PBS Lines Up American Masters Dick Van Dyke Doc

In celebration of Dick Van Dyke’s upcoming 100th birthday on December 13, American Masters—Starring Dick Van Dyke will air on PBS on December 12.

The documentary will chronicle the star’s career over eight decades, beginning with his stint as a radio DJ and slapstick nightclub act through to his breakthrough TV gigs and movie roles. It will feature never-before-seen footage and performance clips, as well as new, exclusive interviews with Julie Andrews, Carol Burnett, Jim Carrey, Ted Danson, Steve Martin and more.

Additionally, it will include archival interviews with Van Dyke’s former co-stars and colleagues such as Walter Cronkite, Sheldon Leonard, Rose Marie, Mary Tyler Moore and Carl Reiner.

The filmmaker behind American Masters—Starring Dick Van Dyke is John Scheinfeld, whose previous work includes writing, producing and directing the American Masters film This Is…Bob Hope, as well as the theatrical documentaries The U.S. vs. John Lennon, Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary, The Happy Days of Garry Marshall and What The Hell Happened To Blood, Sweat & Tears?

“Dick Van Dyke is a national treasure,” Scheinfeld said. “It’s been an absolute joy to come to work every day on a documentary that can be seen for free on PBS across the entire country in advance of his 100th birthday. Dick is unique in entertainment history, and so is this film.”

The new documentary is produced by Crew Neck Productions and Copper Beeches in association with American Masters Pictures and The Television Academy Foundation. Original production funding for Starring Dick Van Dyke is provided by Walter E. Disney Miller and the Diane and Ron Miller Charitable Fund.

Original American Masters series production funding is provided by AARP, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Kate W. Cassidy Foundation, Lillian Goldman Programming Endowment, Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, Koo and Patricia Yuen, The Philip and Janice Levin Foundation, The Blanche & Irving Laurie Foundation, The André and Elizabeth Kertész Foundation, The Marc Haas Foundation, Ellen and James S. Marcus, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Trust, Seton J. Melvin, Burton P. and Judith B. Resnick Foundation, Candace King Weir, The Charina Endowment Fund and public television viewers.

Starring Dick Van Dyke will be available for streaming concurrent with broadcast on all station-branded PBS platforms, including the PBS website and app. PBS station members can view many series, documentaries and specials via PBS Passport.