Dick Van Dyke Becomes Oldest Daytime Emmy Winner Ever: ‘I Can’t Believe It!’ — Watch

Dick Van Dyke, at the age of 98, on Friday night became the oldest person to win a Daytime Emmy — for his guest-starring role as Days of Our Lives ‘ “Mystery Man,” aka Timothy Robicheaux.

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To do so, Van Dyke bested a Guest Performance in a Drama field that includes Linden Ashby (Cameron on The Young and the Restless ), Ashley Jones (Bridget on The Bold and the Beautiful ), Alley Mills (Heather on General Hospital ) and Guy Pearce (Mike on Neighbours ).

“I’m the oldest nominee in history. I can’t believe it. I was playing old men all my life,” Van Dyke said upon arriving on stage to collect his Emmy, as seen in the video above. “If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself!”

“I had such a great time… a wonderful time” on Peacock’s Days , he continued, “but in one scene where I’m being really serious, I broke myself up and I started to giggle, and I ruined the shot.

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“I’m not used to frowning!” he explained, before comedically shifting into a super-surly face.

“I’m 98 years old, can you believe it?” he again remarked. “Thank you so much. This really tops off a lifetime, 80 years in the business. I love you, God bless.”

The late Norman Lear, a few years before his passing, broke his own record to (again) be the oldest winner of a Primetime Emmy, also at age 98. (In 2020, he won for exec-producing Live In Front of a Studio Audience: All in the Family and Good Times. ) The oldest winner of an acting Emmy was Betty White, who in 2010, at age 88, grabbed gold for guest-hosting Saturday Night Live .

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