Magical Dick Van Dyke Special to Air Next Month!

In 1964, Disney released one of its most classic and iconic live-action movies of all time — Mary Poppins. The film starred Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins, a nanny with seemingly magical abilities who arrives to help the Banks family when they need it the most. While she is mainly in charge of the children, Mary Poppins shows the perpetually occupied Mr. Banks just how important his family is.

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Of course, Mary Poppins can’t do everything by herself, so she has her good friend Bert by her side. Bert is a chimney sweep who has known Mary Poppins for a long time. The loveable chimney sweep was played by the inimitable Dick Van Dyke.

Both Van Dyke and Andrews went on to have successful careers and are icons among Disney fans. And now, a television special will honor the man who loved to have a jolly holiday with Mary.

On December 21, CBS will air a special on Dick Van Dyke, called 98 Years of Magic. Van Dyke will celebrate his 98th birthday on December 13. The show will air on CBS and live on Paramount+ from 9 p.m. until 11 p.m. ET. It will also be available to stream the next day on Paramount+.

Van Dyke released a statement after the special was announced.

“I started with CBS under contract in 1955 with the CBS morning show, then The Dick Van Dyke Show and Diagnosis Murder. I’ve been with the CBS family for almost 70 years, and I couldn’t be prouder. I’m incredibly honored that CBS will be throwing a 98^th birthday special for me. Can’t wait to be part of the show!”

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Throughout his more than 60 years in Hollywood, Van Dyke has been one of the most notable names around. He has won four Primetime Emmy Awards and one Daytime Emmy Award. He even won an Emmy Award for his work on the Mary Poppins soundtrack, which he shares with the Sherman Brothers and Julie Andrews.

Related: Beloved Dick Van Dyke Receives Sweet Serenade During Disney Visit

The two-hour tribute will honor Van Dyke’s illustrious career by heading back to the set of the Dick Van Dyke Show, where there will be music and dance performances. The show will be full of special guests and even a holiday musical number! We do not know if one of the special guests will be Van Dyke’s Mary Poppins costar, Julie Andrews.

98 Years of Magic will also show a ton of wonderful archival footage from several iconic movies that the actor starred in, including Bye Bye Birdie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and of course, Mary Poppins!

Mary Poppins was not the only time Van Dyke worked with Disney throughout his long career. Two years after the release of Mary Poppins, Van Dyke also starred in Lt. Robin Crusoe, U.S.N., and in 1968 he starred in Never a Dull Moment alongside Edward G. Robinson.

Decades later, Mr. Van Dyke appeared as Cecil in the Night at the Museum franchise and, in 2014, he provided the voice of Captain Goof Beard and Grandpappy Goof in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Van Dyke has slowed down when it comes to his acting career, but he still remains a very active person. He can often be seen out and about in Malibu with his wife Arlene. He and his wife have released videos of the two of them dancing, and Van Dyke even released a video of him taking ukulele lessons. Van Dyke has also been seen helping those in need to work in the area.

Van Dyke and his wife, Arlene Silver, serve as producers on the CBS special, along with White Label Productions.

Will you be watching the Dick Van Dyke special, 98 Years of Magic? Let us know in the comments!

This post is originally appeared on Disney Fanatic.