Screen icon Dick Van Dyke, on the cusp of his 99th birthday, has publicly expressed his support for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the recent presidential election.
- November 13, 2024
AceShowbiz - When asked about Donald Trump's upcoming second term, Dick Van Dyke quipped that he was grateful he "won't be around to experience the four years." He then asked, "Does the future look bright for America?" to which he responded, "I hope you're right!"
Despite Van Dyke's endorsement, Trump prevailed in the election, defeating Kamala Harris in a landslide victory. However, the actor's impassioned message resonated with many, including celebrities who had previously spoken out against Trump.
Dick Van Dyke, the beloved screen icon known for his roles in "Mary Poppins" and "The Dick Van Dyke Show", previously made a rare social media appearance to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.
Addressing the camera in a black-and-white clip, the 98-year-old actor recited a speech he originally delivered at an event with Martin Luther King Jr. in 1964. Although he did not explicitly mention either Harris or Trump by name, Van Dyke made his support for Harris clear by tagging her Instagram account.
Speaking with passion, Van Dyke denounced hatred, prejudice, and other forms of division as "diseases" and "cancers of the soul" that have plagued humanity for years. He stressed that such qualities are not inherent to human nature but rather the result of "infectious viruses" that have corrupted individuals.
"To those who tell us that inequality is a necessary evil," Van Dyke declared, "we must respond that it is first evil and it is not necessary." He added that the nation is still animated by "essential decency," "basic goodness," and "preeminent dignity," but acknowledged that it has repeatedly failed to live up to these ideals.
