Van Dyke, who shared four children — Christian, 75, Barry, 74, Stacy, 70, and Carrie, 64 — with his late ex-wife Margie Willett, admitted in a recent interview that his early years in entertainment left little room for family life.

"In the beginning, I was (raised) in a family with no money, so the whole thing was getting some money together and getting a home," he said. Reflecting on the toll that took on his household, he added, "They probably got neglected at some point, because I was really working hard to get out of poverty, so to speak, but I haven't had any complaints from anybody."

The entertainer, who recently released his book100 Rules for Living to 100, said his intense work schedule included game shows, nightclubs, and even an early morning radio DJ shift. "I played nightclubs. I did about everything. At one point, I was doing a disc jockey show at 5 in the morning, and then at night I was working with a partner in nightclubs," he recalled.

With only "three or four hours sleep in between," Van Dyke said the early grind was all about getting "a foothold" in show business. "After that, I've enjoyed every minute of it."

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Van Dyke expressed gratitude for having built a life around work he loves. "I think of how rare it is that a person gets to do for a living what they love to do," he said. "Most people have to go sit in an office. I never forgot that I look forward to getting up every morning and going to work, because it's what I would've done for nothing."

The comedian also credited his wife, Arlene Silver, 54, whom he married in 2012, with keeping him energized and joyful. "She's responsible for keeping me in the moment," he said. "She kept me happy every day of my life, every day. She's a joy. She can get me singing or dancing and she carries so much responsibility... I'm just lucky."

'I Can't Complain'

Despite the challenges of aging, Van Dyke maintains a grateful perspective.

During a recent Q&A, he reflected on outliving many of his closest friends, noting his intended Odd Couple remake with Ed Asner, who died in 2021. Even so, his outlook remains upbeat. When his wife asked how he stays positive, he replied simply: "Well, life's been good to me. I can't complain."

In a recent conversation with People, he credits his attitude for both his age and the fact that he has "no pain, no discomfort."

"I’ve always thought that anger is one thing that eats up a person’s insides – and hate," Van Dyke said, explaining how people often ask what he did right.

He added that he’s "rather lazy" and never felt driven by the kind of resentment that can harden over time.

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Dick Van Dyke credits his longevity largely to avoiding anger and hate rather than following any strict lifestyle regimen.

"Sometimes I have more energy than others – but I never wake up in a bad mood," he told People.

The actor explained that while there were always things and people he didn’t like or approve of, he "never really was able to work up a feeling of hate," and certainly not "a white-heat kind of hate."

He contrasted himself with his father, who was "constantly upset by the state of things in his life," noting to People that his father died at 73.

Van Dyke believes avoiding that emotional pattern is one of the chief things that kept him going.

Modern research appears to back up this idea that emotional states play a meaningful role in long-term health.

Studies on aging adults show that anger can heighten inflammation in the body, raising levels of markers like IL-6 and increasing risk of illness.

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He says he has "no pain, no discomfort" at nearly 100, attributing it in part to emotional steadiness.

These effects can accelerate the wear-and-tear process associated with aging.

The broader scientific picture suggests that patterns of hostility or persistent irritation function like a physiological tax, straining the systems that keep the body resilient.

Van Dyke explained in the interview his belief that "people are born with an outlook."

"I just think I was born with a brighter outlook," while others, he says, are born having to fight against downward spirals.

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"And after 100 years, I think I’m right."

"When you expire, you expire," he told People. "I don’t have any fear of death for some reason. I can’t explain that but I don’t. I’ve had such a wonderfully full and exciting life… I can’t complain."

Van Dyke’s 100th birthday falls on Dec. 13.