Dick Van Dyke on Making ‘Mary Poppins’ With Julie Andrews: ’She Was so Patient With Me’

Dick Van Dyke attends the 29th Annual Gypsy Awards Luncheon held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif., on April 24, 2016. (John Salangsang/Invision/AP, File)

Dick Van Dyke, an actor renowned for his roles on “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” and “Diagnosis Murder,” among many others, has reflected on his time making Disney’s beloved film “Mary Poppins” ahead of the musical’s 60th anniversary.

During a recent episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s podcast, “Awards Chatter,” published on June 26, the 98-year-old award-winning performer fondly recalled his experience working with his co-star Julie Andrews.

“She was so patient with me,” he shared, recounting his struggles harmonizing with Ms. Andrews, now 88, while recording the movie’s iconic soundtrack.

The duo sang a handful of songs together in the film, including “Jolly Holiday,” “Super-cali-fragil-istic-expi-ali-docious,” “I Love to Laugh,” and “Chim Chim Cher-ee.”

“She not only is a soprano, she sang just a hair on top of the note, just that little bit sharp, and I sing flat,” Mr. Van Dyke explained. “What a sweater that was getting through that album.”

“I’m actually a bass, but I had to sing,” he continued. “It turned out all right.”

‘Mary Poppins’

The Disney musical was released on August 27, 1964.

Mr. Van Dyke plays Bert, a charismatic jack-of-all-trades who is a close friend of the titular character, a nanny named Mary Poppins. In the film, the nanny, portrayed by Ms. Andrews, is tasked with caring for two children, Jane and Michael, played by Karen Dotrice and Matthew Garber.

Mr. Van Dyke—who recently made history as the oldest Daytime Emmy winner for his guest appearance on “Days of Our Lives”—also played a secondary role in “Mary Poppins,” portraying the film’s antagonist, Mr. Dawes Sr.

On the podcast, the actor said he was impressed with his costar’s acting abilities, namely because “Mary Poppins” served as her first major role.

“It’s like she had done a whole lot of movies,” he said. “She was cool as a cucumber.”

Prior to the film, Ms. Andrews had done voice work for the 1949 animation “The Singing Princess,” appearing in an episode of the television series “Ford Star Jubilee” seven years later, per her IMDb. She also had parts in two telefilms, 1957’s “Cinderella” and 1959’s “The Gentle Flame.”

Ms. Andrews had also established herself on Broadway, appearing in 1954’s “The Boy Friend,” 1956’s “My Fair Lady,” and 1960’s “Camelot,” per Playbill.

Actors Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews pose at Disney's "Mary Poppins" 40th Anniversary Edition DVD release party at El Capitan Theater on November 30, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

However, it was Ms. Andrews’s performance in “Mary Poppins” that catapulted her to fame, garnering her several awards, including her first Oscar.

Ms. Andrews won Best Actress at the 37th Academy Awards in April 1965, taking home the Golden Globe for Best Actress just a few months earlier. The actress was also awarded a BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles that same year.

“Mary Poppins” also swept the award shows following its release, winning Oscars for Best Film Editing, Best Effects/Special Visual Effects, Best Music/Original Song, and Best Music/Substantially Original Score.

Additionally, the musical earned Grammy Awards for Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Show and Best Recording for Children, the latter of which went to Mr. Van Dyke and Ms. Andrews for their work in the film.

‘98 Years of Magic’

In December 2023, CBS debuted “Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic,” a television special that celebrated the veteran actor’s 98th birthday.

During the special, Ms. Andrews reminisced about her first time meeting Mr. Van Dyke, candidly sharing that she found him “young, fit as can be, and really gorgeous to look at,” according to People. The “Sound of Music” star also expressed gratitude for the kindness Mr. Van Dyke displayed toward her during her first role.

“I‘d never made a movie before, and I’d given birth to my lovely daughter Emma nearly six weeks earlier, and I quickly realized that I had better pull my socks up and get in shape,” she said. “I found it pretty daunting, I can tell you. Dick could not have been kinder, more genuinely sweet and helpful. I like to think that we did bond instantly.”

During the tribute special, various stars reenacted dance and musical performances from Mr. Van Dyke’s more than seven decades-long career, including singer Rita Ora, who sang “Super-cali-fragil-istic-expi-ali-docious,” and comedian “Weird Al” Yankovic, who sang “The Dick Van Dyke Show” theme song.

Speaking with “Awards Chatter,” Mr. Van Dyke shared that he was overjoyed and blown away by the performances. “There was a lot of work covered there,” he said.

“My God, those dance numbers, they had to work on forever,” he exclaimed. “I thought the show was wonderful. And what a tribute, you know?”

“Really good stuff,” he continued. “And the fact that I had enjoyed every minute of it, all of it. Yeah, it was just a great tribute. I'll never forget it.”