Dick Van Dyke, beloved star of Disney’s iconic Mary Poppins, opened up about his emotional reaction to the film’s music during an interview for The Untold Story of Mary Poppins: A Special Edition of 20/20. Reflecting on the first time he heard the Sherman Brothers’ compositions, Van Dyke, now 98, revealed, “I couldn’t believe, one tune after another. I wept. It was just the most beautiful thing I’d ever heard.”
Van Dyke, who played Bert the chimney sweep opposite Julie Andrews’ magical nanny, celebrated the enduring legacy of the 1964 classic, which won five Oscars, including Best Original Song for Chim Chim Cher-ee. During the interview, he also fondly recalled his connection with Walt Disney, saying, “We both admitted that we just pretended to be grown up and were still kids.”
The 20/20 special, which includes rare footage and interviews, airs on November 27, streaming the next day on Hulu and Disney+. The event coincides with the 60th anniversary of the film and features a special airing of Mary Poppins on November 28 as part of The Wonderful World of Disney.