Actor Dick Van Dyke welcomed his son, Barry Van Dyke, on July 31, 1951.
Barry Van Dyke and his father, Dick Van Dyke, at the Hallmark Channel TCA Party on July 12, 2006. Credit: Mathew Imaging/FilmMagic
Although Barry grew up in the shadow of a TV legend, he has carved out his own place in Hollywood. Over the years, he’s appeared on series such as Wonder Woman, The A-Team, Mork & Mindy and Galactica 1980, and spent eight seasons co-starring with his father on Diagnosis Murder.
His dad’s roles in classics like Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang made Dick Van Dyke a household name. Barry has often remarked that the dynamic, playful energy his father brought to the screen was exactly the same off-camera.
Reflecting on his childhood in a 1987 interview on Born Famous, Barry said, “He was a terrific father—always young at heart and fully engaged with us. He taught me how to make good choices and be true to myself. I’m proud to pass those lessons on to my own children.”
Now a grandfather himself, Barry continues to act and still takes inspiration from his 98-year-old father. “I’d work with him any time,” he told audiences in 1987. “He’s endlessly creative and such a joy to be around.”
He’s the second of four children
Dick Van Dyke and his first wife, Margie Willett, with their children Barry, Carrie, Chris and Stacey. Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty
Dick Van Dyke and Margie Willett, married in 1948, raised four children together. Their eldest, Christian, was born May 13, 1950, and today practices law in Oregon. Barry arrived on July 31, 1951, followed by Stacy in 1955 (she also acted on Diagnosis Murder) and Carrie Beth on October 18, 1961, who has largely stayed out of the spotlight. “They all turned out great,” Dick told USA Today in 2011, “not a horse thief in the bunch.”
He grew up in Los Angeles
Barry and Dick Van Dyke at the opening night of The Will Rogers Follies on July 1, 1993. Credit: Vinnie Zuffante/Getty
When Barry was nine, the Van Dyke family relocated to Los Angeles for Dick’s hit series, The Dick Van Dyke Show. Despite his father’s fame, Barry recalled to The Los Angeles Times in 1994 that their home life felt ordinary. “We knew Dad was on TV and that the show was popular, but we didn’t mix with the Hollywood crowd,” he said.
He and his wife were high school sweethearts
Barry Van Dyke and Mary Carey Van Dyke at the American Comedy Awards on March 6, 1994. Credit: Barry King/Alamy
Barry first met Mary Carey at age 16, when he worked as a ticket taker at an Arizona movie theater, according to The Los Angeles Times. They wed at 23 and have four children—Carey, Shane, Wes and Taryn—and proudly embrace the role of grandparents. Their grandchildren include Ava, Gracie, Jane, Kayden, Kyla Mae and Conor.
On Father’s Day 2023, Dick shared a family photo on Instagram, writing, “I never realized when I first had children what I was beginning. I’m amazed and grateful to spend Father’s Day with my kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren!”
He made his first television appearance on his dad’s show
Barry (right) as Matt Burgess and Dick as Dick Burgess on The Van Dyke Show. Credit: CBS/Getty
At age nine, Barry appeared on The Dick Van Dyke Show, playing the same son audiences saw at home. “He was Rob Petrie off-screen,” Barry explained to USA Today in 2011. “Dad always played himself, so fans feel like they know the real him.” Despite his early start, his father encouraged him to wait until after high school to pursue acting full-time.
He forged his own path in Hollywood
Barry Van Dyke as Matt Burgess on The Van Dyke Show. Credit: CBS/Getty
Although his father’s name opened doors, Barry insists that success in Hollywood requires talent and dedication. “Producers and casting directors won’t hire you on fame alone,” he told The Los Angeles Times. “You either deliver or you don’t.” Dick, for his part, welcomed working with family, saying in a 1998 CNN interview, “It’s a wonderful way to see your grown children and share the experience.”
He’s appeared on many beloved TV shows
Barry Van Dyke in The Untold Story. Credit: Ammo Content / Courtesy Everett
Over the 1970s and ’80s, Barry guest-starred on hits like Murder, She Wrote, Full House, Wonder Woman, The A-Team, Mork & Mindy and Magnum P.I.. He also joined the casts of Battlestar Galactica 1980 and Airwolf, plus numerous television films. His most recent on-screen appearances were in the 2019 features The Untold Story and Heavenly Deposit.
His most memorable roles were alongside his father
Barry as Detective Steve Sloan and Dick as Dr. Mark Sloan on Diagnosis Murder. Credit: CBS/Getty
When Diagnosis Murder debuted in 1993, Barry took on the role of Detective Steve Sloan, working alongside his father’s Dr. Mark Sloan. Dick later revealed to People in 1998 that one of the reasons he returned from retirement was the chance to collaborate with his son. The series ran for 178 episodes and spawned five TV movies, all showcasing the genuine warmth of their real-life bond.
After the show ended in 2002, the Van Dykes reunited—along with Barry’s son Shane—for the brief series Murder 101 in 2006.