Home / Arts and Entertainment / On-Air Gaffe: Dick Van Dyke Mistakenly Declared Dead
On-Air Gaffe: Dick Van Dyke Mistakenly Declared Dead
12 Feb
Summary
- Radio host mistakenly announced Dick Van Dyke's death.
- The confusion stemmed from mixing him with James Van Der Beek.
- Dick Van Dyke recently celebrated his 100th birthday.
During a live broadcast on Heart FM, radio host Ashley Roberts made a serious on-air error, announcing that Dick Van Dyke had passed away. This announcement came just weeks after the legendary actor celebrated his 100th birthday.
Roberts confused Dick Van Dyke with James Van Der Beek, the "Dawson's Creek" star who died on Wednesday at age 48 after a battle with colon cancer. Co-hosts Jamie Theakston and Amanda Holden quickly intervened to correct Roberts, emphasizing that Dick Van Dyke is very much alive and had recently marked his centenary.
The host attributed her gaffe to a late night celebrating a BAFTA EE Rising Star award. Dick Van Dyke, known for "Mary Poppins," turned 100 on December 13 and celebrated at home. In contrast, James Van Der Beek's family announced his passing on Instagram, noting his courageous fight against cancer.
A GoFundMe page was established to support James Van Der Beek's family, with donations quickly exceeding $1.2 million. His wife, Kimberly, expressed gratitude for the support during their grieving period. The actor is survived by his wife and six children.
