Showbiz legend Dick Van Dyke was spotted catching a bit of sun and fresh air with his much younger wife Arlene Silver in Los Angeles this week.
He rang in his 100th birthday in December after months of excited buildup to what promised to be a joyously nostalgic fanfare.
The occasion, however, fell one day before the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele – the son and daughter-in-law of Van Dyke’s best friend Carl Reiner.
Carl Reiner was the creator of The Dick Van Dyke Show, on which the leading man’s character was named Rob Petrie after the then teenage Rob Reiner.
Now, months later, Van Dyke appeared frail and downcast as a man in a Whitney Houston t-shirt pushed him along in a wheelchair.
Trailing along not far behind them was his 54-year-old wife, with whom the Mary Poppins star celebrated his 14th wedding anniversary earlier this month.
Showbiz legend Dick Van Dyke was spotted catching a bit of sun and fresh air with his much younger wife Arlene Silver in Los Angeles this week
He rang in his 100th birthday in December after months of excited buildup to what had promised to be a joyously nostalgic fanfare
The occasion, however, fell one day before the murder of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele – the son and daughter-in-law of Van Dyke’s best friend Carl Reiner
Silver was glimpsed that day stepping out for a spot of exercise on her own, hauling along a yoga mat and carrying a ceramic coffee mug to the car.
On the Monday after the Reiner murders – two days after Van Dyke’s 100th birthday – she had posted an Instagram video about the ‘weird, wonderful, awful weekend.’
She noted that ‘Dick’s birthday was so amazing, so over-the-top beautiful,’ only to be immediately followed by the ‘horrible’ news of the killings.
Silver added that Van Dyke ‘didn’t sleep’ after the news spread of the development as he ‘wanted to stay up’ in order to find out more.
The Reiners were found stabbed to death December 14 at their $13.5 million Brentwood estate, where their 32-year-old son Nick lived in the guesthouse.
Nick, who had a long history of drug issues and was also reportedly diagnosed with schizophrenia, is awaiting trial for their murders and has pled not guilty.
His sister Romy, who reportedly lived across the street, is said to have discovered the bodies and then allegedly told police about a ‘dangerous’ family member who ‘should be a suspect’ before Nick was found and arrested.
Silver noted in her video that Rob and Carl Reiner ‘were the first people I ever met with Dick,’ adding that ‘Rob and Michele were always together, like Dick and I, and I always felt part of the Reiner family. They always treated me like part of their family.’
Carl Reiner was the creator of The Dick Van Dyke Show, on which the leading man’s character was named Rob Petrie after the then teenaged Rob Reiner
Now, months later, Van Dyke appeared frail and downcast as a gentleman in a Whitney Houston t-shirt pushed him along in a wheelchair
Trailing along not far behind them was his 54-year-old wife, with whom the Mary Poppins star celebrated his 14th wedding anniversary earlier this month
Van Dyke’s latest sighting comes two days after Oscars host Conan O’Brien – another close friend of the Reiners – led a heartfelt tribute to them at the ceremony
Silver was glimpsed that day stepping out for a spot of exercise on her own
She was hauling along a yoga mat and carrying a ceramic coffee mug to the car
Silver was glimpsed that day stepping out for a spot of exercise on her own, hauling along a yoga mat and carrying a ceramic coffee mug to the car
Van Dyke’s latest sighting comes two days after Oscars host Conan O’Brien – another close friend of the Reiners – led a heartfelt tribute to them at the ceremony
Silver has revelaed that Van Dyke ‘didn’t sleep’ after the news spread of the killings as he ‘wanted to stay up’ in order to find out more
Van Dyke’s latest sighting comes two days after Oscars host Conan O’Brien – another close friend of the Reiners – led a heartfelt tribute to them at the ceremony.
Led by When Harry Met Sally… star Billy Crystal, the homage saw many of the Hollywood luminaries Reiner directed take the stage in his memory.
Among them were When Harry Het Sally… leading lady Meg Ryan, Misery icon Kathy Bates, This Is Spinal Tap stars Michael McKean and Christopher Guest, Stand By Me actors Jerry O’Connell and Wil Wheaton.
Demi Moore, Kiefer Sutherland and Kevin Pollak of A Few Good Men were there, as were Cary Elwes, Fred Savage, Mandy Patinkin and Carol Kane of The Princess Bride.
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