Dick Van Dyke Becomes Oldest Daytime Emmy Winner Ever: ‘I Can’t Believe It!’ — Watch
Dick Van Dyke, at the age of 98, on Friday night became the oldest person to win a Daytime Emmy — for his guest-starring role as Days of Our Lives‘ “Mystery Man,” aka Timothy Robicheaux.
To do so, Van Dyke bested a Guest Performance in a Drama field that includes Linden Ashby (Cameron on The Young and the Restless), Ashley Jones (Bridget on The Bold and the Beautiful), Alley Mills (Heather on General Hospital) and Guy Pearce (Mike on Neighbours).
“I’m the oldest nominee in history. I can’t believe it. I was playing old men all my life,” Van Dyke said upon arriving on stage to collect his Emmy, as seen in the video above. “If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!”
Daytime Emmys Winners List
“I had such a great time… a wonderful time” on Peacock’s Days, he continued, “but in one scene where I’m being really serious, I broke myself up and I started to giggle, and I ruined the shot.
“I’m not used to frowning!” he explained, before comedically shifting into a super-surly face.
“I’m 98 years old, can you believe it?” he again remarked. “Thank you so much. This really tops off a lifetime, 80 years in the business. I love you, God bless.”
The late Norman Lear, a few years before his passing, broke his own record to (again) be the oldest winner of a Primetime Emmy, also at age 98. (In 2020, he won for exec-producing Live In Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family and Good Times.) The oldest winner of an acting Emmy was Betty White, who in 2010, at age 88, grabbed gold for guest-hosting Saturday Night Live.
