Dick Van Dyke, 98, says he 'always loved' showbiz as he reflects on his career spanning over 7 decades

LOS ANGELES, CALIFONIA: Veteran actor Dick Van Dyke loves what he does, and that’s what keeps him going.

The legendary actor, who’d turn 99 in December, opened up about his illustrious career, "It was just a matter of enjoying myself."

“I always loved what I was doing. If it had felt like work, I probably would have stopped it a long time ago,” Van Dyke told Deadline.

“I call it my play,” he referenced to his body of work, which notably includes 'Bye Bye Birdie' on Broadway, 'Mary Poppins', 'The Masked Singer', 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', and 'Night at the Museum' among many others.

Dick Van Dyke reflects on his 75 years of 'show business' career

Van Dyke was moved by a surprise tribute organized for his 98th birthday at a CBS studio, where a two-hour footage of archival and live performances of his best career works was shown.

"It's difficult to say how I felt," he shared with People.

"I came home, and I said, 'You know something? It's going to be a couple of days before this actually sinks in that it happened.' I never expected that kind of recognition," Van Dyke explained. "My whole life went before me. I didn't realize I had done so many things while I was 75 years in show business.”

Van Dyke's most recent achievements

Last year, Van Dyke competed in 'The Masked Singer', "I was positive they wouldn't be able to guess who I was. And I was right!" he said of his experience. 

The 98-year-old added another feather to his illustrious career by becoming the oldest person to earn a Daytime Emmy nomination for his guest-starring role on ‘Days of Our Lives’.

"Some of the people have been doing it for 20 years. That's all the homework I can do – watch one and see how they do it," he told Access on his preparation for the character of Timothy Robicheaux on the soap opera.

The star also praised his wife Arlene Silver for playing an important part in his life, and what appealed to him the most about her, “I saw her first!” Silver was looking resplendent in a navy blue gown and cape."

The couple first met during the 2007 SAG Awards as Van Dyke was present there to give away the Lifetime Achievement Award to his 'Mary Poppins' co-star Julie Andrews.