Dick Van Dyke's first performances were on the airwaves, whilst he was an air force DJ in the war. Dick's ability as a singer and dancer lead him to a career in musical theatre.

It was playing the lead in 'Bye Bye Birdie' on Broadway, in 1960, that got him noticed, and his performance secured him the same role in the film version in 1963. The same show also secured him "The Dick Van Dyke Show", where he starred as Rob Petrie in this long running television series, which was a staple programme in the US in the 1960s.

At the same time that he was appearing in his own television series, he was also building a career in film.

He was given a part in Walt Disney's 'Mary Poppins' in 1964. He played an amiable chimney sweep, with a questionable cockney accent, opposite Julie Andrews' magical nanny.

Another famous musical role was in 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', in 1968, where he played Caractacus Potts, the inventor of a magical car.

In the early 1970s he battled against his alcoholism, an experience that he drew upon for his part in the 1974 film, 'The Morning After', one of his first dramatic roles.

Although Dick's ability to play musical roles diminished along with the popularity of the genre itself, he continued to get acting parts and continued to be a popular face on the television of the 1980sand 1990s.

Credit: thebiographychannel.co.uk