Dick Van Dyke’s ex-wife Margie Willett Wiki Bio, death, grandchildren, age

• Margie Willett was married to Dick Van Dyke from 1948 to 1984, and had four children, including Barry Van Dyke
• She was born in 1927 in Illinois, but details about her early life and education are unknown
• Margie and Dick divorced in 1984 and she raised their children out of the spotlight
• She was a grandmother to 10 grandchildren and a great-grandmother before her death in 2008 from pancreatic cancer
• Her ex-husband, Dick Van Dyke, had a net worth of $50 million as of 2019 and married Arlene Silver in 2012

Who is Margie Willett?

Although in his 90s, Dick Van Dyke is still active in the entertainment world, and there is no sign that he will stop before he dies. Thanks to his enormous popularity, people closest to him have also experienced fame, including his ex-wife, Margie Willett. The two were married from 1948 until 1984, and had four children, including Barry Van Dyke, who is now a famous actor and filmmaker in his own right.

So, do you want to find out more about Margie, from her childhood to her death, and her career as well? If yes, then stay with us as we uncover the life and work of Margie Willett.

Margie Willett Wiki: Age, Early Life, and Education

Born Marjorie Willett in 1927 in Illinois USA, she didn’t disclose much information about her childhood, such as her exact birthdate and place, also the names and vocations of her parents, and whether she had any siblings or not. Furthermore, she never shared which schools she attended, and if she went to university.

Popularity Through Marriage

Margie and Dick met in the 1940s, and after a couple of dates, they made their relationship official, and married in 1948, remained married until 1984. Dick’s career started in 1947, and as he was becoming more popular, Margie’s name also started appearing in the media. However, she managed to stay out of the spotlight, and journalists never found out much about Dick’s wife. On the other hand, Dick’s career and life became the center of attention, and it was eventually discovered that he had a secret affair with Michelle Triola Marvin, which marked the end of the couple’s marriage, which officially ended in 1984. Margie and Dick had welcomed daughters Stacy and Carrie, and sons Barry and Jerry.

Life After Divorce, Grandchildren, and Death

Following their divorce, Margie continued to live her life away from the spotlight, focused on raising her children and being quite close to them. Now, all of her children are married, and before her death, Margie also became a grandmother to ten grandchildren, and also had a great-grandchildren. One grandchild, Jessica, passed away from Reye’s syndrome.

In 2007, Margie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and after a battle that lasted for around a year, Margie passed away in 2008 at the age of 81.

Margie Willett Ex-Husband, Dick Van Dyke

Now that we have shared all about Margie, let’s share some information about the man who made her famous, her ex-husband, Dick Van Dyke.

Born as Richard Wayne Van Dyke on the 13th December 1925, in West Plains, Missouri USA, he is the son of Hazel Victoria, who was a stenographer, and her husband Loren Wayne Van Dyke, who was a salesman. Dick spent his childhood in Danville, Illinois, with his younger brother Jerry Van Dyke, who was also an actor. They are of Irish, Dutch, Scottish, and English ancestry – one ancestor was John Alden, a Mayflower passenger.

Dick dropped out of high school and wanted to join US Army Air Forces to become a pilot in the World War II; however, he was denied several times, before he was accepted as a radio announcer, and then sent to the Special Service as an entertainer for the troops based in the continental US. He eventually received his high school GED in 2004, when he was 78 years old.

Career Beginnings

He launched his career in the late ‘40s, primarily as a radio DJ, and then with Phil Erickson formed a comedy duo named Eric and Van- the Merry Mutes. They toured the west coast performing in nightclubs, until 10 years later, Dick made his Broadway debut, featuring in the play “The Girls Against the Boys”, and then starred in the play “Bye Bye Birdie”.

Rise to Prominence

It was during the ‘60s that Dick reached stardom, primarily with his own “The Dick Van Dyke Show”, which ran from 1961 to 1966. He was comedy writer Rob Petrie, and created over 120 episodes of the highly-acclaimed show which launched him to stardom. Since then, Dick has become a household name in the comedy genre, and has starred in numerous successful films and TV series, including “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” from 1968, then the TV series “Diagnosis Murder”, which ran from 1993 to 2001, and most recently he appeared in the film “Buttons” (2018).

During his career, Dick has won multiple awards, including five Primetime Emmy Awards, Tony Award, then the SAG’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and been rewarded with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, among many other honors.

Dick Van Dyke Net Worth and Personal Life

Dick has made numerous contributions to television, film, and theater as well. His success has only increased his wealth, so let’s just see how rich Dick Van Dyke is. According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that Dick’s net worth is as high as $50 million as of early 2019, which is quite impressive, don’t you think?

The reason for his divorce from Margie was his affair with Michelle Triola Marvin, which started in the mid- ’70s and lasted until her death in 2009. Dick has been married to Arlene Silver since 2012.