Dick Van Dyke was “locked up with the psychos” in rehab.
Dick Van Dyke bought sober in 1972
The Mary Poppins actor – who celebrates his one hundredth birthday on Saturday (13.12.25) – checked right into a hospital to get sober in 1972 and admitted the services again then have been nothing like the trendy clinics of at this time.
He stated: “I bear in mind going to rehab and it being nothing like at this time. In my day they used to lock you up with the psychos! Down in St Luke’s, in Phoenix – they did not have any particular rehab place.
“The place was locked up and also you have been in there with the loony folks.
“It was solely two weeks again then, though I did the entire AA 12-step factor afterwards.
“However hey, You are no person if you have not been to rehab lately. Whether or not you could have an issue or not – go there!”
Regardless of his advancing years, Dick does his finest to remain wholesome and lively.
He stated: “I do not jog anymore however I am going to the fitness center and raise weights – simply sufficient at my age to remain limber. I additionally swim in my pool.
“I take a number of nutritional vitamins, I attempt to eat proper and I at all times begin the day with a wholesome breakfast of raisin Bran with wheat bran and blueberries – an awesome anti-oxidant. I am in fairly good well being contemplating how I’ve abused myself. I by no means anticipated to stay this lengthy, or really feel this good.”
The Analysis Homicide actor feels “very fortunate” he is not had any lung issues regardless of years of heavy smoking.
He stated: “I smoked for a very long time so I am very fortunate that I nonetheless have my lungs. I used to be a horrible smoker – smoking one cigarette after one other.
“I feel that every one these years after I was dancing might be what saved me. Both that, or genes.
“However I by no means did any medication. My technology, we smoked and drank.”
Dick – who has grownup youngsters Christian, Barry, Stacy and Carrie Beth together with his late first spouse, Margie Willett – worries youngsters of at this time aren’t given sufficient freedom.
He stated: “My very own father was a travelling salesman and solely residence on the weekends. I nonetheless fondly bear in mind how, as youngsters, the entire summer time was simply me and my brother barefoot doing what we wished. We went fishing, skinny-dipping, performed baseball..
“Children’ lives are so compartmentalised at this time, so deliberate. I feel a toddler wants time alone for his creativeness and creativity to work. Children who develop up micro-managed will not know what to do with themselves.
“A child wants some freedom. It is unhappy the world has turn out to be so harmful however they have to go on the market eventually. You may’t defend them from every thing.”
