Dick Van Dyke, 93, Jokes He Gets A ‘Really Good Job Every 50 Years’ At 2019 Golden Globes

Not only is Dick Van Dyke grateful that he got to star in the original Mary Poppins movie but he’s also so thankful that he got to make a cameo in the classic film’s 2018 sequel! At the 2019 Golden Globes on Sunday, Jan. 6, the 93-year-old actor gushed about appearing in Mary Poppins Returns and joked he lands his favorite roles about every five decades.

“I get a really good job every 50 years or so,” Dick hilariously said about his acting opportunities, according to People. “I didn’t get to come down a chimney, but the new movie is very, very good. Very different from the original Mary Poppins but times change in 50 years and so do I.”

Dick explained that he wanted to act in Mary Poppins Returns because he has a great love for musicals. “The minute I heard I was going to do a little number, that sold me,” he said. “And I thought I could contribute by just being a little bit of a reminder of the original. And I think it turned out well. I got to jump up on a desk and do a dance number. It surprised everybody, but nobody was as surprised as I was. We did several takes of it, and I was just amazed. And I enjoyed it, of course.”

At first, Dick was a bit hesitant to star in the new Mary Poppins movie because he acknowledged that “almost traditionally sequels don’t work,” but when he heard that it was going to be a “homage to Walt and the original movie,” he was on board.

“I was so impressed that their heart was in the right place. They wanted to pay respect to the original. And I was so tickled when they asked me because it was kind of like bookends for me,” he said. “I’m sure that if I’m remembered for anything it’ll be Mary Poppins!”