Behind every famous person stands someone who helps shape their journey. For legendary actor Dick Van Dyke, that person was Margie Willett, his first wife and mother of his four children. While her name might not sparkle in Hollywood lights, her story offers a fascinating glimpse into celebrity marriages, family values, and the price of fame.
Early Life
Born in 1927, Margie Willett grew up in Danville, Illinois, the same small town where Dick Van Dyke spent his childhood. Little is known about her early years, as she valued privacy throughout her life. Unlike many who seek the spotlight, Margie embraced small-town values and simplicity.
Margie and Dick knew each other for many years growing up in their hometown. Their paths crossed often in the tight-knit community, setting the stage for their future relationship. Her upbringing in Danville likely shaped her down-to-earth attitude and discomfort with Hollywood glitz later in life.
The Love Story Begins
Their romance began in 1945 when Dick was just 20 years old. Before dating him, Margie had been in a relationship with a local football player and wrestler from their high school. According to Van Dyke’s memoir, this ex-boyfriend had “a neck thicker than my entire body” and wanted to “bust up” Van Dyke after Margie chose him instead.
Their early relationship blossomed in Illinois as Dick pursued work in radio and advertising. The young couple faced financial struggles from the start, a theme that would continue through their early marriage years. Despite limited resources, their relationship grew stronger, leading them toward marriage.
The Radio Wedding
Perhaps the most unique aspect of Dick and Margie’s relationship was their wedding. In 1948, the couple wanted to marry but lacked the money for a ceremony. An unusual opportunity presented itself when a radio producer offered to pay for their wedding and honeymoon if they would get married on his show.
On February 12, 1948, Margie Willett and Dick Van Dyke exchanged vows on the ABC radio show “Bride and Groom.” Approximately 15 million listeners tuned in to hear their marriage ceremony broadcast live across America. This public beginning to their private relationship highlights the unique intersection of personal milestones and media that would mark their life together.
The broadcast wedding offered the young couple a chance to start their married life with a honeymoon they couldn’t otherwise afford. While unusual, this wedding set the stage for Van Dyke’s public career and Margie’s more private approach to their shared life.
Family Life
Margie and Dick’s family grew over the years to include four children: Christian, Barry, Stacy, and Carrie Beth. Before their first child, Margie experienced the heartbreak of miscarrying twins, adding to the challenges the young couple faced.
The growing family experienced both struggle and joy. During Margie’s miscarriage, the couple faced eviction from their Malibu apartment for failing to pay rent. As Dick’s career required frequent travel, Margie often managed the household and children’s upbringing while he pursued acting opportunities.
Their sons Christian and Barry were born in Atlanta, while daughter Stacy was born in New Orleans in 1954. Their youngest daughter, Carrie Beth, arrived in 1961 in Los Angeles, marking the family’s journey across America as Dick’s career developed. Through these moves and changes, Margie maintained a focus on family that defined her approach to life.
Life Behind the Scenes
As Dick Van Dyke’s star rose in Hollywood, Margie maintained her preference for privacy over publicity. She handled the family responsibilities while avoiding the spotlight that followed her husband. Unlike many Hollywood spouses, she didn’t seek to leverage her husband’s fame for personal attention.
Margie’s appearance and style reflected her values. She wore her hair short, avoided makeup, and dressed simply. Van Dyke once noted that people often mistook them for siblings rather than spouses. On one occasion, when he appeared on a magazine cover, Margie bought six copies, and the cashier asked if she was his mother.
In the late 1960s, the couple purchased a ranch in Cave Creek, Arizona. This property became Margie’s preferred home, offering distance from Hollywood’s demands and pressures. The ranch represented the kind of simple, private life she valued over celebrity status and industry events.
Challenges in the Marriage
The Van Dyke marriage faced serious struggles beyond financial pressures. As Dick’s fame grew, the gap between their preferred lifestyles widened. Margie felt uncomfortable and sidelined at Hollywood events, where attention naturally flowed to her famous husband rather than to her.
Their marriage suffered further stress from addiction issues. Dick battled alcoholism, while Margie developed a dependency on Librium, a medication prescribed for anxiety and depression. These personal struggles pulled them in different directions during critical years of their relationship.
In his memoir, Van Dyke described learning about Margie’s addiction when she checked into the same rehabilitation facility from which he was checking out. “We were quite a pair – a drunk and an addict,” he wrote, acknowledging the damage their personal struggles caused to their marriage.
The End of the Marriage
By 1975, the marriage had reached a breaking point. Dick began confiding in his agent’s secretary, Michelle Triola, forming a connection that would eventually turn romantic. The following year, he confessed his infidelity to Margie, leading to their separation.
Though they separated in 1976, the couple didn’t formally divorce until 1984. This eight-year period of limbo reflected both the complexity of ending a long marriage and perhaps reluctance to fully sever ties after building a life together for nearly three decades.
The end of their 36-year marriage marked a significant life change for both Margie and Dick. While he continued his relationship with Michelle Troika for the next three decades, Margie chose a different path away from public relationships.
Life After Divorce
Following her divorce from Dick Van Dyke, Margie maintained her preference for privacy. No records indicate she ever remarried, suggesting she might have chosen to focus on herself and her family connections rather than pursuing another marriage.
Her post-divorce years remain largely undocumented, reflecting her success in maintaining privacy even after years of connection to a major celebrity. While Dick Van Dyke’s relationships continued to make headlines, Margie successfully built a life outside the media spotlight.
Her continued connection with her children and eventual grandchildren likely formed the center of her post-divorce life. The values of family devotion and privacy that marked her years as Mrs. Van Dyke appear to have continued through her later years.
Final Years and Legacy
In her final years, Margie faced a difficult battle with pancreatic cancer. She passed away in 2008 at the age of 81, leaving behind four children and several grandchildren as her living legacy.
Despite their divorce and Dick’s long relationship with Michelle Triola, he expressed deep feelings about Margie’s passing. “Even though we were long divorced, with her death I lost a part of myself,” he wrote in his memoir, acknowledging the permanent connection formed through their many years together and shared children.
Margie’s legacy lives on through her family and through the early support she provided to Dick Van Dyke as he built his legendary career. While she may not have sought recognition, her role in raising their children and supporting his early career helped shape American entertainment history.
Margie’s Character and Personality
Friends and family described Margie as “earthy and artistic,” with a strong independent streak. Unlike the stereotypical Hollywood wife, she preferred authenticity over glamour and private family moments over red carpet appearances.
Her values centered on family, simplicity, and genuine connections. Despite marriage to a rising star, she maintained her own identity and priorities rather than being defined solely by her husband’s career. This strength of character likely helped her weather both the benefits and challenges of being married to a celebrity.
Van Dyke described her as someone who “didn’t like Hollywood, or its stars,” making a rare exception when they were invited to dinner with Frank Sinatra. This selective approach to celebrity culture revealed her ability to maintain boundaries even while moving in famous circles.
Life and Career
Though Margie avoided the spotlight herself, her support during Dick’s early career years proved invaluable. She managed their growing family while he built his name in comedy and acting, providing the stable home base that allowed him to pursue opportunities.
The contrast between their personalities – his comfort with performance and her preference for privacy – created both tension and balance in their relationship. This dynamic influenced Van Dyke’s perspective on fame and family throughout his career.
In reflecting on their relationship years later, Van Dyke acknowledged both the challenges they faced and the significant role Margie played in his life story. Their shared history, including raising four children together, created a connection that transcended even their divorce and his subsequent relationships.
Margie Willett’s Net Worth
Determining Margie Willett’s net worth remains difficult due to her private nature and the lack of public financial records. Unlike her famous ex-husband, she did not have a public career generating documented income and wealth.
Following their divorce in 1984, Margie likely received a settlement, though details remain private. By this time, Dick Van Dyke had established himself as a successful actor with substantial earnings from shows like “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and films including “Mary Poppins.”
While specific figures remain unknown, Margie’s lifestyle suggests she valued experiences and relationships over material wealth or public status. Her preference for ranch living in Arizona rather than Hollywood luxury indicates her priorities lay outside financial display.
Conclusion
Margie Willett’s story offers a unique window into mid-20th century American marriage, celebrity relationships, and family values. Though she never sought fame herself, her 36-year marriage to Dick Van Dyke and role as mother to their four children secured her place in entertainment history.
Her journey from a small-town Illinois girl to the wife of a Hollywood star and finally to an independent woman maintaining privacy despite her connections reveals strength, resilience, and commitment to personal values. While Dick Van Dyke’s career unfolded in the spotlight, Margie created meaning through family bonds and quiet dignity.
The legacy Margie leaves extends beyond her famous marriage to the family she raised and the example she set of staying true to oneself despite extraordinary circumstances. In a world increasingly fascinated by celebrity, her story reminds us of the value of privacy, authenticity, and family devotion.
FAQ
What was Margie Willett’s net worth?
Her exact net worth remains unknown. Though she likely received a divorce settlement in 1984, financial details were kept private.
Did Margie Willett ever work in Hollywood?
No, Margie did not pursue a career in entertainment. She focused on raising their four children and maintained distance from Hollywood.
How did Dick Van Dyke and Margie Willett’s children respond to their divorce?
Public records don’t document their children’s specific reactions to the divorce, maintaining the family’s privacy on personal matters.
Where is Margie Willett buried?
Details about Margie’s burial location have not been made public, consistent with her lifetime preference for privacy.
What did Margie Willett do after her divorce from Dick Van Dyke?
After her divorce, Margie continued living privately, focusing on family and personal interests away from public attention.
