Christian Van Dyke was the first child born to Dick Van Dyke, one of the most talented actors Hollywood has ever seen. However, rather than develop an affinity for the glitz and glamor of showbiz, Christian chose a different path.
The career he chose was not something his father saw coming, as he had been a handful as a child. However, Christian has carved his path and become one of the most successful people in his work.
What career did he opt for instead of acting? And what other details about his life don’t you know? Keep reading to find out.
Christian Van Dyke Biography
He is the oldest child of Dick Van Dyke and Margerie Willett and was born on May 13, 1950, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. This makes him 73 years old as of 2023.
While Christian Van Dyke is the first son Dick and Willett welcomed, he is not the only child they had. He was blessed with three siblings, Barry Van Dyke, Carrie Beth Van Dyke, and Stacy Van Dyke.
While Christian chose to pursue a different path from showbiz, his brother, Barry, was very passionate about it. Like Dick, Barry is also an actor and has starred in several significant projects since his career started.
Christian’s sisters, Carrie Beth and Stacy, appeared on TV briefly early in their lives but ultimately grew to pursue different careers. They now live private lives.
Christian Van Dyke Career
Like his siblings, Christian Van Dyke also tried acting. He made his acting debut on January 31, 1962, and was the first among his siblings to be featured on “The Dick Van Dyke Show.” He played a finger-snapping, fedora-wearing boy named Frankie.
Unfortunately, his foray into showbiz did not go further than his participation in his father’s show. According to IMDB, his acting credits include: “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (1961), “The Dick Van Dyke Show – Celebrating the 60th Anniversary” (2021) and “Hollywood Goes to a World Premiere” (1964).
After stepping back from showbiz, Christian attended Occidental College in Los Angeles before moving on to Arizona State University, where he earned his law degree. Upon graduation, Christian started practicing law in Oregon.
He served as deputy district attorney in Corvallis, assistant attorney general in Salem, and district attorney in Marion County. He has also worked as corporate counsel for Nike and vice president of marketing at Patagonia.
Christian Van Dyke Personal Life
Dick Van Dyke’s son Christian is not much for publicity. However, he is not so private that details about his personal life are hard to find.
According to sources, he became a dad in 1974 when his then-wife Caroline Heller gave birth to their daughter, Jessica Lee. Sadly, Jessica passed on in April 1987 at the age of 13. Her death was allegedly caused by chicken pox and complications from Reye’s syndrome, which causes swelling in the brain and liver.
Before they separated, Christian and Heller welcomed two other kids, including a son and a daughter. The veteran lawyer is a doting father and is about impacting lessons, most of which he picked up from his father.
The father-son duo share a great bond. Even though he is in his 70s now, Christian still looks out for Dick. When his dad was about to marry makeup artist Arlene Silver, he voiced his doubts as she was 46 years Dick’s junior. Fortunately, after they exchanged vows in 2012, Christian came around.
Christian Van Dyke Parents
His parents met each other in Danville, Illinois, in 1947. After dating for just a month, they quickly fell for one another and got engaged before moving to Los Angeles.
They got married on February 12, 1948, in front of a minister and two radio microphones, as the ceremony was broadcast over the radio to a listening audience of up to 15 million thanks to the radio show “Bride and Groom.”
Dick Van Dyke and Willett’s marriage was blessed with four kids, including Christian. However, they ended up getting divorced in 1984 after a long separation. The cause of their split was alleged unfaithfulness on Dick’s end.
The actor has since moved on, happily married and thriving. However, Christian’s mother died in 2008 from pancreatic cancer. She was aged 81, and her death saddened her former husband. He pays tribute to her and always speaks kindly of her when he discusses their past.
