Dick Van Dyke turned 100 this weekend — a milestone few entertainers reach, and fewer still reach while remaining a shared cultural touchstone across generations.

For many Americans, Van Dyke will always be Rob Petrie, tumbling over ottomans on “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” or Bert the chimney sweep, dancing across London rooftops in “Mary Poppins.” What makes his centennial especially striking is that he never stopped. And well into his 90s, Van Dyke continued acting, singing and dancing in his return to the Disney franchise in “Mary Poppins Returns,” where he delighted audiences as the film’s elderly bank manager (and son of the disguised character he played also played in the original).

In interviews surrounding his birthday, Van Dyke has consistently downplayed the idea that longevity re

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