Dick Van Dyke speaks out after being forced to cancel public appearances that are ‘more than he's able to do’

Dick Van Dyke has been around the Hollywood scene for long enough that you can excuse him for staying at home - he's almost 99!

Concerns were raised for the iconic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang actor when he failed to make it to the Primetime Emmy Awards, just a couple of weeks ago on September 9, after he was down to be present one of the awards.

Dick Van Dyke attends Carol Burnett's Hand and Footprint in the Cement Ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre on June 20, 2024 in Hollywood (Monica Schipper/Getty Images)

Well, the five-time Emmy Award winning 98-year-old has finally spoken out after his health forced him to cancel some public appearances that were 'more than he's able to do'.

He was snapped on Monday (September 23) by a photographer while leaving a pharmacy in Malibu, a coastal city west of Los Angeles, California.

On the same day a statement was released about an appearance he was supposed to make at a FanX event which is being held in Salt Lake City, Utah, from the Thursday (September 26) to Saturday (September 28).

Producers of the comic-con style expo wrote: "We are sorry to announce that Dick Van Dyke is not able to travel to FanX at this time.

"He expresses his gratitude to all of those who continue to support him but, at almost 99 years of age, traveling and interacting with thousands of people is more than he is able to do at this time."

American actor Dick van Dyke and actress Sally Ann Howes with the car which co-stars in their film 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' during production at Pinewood Studios. Dick Van Dyke plays Caractacus Potts with Sally Ann Howes as Truly Scrumptious in 1967 (Crawshaw /Mirrorpix/Getty Images)

But when he was caught by a photographer yesterday (September 23), the snapper asked him how he was feeling, Van Dyke joked: “I feel old!"

And when the question was posed about how he intends to celebrate his 99th birthday, on December 13 this year, the comedian replied that he is 'just praying that I make it'.

While he has struggled to make two appearances at events this year, the legendary actor did make it to the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 7, so he's still got some strength in him!

The Mary Poppins star gripped an Emmy award from his chair after Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic, a CBS special, won for the Outstanding Variety Special award.

Van Dyke became the oldest Daytime Emmy winner earlier this year when he scooped it at the grand old age of 98 (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

While he was holding onto the statue he wasn’t able to add to his five Primetime Emmys he already has, as it went to the producers of the show.

It did however show how loved he is in showbiz.

Nevertheless, earlier this year when he became the oldest Daytime Emmy award winner in its history.

When collecting his award at the ceremony in June, he said: “I’m 98 years old. Can you believe it? This really tops off a lifetime of 80 years in the business.

“If I had known I would have lived this long, I would’ve taken better care of myself.”