Dick Van Dyke's Unexpected Longevity Tip Sends Fans Into a Frenzy – Here's What He Said

He's danced through decades, smiled through storms, and now, Dick Van Dyke has hit a jaw-dropping milestone few dare dream of. The legendary entertainer has turned 100 years old.

As fans across the globe celebrate the beloved icon's centennial birthday, one unexpected revelation from the star has taken center stage, and the internet can't stop buzzing about it.

Not a Superfood or Fitness Routine

In a recent interview clip shared by PEOPLE, Van Dyke revealed what he believes is the real secret behind his remarkable longevity, and it's not what you'd expect.

Instead of crediting a miracle diet or rigid lifestyle, the Hollywood legend stunned fans with a strikingly simple insight: avoid anger and hate.

"I really feel good for 100," Van Dyke said in the interview. "I have no pain, no discomfort."

Asked what he did right to make it this far, the Mary Poppins star replied with characteristic humility. "Don't ask. I don't know. I'm rather lazy."

"Anger Eats You Up Inside"

In the widely shared clip, Van Dyke made it clear: it's not about the gym or green juice. It's what's happening inside that really matters.

"I've always thought that anger is one thing that eats up a person's insides and hate," he said. In a powerful moment, he revealed that he's never been able to harbor deep hatred for anyone.

Of course, he's had his dislikes, and he didn't sugarcoat that. "You know, the things I don't like, people I don't like and disapprove of," he admitted. But he drew a line in the sand. "I never really was able to white heat kind of hate," he added.

Then came a deeply personal story.

"My father was a person who was constantly upset by the state of things in his life and everything," Van Dyke shared. "It did take him at 74 years old. I think that is one of the chief things that kept me going."

"I Never Wake Up in a Bad Mood"

Van Dyke confessed that his energy levels may shift, but his mindset never wavers. "I never wake up in a bad mood," he said.

The interview took place at his Malibu home, where he sat beside his wife, Arlene Silver, 54. With his December 13 centennial birthday fast approaching, the star even managed a cheeky quip: "I hope I make it."

Fans flooded the Instagram post with emotional replies, many fixated on the timeless message about hate.

"I agree 100% with what he says!" wrote one. "I don't hate," said another. A third gushed, "One of the BEST advice of getting to live this long… no HATRED inside. 💯🙌🏾"

A Heartfelt Reflection on Aging

Van Dyke didn't shy away from discussing the realities of aging.

He admitted he's now hard of hearing, a bit unsteady on his feet, and walks with a cane. He often goes barefoot at home. But even so, the sparkle in his eye hasn't dimmed. As he joked and sang familiar tunes, he smiled and said, "I feel like I'm about 13."

And yes, he acknowledged the inevitable. "The end of my life is so much closer," he wrote. Still, he faces it with grace. "When you expire, you expire," he told PEOPLE. "I don't have any fear of death for some reason." He added, "I've had such a wonderfully full and exciting life. That I can't complain."

No Plans to Slow Down

In a separate interview with TODAY, Van Dyke made it clear: retirement is off the table.

"I don't want to. I mean, it's my hobby. It's my life. I love it," he said. Then, he added, "I'm looking for work right now," half-joking, or maybe not.

These days, he's been promoting his new book, 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life. The title alone speaks volumes.

"I tend to look on the good side of things," he said.

His Secret to Feeling Young

Looking back on his 75-year career, Van Dyke said he feels incredibly fortunate. "I got to do for a living what I would have done for nothing," he said. He believes that doing what he loved played a major role in his happiness.

He also pointed to staying active. Movement, he said, keeps him feeling young. He dances often with his wife.

"I think keeping moving," he said. "She keeps me young because we sing and we dance, and she just keeps me a teenager."

What He Hopes the World Remembers

When asked about his legacy, Van Dyke gave a powerful answer: attitude is everything.

"I think it's about an attitude toward life, to look at the bright side," he said.

In his book, he writes about legacy with humble clarity. "I don't care how long the memory of me, Dick Van Dyke, lasts in the world after I'm gone," he wrote. "I care about the survival of what I've shared with the world, humor, compassion, a zest for living, a love of music."

As Dick Van Dyke toasts a hundred years of laughter, music, and magic, it's not a fad or trend that has people talking. It's his clear-eyed, heartfelt truth.

Let go of hate. Don't carry anger. Live lighter.

And fans? They're listening.