Margie Willett: What Happened to Dick Van Dyke’s First Wife

Margie Willett was the first wife of actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke. The two grew up in Danville, Illinois, and married in 1948 before Van Dyke became famous. They had four children and were married for about 36 years before divorcing in 1984. Margie later developed pancreatic cancer and died in 2008 at age 81.

Quick Facts

Who Was Margie Willett?

Margie Willett was best known for her long marriage to American actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke.

She knew Van Dyke before he became a Hollywood star. They came from the same hometown of Danville, Illinois.

Margie remained a private person even after her husband became famous. She had little interest in Hollywood and generally stayed outside the entertainment industry.

Margie Willett’s Age and Birthday

Margie was born in 1927 in Danville, Illinois.

One secondary source gives her exact birthday as November 3, 1927, although the other available sources only confirm the year.

She died in 2008 at a reported age of 81.

Margie Willett’s Early Life

Little information is available about Margie’s childhood.

She grew up in Danville, Illinois, where Dick Van Dyke also spent his early years.

The names of Margie’s parents and siblings are not reliably documented in the available sources.

Her education is also not publicly documented.

How Did Margie Willett Meet Dick Van Dyke?

Margie and Dick knew each other while growing up in Danville.

Sources disagree slightly about when they started dating. Some place the beginning of their relationship around 1945, while others say 1947.

Dick later recalled that he began dating a local girl he had known for years when he was about 20 years old.

Margie reportedly had another boyfriend before dating Dick.

Margie Willett and Dick Van Dyke’s Wedding

Margie and Dick married on February 12, 1948.

They did not have much money at the time.

Their wedding took place on the radio program Bride and Groom. A producer offered to help pay for the wedding and honeymoon if the couple married on the show.

Dick later recalled exchanging vows in front of a minister and two radio microphones while about 15 million people listened.

Their marriage began years before Dick became a major television and film star.

Margie and Dick Struggled Financially

The couple had financial problems during the early years of their marriage.

One secondary source reports that they even spent several months living in their car because they could not afford a home.

Their financial situation changed as Dick’s entertainment career became successful.

Who Is Dick Van Dyke?

Dick Van Dyke is an American actor, comedian, singer, dancer, and writer.

He became widely known through The Dick Van Dyke Show, which made him a major television star.

His other well-known projects include:

• Mary Poppins
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
• Diagnosis: Murder
• Dick Tracy
• Night at the Museum
• Mary Poppins Returns

Margie’s public recognition mainly came from her marriage to him.

Margie Did Not Like Hollywood Life

Margie did not share her husband’s interest in celebrity life.

She was described as private, earthy, and artistic. However, there is no evidence that she worked professionally as an artist.

She reportedly disliked Hollywood and its social scene.

As problems developed in her marriage, Margie began spending more time at the family’s desert ranch.

People Sometimes Mistook Margie for Dick’s Relative

Margie did not follow the usual Hollywood image.

She reportedly kept her hair short and did not wear much makeup.

Dick said that people sometimes thought Margie was his sister.

He also recalled an incident in which Margie bought several copies of a magazine featuring him on the cover. The cashier reportedly asked if she was his mother.

Margie Willett Had Four Children

Margie and Dick had four children together:

• Christian Van Dyke
• Barry Van Dyke
• Stacy Van Dyke
• Carrie Beth Van Dyke

The couple also experienced a pregnancy loss involving twins.

Several of their children later appeared in television shows connected with their father.

Christian Van Dyke

Christian Van Dyke is Margie and Dick’s eldest son.

He was born on May 13, 1950, according to the available reporting.

Christian appeared on The Dick Van Dyke Show when he was young but did not make acting his main career.

He later earned a law degree from Arizona State University.

He worked in law in Oregon, including positions connected with the district attorney and attorney general’s offices.

Christian married Caroline A. Heller in 1970.

Barry Van Dyke

Barry Van Dyke was born on July 31, 1951.

Unlike Christian, Barry continued working as an actor.

His acting credits include:

• Diagnosis: Murder
• Remington Steele
• Heavenly Deposit

Barry also appeared on The Dick Van Dyke Show.

He married Mary Carey in 1974. Their children include Carey, Taryn, Wes, and Shane.

Stacy Van Dyke

Stacy Van Dyke is one of Margie and Dick’s daughters.

Secondary sources disagree about her birth year. One gives 1955, while another gives 1963.

Stacy appeared in projects connected with her father, including The New Dick Van Dyke Show and Diagnosis: Murder.

She was also reportedly involved with the Barnstormers performing group at the Windmill Dinner Theater in Phoenix, Arizona.

Some secondary reports say she married Mike Breen in 1979 and had two children.

Claims about Stacy’s later life, including reports about her death, are inconsistent and should not be treated as confirmed without stronger evidence.

Carrie Beth Van Dyke

Carrie Beth Van Dyke is Margie and Dick’s other daughter.

There is a major conflict over her birth date. One source gives October 18, 1961, while another gives August 27, 1972.

She reportedly appeared on The New Dick Van Dyke Show.

Carrie Beth married Kevin McNally in 1983, according to secondary reporting. The couple reportedly met through the Windmill Dinner Theater and have children together.

Margie Willett’s Grandchildren

Margie became a grandmother through her four children.

However, available sources disagree about the exact number of grandchildren. One reports seven, while another reports ten.

Reported names among her grandchildren include Carey, Taryn, Wes, Shane, Ryan, and Jessica.

Christian’s daughter Jessica was reportedly born in 1974 and died from Reye syndrome in 1987.

Because the reported family totals conflict, an exact number of grandchildren should not be treated as confirmed.

Margie and Dick Both Faced Addiction Problems

Margie and Dick experienced addiction problems during their marriage.

Dick struggled with alcoholism.

In 1972, he entered a hospital for treatment.

Margie later entered the same hospital for an addiction to prescription medication, described in one account as antidepressants.

Dick said he had not known about Margie’s addiction before she entered treatment.

Dick Van Dyke’s Relationship With Michelle Triola

During his marriage to Margie, Dick became close to Michelle Triola, who worked as his agent’s secretary.

Dick later admitted that their relationship became romantic.

He discussed the affair in his memoir Keep Moving: And Other Truths About Living Well Longer.

He wrote that Michelle was easy to talk to and understood him. He also described feeling guilty about being involved with another woman while still married.

When Did Dick Tell Margie About the Affair?

The supplied sources disagree about the exact year.

Some reports say Dick told Margie in 1974.

Another account places his decision to be honest around 1976.

It is therefore safer to say that Dick told Margie about his relationship with Michelle during the mid-1970s.

Why Did Margie Willett and Dick Van Dyke Divorce?

Their marriage had already faced problems involving addiction and their different lifestyles.

Dick’s relationship with Michelle Triola added another serious problem.

After Dick told Margie about Michelle, Margie and Dick separated.

They reportedly lived separately for about eight years before legally ending their marriage.

Their divorce was finalized on May 4, 1984.

They had been married for about 36 years.

Reports say they continued to co-parent their children after separating.

Did Margie Willett Remarry?

Margie did not publicly remarry after divorcing Dick.

Some secondary sources claim she never entered another relationship. However, her private dating life after the divorce is not well documented.

It is therefore safer to say that no later marriage or partner has been publicly confirmed.

Dick Van Dyke and Michelle Triola

Dick continued his relationship with Michelle after separating from Margie.

Dick and Michelle never legally married.

They remained together for decades until Michelle died from lung cancer in 2009.

Dick later married makeup artist Arlene Silver in 2012.

What Did Margie Willett Do for a Living?

Margie’s career is not clearly documented.

She was described as artistic, but there is no reliable evidence showing that she worked professionally as an artist.

One secondary source reports that Margie later worked in her family’s furniture business until retirement.

That report is not confirmed across the other supplied sources, so her exact profession remains uncertain.

Margie Willett’s Public Appearances

Margie generally avoided publicity but occasionally attended events with Dick.

She was photographed with him in Southampton, England, on April 15, 1964.

She also appeared with Dick at the 39th Academy Awards in Los Angeles.

Despite these appearances, she never became a regular Hollywood public figure.

What Happened to Margie Willett?

After divorcing Dick, Margie largely disappeared from public attention.

She later developed pancreatic cancer.

Sources disagree about when she was diagnosed. One says she had been fighting cancer since 2006, while another says she was diagnosed about a year before her death.

Margie died in 2008.

She was reportedly 81 years old.

Margie Willett’s Cause of Death

Margie Willett’s reported cause of death was pancreatic cancer.

Dick later said her death affected him even though they had been divorced for many years.

He wrote that when Margie died, he felt he had lost a part of himself.

Where Did Margie Willett Die?

Secondary sources give conflicting information about Margie’s place of death.

One reports that she died in Rosenberg, Texas.

Another places her death in Durham County, North Carolina.

The exact location of her death is therefore not clear from the available sources.

Margie Willett’s Net Worth

Margie Willett’s personal net worth was not reliably confirmed.

Some online sources estimate that she was worth about $1 million when she died.

There is no strong financial record supporting that figure, so it should be treated only as an estimate.

Interesting Facts

• Her full name is reported as Marjorie Willett.
• She was commonly known as Margie Willett.
• She was born in 1927.
• She came from Danville, Illinois.
• One source gives her birthday as November 3, 1927.
• She knew Dick Van Dyke before he became famous.
• Margie and Dick married on February 12, 1948.
• They married on the radio program Bride and Groom.
• Around 15 million people reportedly listened to their wedding.
• They struggled financially early in their marriage.
• Margie preferred a private life and did not enjoy Hollywood culture.
• Margie and Dick had four children.
• They also experienced a pregnancy loss involving twins.
• Margie struggled with prescription drug addiction and received treatment.
• Dick struggled with alcoholism.
• Dick became involved with Michelle Triola while married to Margie.
• Margie and Dick separated before their divorce.
• Their divorce was finalized in 1984.
• Their marriage lasted about 36 years.
• Margie did not publicly remarry.
• She developed pancreatic cancer.
• Margie died in 2008 at a reported age of 81.
• Her exact place of death is disputed in secondary sources.

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