Anyone who’s ever seen the character, Rob Petrie (The Dick Van Dyke Show,) trip over the ottoman on his way into the house after a long day at the office knows the Van Dyke name is synonymous with comedy.

Born in 1925 in West Plains, Missouri, Richard Wayne Van Dyke began his acting career during World War II, but he didn’t become a household name until the 1960s, when he played the role of Alfred F. Peterson in the musical, Bye Bye Birdie. Prior to Bye Bye Birdie, Van Dyke hosted several television game shows, including The Price is Right.

From 1961 to 1966, he starred with Mary Tyler Moore in The Dick Van Dyke Show, the series that secured him a place in television history.

During the five year run of the show, Van Dyke won three Emmy Awards. Twice after the series went off the air, networks tried to recapture the success with shows like The New Dick Van Dyke Show, The Van Dyke Show and The Dick Van Dyke Show Revisited, but none ever caught on like the original.

During the 1970s, Van Dyke appeared on The Carol Burnett Show, portraying a variety of comedic characters in the sketch-comedy style show. Throughout the 1980s he made numerous guest appearances on shows like Highway to Heaven, Matlock and the Golden Girls, as well as starring in several made-for-TV movies.

In 1991, Van Dyke took on the recurring role of Doctor Mark Sloan in Diagnosis Murder, portraying a 40-year medical veteran who often worked closely with LAPD to help solve murder cases. Continuing the portray an elder medical expert into the new millennium, he took on the role of Doctor Jonathan Maxwell in the series Murder 101.

With a career that spanned more than six decades, and so many memorable roles under his belt, Dick Van Dyke is an icon who will long be remembered for his quirky characters, sense of humor and winning smile. At 84, here’s hoping Van Dyke has a few more roles over the next couple years, because even as he’s gotten older, nothing has changed about his humor. His recent stint in the blockbuster film, Night at the Museum was proof enough for me that Van Dyke’s still got it.