It’s Eerie How Well It Works

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There’s never a dull moment in Dick Van Dyke and Arlene Silver’s relationship.

It’s worth noting that the pair, who have been married for 13 years despite a 46-year difference in age, have frequently opened up about their shared experiences and insights on life together. Lately, the actor from Mary Poppins has disclosed the charming reason behind their long-lasting relationship.

In a recent interview with People magazine, published on April 21st, Van Dyke, now 99 years old, expressed that he and someone else get along exceptionally well. Many people had predicted that their relationship wouldn’t succeed.

However, despite the widespread hopes they’d encountered backstage at the 2006 SAG Awards when Silver was a makeup artist, the pair didn’t let optimism deter them from making their relationship official. In the year 2009, following Michelle Triola’s death due to pancreatic cancer (Van Dyke’s longtime partner), he and Silver began dating. Their union became official in 2012 through marriage.

53-year-old Silver expressed delight over their marriage as well, pointing out that their bond has endured numerous challenges due to the deep affection they have for one another.

She went on, finding it remarkable that it functioned so flawlessly. “Those around his age tend to fade away, but he’s made me believe in my limitless potential.

Despite maintaining a strong connection, Van Dyke – father of Christian (74), Barry (73), Stacy (69), and Carrie (63) from his first marriage with Margie Willet – confessed that he nearly missed their chance encounter due to being too intimidated to approach her initially.

He reminisced about their initial encounter, which eventually resulted in him employing her as his makeup artist. “I’ve never before addressed a stranger woman,” he admitted, “but at a performance backstage, she strolled by, and for some unexplained reason, I found myself leaping up to greet her with a ‘Hello, I’m Dick.’ There was something about her that captivated me.

Back in July, I, much like the star of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” found myself expressing a similar sentiment when I shared with Entertainment Tonight that I wasn’t initially aware my current spouse was significantly younger than me when we first befriended each other. However, unlike some, I, too, was not deterred by our age difference and instead admired him as the most radiantly joyful individual I have ever encountered, a sentiment shared by my partner.

She once said, “I’ve never encountered anyone quite like him.” At that point, she mentioned her husband motivated her to perform on a stage in front of an audience of 1,500 people. He’s always cheerful and full of positivity. He has a way of making others feel more joyful and playful too.

Keep reading to see more celebrity couples with notable age differences…

Ignoring criticism about their significant age difference in relationships has been a common approach for these actresses. As Sarah expressed to Modern Luxury in 2018 when discussing her relationship with Holland, “If someone chooses to consider me strange for loving the most remarkable person in the world, that’s on them. I’m perfectly content.

Regarding the previous host of Project Runway, she brushes off any criticism about her 16-year age difference with the Tokio Hotel guitarist. In an interview with InStyle in 2018, she stated, “People often question and comment on my boyfriend’s younger age, but that’s really the only time I feel the need to address it. Otherwise, I don’t think about it much.” She also emphasized that she intends to carry on living life according to her own terms. As she put it, “It’s important to live a happy life without worrying too much about what others think, because worrying only adds more lines to your face.

In the same vein, the star of Quantico has highlighted a double standard. She pointed out that while there’s much commentary about her being 10 years older than the Jonas Brother singer, she believes this wouldn’t be the case if roles were reversed. As Priyanka shared with InStyle, “People have given us a lot of flak about that and still do. I find it fascinating when you switch the situation, and the man is older – no one seems to care and instead people appreciate it.

In a 2024 interview with The Guardian, when asked about her 23-year age difference with the Kraven the Hunter actor, the director casually mentioned that it rarely surfaces in their everyday lives. She explained, “It’s not an issue for us, and it probably only seems to matter to people who don’t know us well because we’re a bit of an unusual couple. But after 14 years together, I think most people would agree that age should be less important.” Sam further emphasized that her relationship with Aaron has endured longer than her marriage to her ex-husband Jay Jopling, who is only four years older than she is, suggesting that the age gap isn’t as significant when viewed from this perspective.

Although they were born on the same day (Sept 25), their daily schedules are not synchronized…on a calendar.

Or in other words: Their birthdays may match, but their daily routines don’t align…as per a calendar.

When it comes to the relationship between him and the co-founder of Bonniedale Films, only they should concern themselves with it, according to someone who starred in The Parent Trap.

However, Dennis made it clear that neither he nor Laura are bothered by any attention surrounding their significant age gap. In fact, he told Today in 2021 that they don’t even acknowledge it and have never connected with anyone as well as they do. He went on to say that they have an exceptional relationship, and love finds a way, no matter where it is. He also expressed that you never know when love will come along, and who it might be for. Ultimately, he and Laura are just incredibly happy together.

The guy from The Parent Trap thinks that only they should worry about their relationship with the co-founder of Bonniedale Films. But Dennis and Laura couldn’t care less about their age difference because they feel they’ve never connected with anyone better in their lives. They have a great relationship, and love just seems to find its way, no matter what. They’re just really happy together.

In the past, the yoga instructor used to critically judge couples with significant age differences, but her perspective changed after she started dating an actor who is 26 years older than her. On her podcast “Witches Anonymous” in 2022, she admitted that she would previously view such relationships as older men seeking young women without opinions or ambitions and younger women as gold diggers. However, now that people often make similar judgments about her own relationship, she has come to understand why this mindset was instilled in her and how unfair it is to judge others for finding love in unconventional ways. She recognizes that while their form of love may differ from hers, it does not diminish its validity.

Brace yourself, as the actor from ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ once shared that he nearly broke up with his literary agent during their early stages of romance due to their age difference. In 2023, he expressed on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Desert Island Discs’, “I am 21 years older than her and I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life feeling old.” However, he acknowledged that she was an exceptionally unique individual.

It can be quite puzzling for people,” he said, considering their 15-year age difference, “but there’s only been love and happiness.” Sienna, on the other hand, made it clear that it’s not necessary for others to understand it. She stated, “You can’t dictate matters of the heart. I myself have never managed to do so.

In a chat on The Hoda Show, the actor who played in Jurassic Park shared a playful incident with his younger Olympic wife. He recalled asking, “If I were a Beatle, which one would I be?” To which she replied, “Rex Harrison.” He jokingly corrected her, saying, “Hold on, we watched My Fair Lady yesterday. I think you’re thinking of that.” However, Jeff clarified, it didn’t take Emilie long to realize she meant George Harrison. Reflecting on their age difference, he mentioned, “There are instances like that,” but overall, life with her is “going smoothly so far.

The model expressed that the actor’s wisdom and charisma, which can accumulate over time, are what truly captivate her, not their 20-year age difference. She explained this during an interview with Glamour in 2013, stating, “We share a connection that isn’t defined by our age. Work may come and go, but having someone at home who admires you deeply provides lasting motivation.

Regarding the opinions about the age difference between Katharine McPhee (an ex-contestant of American Idol) and her composer partner being approximately 35 years, she seems to have moved past any concerns. In an interview on Dr. Berlin’s Informed Pregnancy Podcast in 2023, she stated, “I initially understood the judgement, but things are not always as they seem. I am enamored with our love story, and that’s all that truly matters to me – that I am in love with our unique love tale.

One thing that’s not a secret is the feelings Kristin had towards her 13-year age difference with ex-boyfriend Mark Estes.

“Dating a 24-year-old wasn’t something I was actively seeking,” said the former star of ‘The Hills’ on an episode of her podcast ‘Let’s Be Honest’ in March 2024. “It wasn’t something I ever thought would happen. If you listen to the podcast, you know I thought 30-year-olds were too young for me.”

And though Kristin acknowledged how it might appear to outsiders, she emphasized that Mark was “not your typical 24-year-old” and there’s more to a person than their birth year.

“I believe age is just a number,” she added. “It’s the experiences you’ve had in life, how you were raised. There are so many factors that contribute to maturity beyond just age.”

However, months later, Kristin revealed she had ended her relationship with Mark.

She stated during a podcast episode in October that he needs to live and grow, as he’s still young. She mentioned feeling the weight of age due to life experiences, and looking back at how much her own life had changed between the ages of 24 and now. Those years are important for personal growth and self-discovery, and she believes he needs that time. Despite this, she described their relationship as the best she’s ever had, expressing hope that Mark will eventually understand their separation was necessary. She further added that she believes one day, he might even thank her for it.

When the Academy Award winner initially had feelings for the lawyer, he wasn’t certain if she would reciprocate his affection. In an interview on The Howard Stern Show, George shared about their early relationship: “I didn’t want to make a rash move because I wasn’t sure if she was interested. Given that I’m 17 years older than her, I wondered if she might see me as too old or even like a grandpa.” However, it was later revealed that she reciprocated his feelings and they got married in 2014.

In simple terms, the Bachelor alumnus considers age as just a figure since he’s 18 years senior to his spouse. He articulated this during an episode of his podcast, The Viall Files, in March 2025, stating that when it comes to age differences, appearance plays a significant role.

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2025-04-21 23:17