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Dick Van Dyke, 98, appears in a three-generation family photo with famous son and grandson
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Dick Van Dyke, 98, appears in a three-generation family photo with famous son and grandson

Dick Van Dyke has a family packed with talent, with the Disney legend’s children and grandchildren continuing his decades-long legacy in the entertainment world.

The 98-year-old screen and stage icon welcomed four children with his first wife Margie Willett, Christian, Barry, Stacy and Carrie Beth, and they have all appeared on screen alongside their father.

However, no one has followed in his footsteps as much as Barry, now 73, who co-starred with Dick in Diagnosis: murder from 1993-2001. He has been married to Mary Carey since 1974, and they share four children.

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In a photo from last year recently shared on Dick’s social media page, it is clear to see how much the genes have been passed down through the generations, as the actor poses with his youngest son and his grandson Wes.

Wes, 40, is the second youngest of Barry and Mary’s childrenwith the couple also parents to sons Carey and Shane, and daughter Taryn. Wes is also an actor, but has now developed a career in the visual arts.

“Three generations of incredible artists,” read the caption of the photo, which captured the three men at Wes’s art show at Malibu City Hall last yearwhere the proud father and grandfather wear a suit to support his family.

Fans responded with admiring comments such as: “Such a beautiful photo of generations of talent!! Still watching Diagnosis: Murder!!” and, “Beautiful photo and family..truly blessed,” and also, “All I see is a sequel to a diagnosis murder…it’s nice to see Barry!”

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times When the show premiered 30 years ago, Barry couldn’t help but gush about working with his famous father, who was already a Hollywood veteran.

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“I would always want to work with him,” he said, calling him “the best to work with, very creative. He has a lot of integrity and he will work no matter what happens, including physical discomfort. He set a good example We’ve always talked about working together.”

Portrait of American actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke with his wife Margie Willet, posing in front of a fireplace with their four children: Barry, Carrie, Chris and Stacey. Van Dyke and Willet sit on a coffee table while their children wait© Getty Images
The actor and his first wife Margie Willet welcomed four children during their marriage

Talking about their on-screen dynamic, which once again sees them playing a father-son duo, he added, “It’s an easy role for me to fall into.”

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“My dad pretty much plays himself. You really see him. All that warmth and humanity really comes across. So I mostly play myself. So their relationship is very much our relationship.”

Diagnosis Murder, a CBS medical crime drama series. From left to right, Barry Van Dyke (as Steve Sloan) and Dick Van Dyke (as Dr. Mark Sloan)© Getty Images
Barry starred alongside his father in “Diagnosis: Murder” for eight years.

“He wanted me to have my childhood,” Barry added of growing up isolated from Hollywood, while also making cameos on his father’s variety show. “He told me that if I still wanted to act after I graduated high school, it would be okay.”

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Barry explained that his father was never really a showbiz type. “My dad wasn’t in those circles. We knew he was on TV and watching the show and knew it was successful, but we didn’t hang out with a lot of show business types.”

Actor Dick Van Dyke, Michelle Triola, son Barry Van Dyke and wife Mary Van Dyke attend the Third Annual American Comedy Awards on May 23, 1989 at the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California© Getty Images
Barry and his wife Mary with father Dick Van Dyke

However, he was well aware that making his own name in the industry could not depend solely on Dick’s name. “There’s too much at stake for producers and casting directors to just name you. You either perform or you don’t. You work or you don’t.”