Dick Van Dyke was a comedy actor who appeared in several movies and TV shows.  One can say that on this day, January 19 1961, Dick received his launch into stardom. From the moment he walked into his home in the opening segment, and tripped on the couch in a comical fashion as his family rushed to his side, we knew that this was going to be a different type of comedy show.

In fact, the show was based on a comedy team writing for a TV show, for a host named  Alan Brady (played by Carl Reiner, another great comedian from the early years of TV).  Dick played Robert Petrie, one of the writers.  Mary Tyler Moore, who eventually landed her own show in the 70s, played his wife in the show. Morey Amsterdam and Rose Marie completed the comedy team.

Dick’s comedic talents and agility may have helped him earn the part of Bert in the movie Mary Poppins, which was released several years later (1964).