Dick Van Dyke is keeping up spirits amid the wildfires plaguing Malibu since Monday, December 9.
“Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for Bobo escaped as we were leaving,” Van Dyke, 98, shared via Facebook on Tuesday, December 10, referring to his wife, Arlene Silver. “We’re praying he’ll be ok and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires.”
In a second update, Van Dyke shared a sweet video of his and Silver’s pet cat, Bobo, and wrote: “Hoping Bobo is OK.”
According to The New York Times, the Franklin fire has set ablaze more than 2,7000 acres of land as of Tuesday afternoon.
Affluent Malibu is home to stars including Van Dyke, Cher, Barbra Streisand and more.
Cher’s publicist, Liz Rosenberg, told the outlet that the singer had evacuated to a hotel along with her pets on Monday. A spokesperson for Streisand told the Times he was awaiting news of the Oscar winner’s whereabouts.
The tragic wildfire and Tuesday’s evacuation came just days before Van Dyke turns 99 on Friday, December 13.
Earlier this year, the Mary Poppins star said in jest that he hoped to be still alive to celebrate his 99th birthday.
“I’m pretty old,” Van Dyke told a photographer in September, per Page Six.
When asked if he had any plans to celebrate his birthday in December, he joked, “Just praying that I make it.”
That same month Van Dyke sparked concerns after canceling a string of planned appearances, including a Utah-based fan convention.
“We are sorry to announce that Dick Van Dyke is not able to travel to FanX,” read a statement from FanX, the company hosting the three-day event. “He expresses his gratitude to all of those who continue to support him but, at almost 99 years of age, traveling and interacting with thousands of people is more than he is able to do at this time.”
The legendary actor also pulled out of the 2024 Emmy Awards on September 15 despite plans for him to be one of the night’s celebrity presenters.
However, he did attend the 2024 Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 7 where his CBS special, Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic, won the award for Outstanding Variety Special.
As well as joking he was “still looking for work,” Van Dyke shared his hope that his legacy would be “laughter.”
“For making people laugh for 75 years,” he told reporters of what he wanted to be remembered for. “I’ve been in the business for 75 years, I can’t believe it that I’m still here and performing!”
