Margie Willett was the first wife of famed actor Dick Van Dyke and an American celebrity spouse and media personality. She rose to notoriety in 1948 as the first wife of the Bye Bye Birdie actor.
They were married for nearly four decades before splitting up. Despite being a star wife and media personality, Willett kept a low-key existence and avoided the spotlight as much as she could.
Unfortunately, the former celebrity spouse died in 2008. Today, in this post, we will discuss her life, her marriage to Dick Van, her children, and other topics. We’ll also discuss her ex-husband’s present whereabouts. Dyke, did you marry anyone after Margie? Find out more here.
Margie Willett was born in Illinois and raised there.
Page Contents
- 1 Margie Willett was born in Illinois and raised there.
- 2 Margie Willett first met her ex-husband, Dick Van Dyke, in high school.
- 3 Margie Willett and her husband Dick were married on a radio show.
- 4 Margie Willett was an artist who disliked Hollywood.
- 5 Dyke, the late celebrity spouse, struggled with addiction.
- 6 Dick Van Dyke and Margie Willett divorced due to his infidelity.
- 7 Margie Willett passed away at the age of 81.
Marjorie Torrell Willett, the celebrity spouse, was born in Danville, Illinois, USA in 1926. She was of white caucasian racial ancestry and was of American nationality.
She spent much of her childhood in her hometown and attended a local high school. Margie’s parents and siblings are unknown because she was a very reserved person.
Dick Van Dyke, on the other hand, was born on December 13, 1925 in West Plains, Missouri to Loren Wayne Van Dyke and Hazel Victoria McCord. His mother worked as a stenographer, and his father was a salesperson.
He grew raised in Danville, Illinois, with his younger brother, actor Jerry Van Dyke.
Margie Willett first met her ex-husband, Dick Van Dyke, in high school.
Willett and his ex-wife originally met in their adolescence, when he was still in high school. Similarly, when she fell in love with Dyke, she was seeing a fellow classmate who was on the football and wrestling teams.
Years later, Dick reminisces about their early days together and included them in his book, My Lucky Life in and Out of Show Business. He claims,
“She had dated a boy who was on both the football and wrestling teams throughout high school.” He wanted to kill me after she left him for me.”
Despite the fact that they fell in love as teenagers, they were unexpectedly together for nearly four decades.
Margie Willett and her husband Dick were married on a radio show.
Given the details of their early relationship, it is evident that the couple were too young at the time. Also, Dyke was still struggling, and Margie didn’t have a steady work.
Due to financial difficulties, the couple decided to marry on air on ABC’s Bride and Groom radio talk show after dating for approximately a month. They married on February 12, 1948.
The show’s producer paid for the former’s honeymoon in exchange for their on-air wedding. After marriage, the couple was so broke that they lived in their car for a period.
Margie and Dyke were among the 1000 couples that tied the knot in front of a minister, two microphones, and 15 million viewers.
The former husband-wife had four children from their three-decade marriage: Carrie Beth Van Dyke, Christian Van Dyke, Stacy Van Dyke, and Barry Van Dyke. All four of them are professional actors.
Margie Willett was an artist who disliked Hollywood.
Dyke recounts memories of Willett and tells the world how she truly was in an interview with The Guardian. Willet, he said, was tremendously artistic but disliked the entertainment world.
Similarly, the only time we saw Margie was at public events she attended with her husband. Even during the activities, she would stroll to the sidelines when she noticed her husband chatting with several individuals.
Dyke also recalled how he and Willett were mistaken for brothers and sisters because of her short hair and makeup-free appearance. He explains,
“Once, when I was on the cover of a magazine, Margie bought six copies, and the cashier asked if she was my mother,” she says.
Dyke, the late celebrity spouse, struggled with addiction.
People who know Dick Van are well aware of his alcoholism and addiction. Dyke decided to get treatment after years of drinking and went to a rehab clinic.
His drinking habit was gone as a result of his decision, and he saved time. And on the same day that he was released from rehab, Margie booked into the same facility for her addictions. She became addicted to her prescribed medications.
The mother of four spent time in the hospital attempting to recover from her addiction. She began spending the most of her time on their desert property after her discharge. And while she was struggling to reclaim her life, Dick was busy seeking love elsewhere.
Dick Van Dyke and Margie Willett divorced due to his infidelity.
In 2016, the Murder 101 actor released a book named Keep Moving in which he discusses his life experiences. He has documented every aspect of his life, from being hurt on set to his marriages. And, in the process, he addresses the underlying reason for his divorce from Margie.
Dyke became acquainted with his agent’s assistant, former actress Michelle Triola, while Margie was in recovery for her addiction.
The actor was so enamored with the actress’ charisma that they began dating despite the fact that he was still married to Margie. Dyke wrote in the book,
“Michelle was easy to talk to and understood what I was saying.” Michelle was suing actor Lee Marvin, with whom she had a six-year romance, at the time. I was attracted into a romantic connection. I was having an affair with someone other than my wife. It was incredible. “I was writhing in shame.”
Furthermore, the Curious George star revealed his infidelity to his then-wife only years later, in 1976. Margie and Dick decided to divorce on the 4th of May 1984 after hearing the news.
Following their divorce, Dyke continued to live with Michelle in Malibu until her death in 2009. Margie, on the other hand, stayed single.
Margie Willett passed away at the age of 81.
Unfortunately, the mother of four was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2007. She fought the illness for approximately a year before succumbing to it in 2008. She was 81 years old when she passed away.
Dyke stated that when Margie died, he lost a piece of himself. Willett’s children and family survived her. She had five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren as well.
Her ex-husband has been married to his second wife, makeup artist Arlene Silver, since February 29, 2012. The couple met at an award dinner party in 2006 and have a 46-year age difference.
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