for Disney's "Mary Poppins" 40th Anniversary Edition DVD launch party, in Los Angeles, November 30, 2004.

Julie Andrews accepts the Screen Actor Guild's Lifetime Achievement Award from Dick Van Dyke, at the Shrine Auditorium, January 28, 2007 in Los Angeles.

Dick Van Dyke and songwriter Charles Strouse are seen on stage at "A Night At Sardi's presents 'Bye Bye Birdie,'" benefiting the Alzheimer's Association, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, March 5, 2008.

Dick Van Dyke on stage at the Academy Of Television Arts & Sciences' "Father's Day Salute to TV Dads," June 18, 2009 in North Hollywood, Calif.

President Barack Obama speaks alongside, from left to right: musician Renee Fleming, actor Dick Van Dyke, anchor Robin Roberts and singer Lionel Richie, during the taping of "America Celebrates July 4th at Ford's Theatre," in Washington, D.C., June 6, 2010.

Dick Van Dyke performs on stage at the 21st A Time For Heroes Celebrity Picnic, sponsored by Disney to benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation, at Wadsworth Great Lawn in Los Angeles, June 13, 2010.

Dick Van Dyke participates at the "Oopsy Daisy" Art Booth at the Elisabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Carnival in Los Angeles, June 13, 2010.

In this photo taken on Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010, actor Dick Van Dyke is shown during a rehearsal for his one-man show at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.