The magic of Dick Van Dyke: How Mary Poppins star, 99, captured hearts of all ages

"From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging."

"In 2023, Dick Van Dyke appeared on the season premiere of The Masked Singer. Hidden inside an ornate gnome costume, the veteran performer sang a rousing version of Louis Armstrong's When You're Smiling that had the studio audience up on their feet. When he was unmasked later in the episode, the emotional reaction was even stronger. As the crowd exploded and judge Ken Jeong thanked Van Dyke for inspiring him to get into comedy, Nicole Scherzinger simply burst into tears."

The Independent funds on-the-ground reporting across topics from reproductive rights and climate change to Big Tech, relying on reader donations to sustain journalism without paywalls. The outlet investigates financial and political connections and produces documentaries highlighting American women fighting for reproductive rights. Donor support enables reporters to reach both sides of unfolding stories and maintain public access to reporting and analysis. In popular culture coverage, Dick Van Dyke appeared on The Masked Singer in 2023, performed as a gnome, and elicited an emotional audience reaction that underscored his enduring public affection as he approaches his 100th birthday.

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