Does Arlene Silver have children? All we know about the former makeup artist married to Dick Van Dyke

A professional make-up artist previously, Arlene Silver is most notably recognized for being the much younger wife of entertainment icon, Dick Van Dyke. With regards to her life as a public figure — considering her marriage to Van Dyke — Silver does not possess biological children.

Nonetheless, she acquired stepmother status in 2012 when she married Van Dyke, gaining four adult children, Christian, Barry, Stacy, and Carrie Beth Van Dyke. Upon marrying Van Dyke, Arlene Silver became part of a family where her stepchildren, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all contribute to the legacy of Dick Van Dyke.

Holding onto some privacy, Arlene Silver has been ever-present in supporting Van Dyke through his later years. Their almost two-decade-long relationship has intrigued the public due to the stark difference in their ages, intertwining humor, and creative bond. After taking on the role of wife and stepmother, she became part of a famously close-knit family that has embraced her wholeheartedly.

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A unique love story

Arlene Silver, at first, met Dick Van Dyke in 2006 when she served as a makeup artist at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Van Dyke is much older than Silver, 46 years to be exact, yet they managed to bring the friendship one step further and decided to go for a long-term relationship.

Van Dyke disclosed that they tied the knot in Malibu, California, in 2012, in a private ceremony, remembering the moments to The Guardian in 2016.

Van Dyke said in 2016 that his son Christian was concerned in the beginning about his romance to The Guardian.

“My son had doubts… but after we exchanged our vows in 2012, he said, ‘Dad, I get it.’”

Silver is rarely seen talking about her private life but she does appear next to Van Dyke in public and online celebrations from time to time.

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Arlene Silver's life among the Van Dykes

Even without children of her own, Arlene Silver is still married to a big and happy family. Her stepchildren had the privilege of encountering show business in the early years of their lives because of their father's archive:

• Christian Van Dyke, the eldest, was featured for a short while on The Dick Van Dyke Show in 1962 but he still didn't leave the possibility of being a lawyer behind him. He held various positions, including district attorney and corporate counsel, which have been reported by the Cascade Business News editorial team.
• Barry Van Dyke, Dick's second son, who followed his father's footsteps not only in the profession but also in the area of the shows they were featured in. He was known for playing one of the leading roles in Diagnosis: Murder alongside his father, doing so to the present day, and even appeared in one film in 2019: Heavenly Deposit. Barry was blessed with four kids and has more than one grandchild.
• Stacy Van Dyke was a TV staple and the most notable example would be Diagnosis: Murder TV series where she often was the aperitif of Dick Van Dyke. Her TV presence has been almost non-existent since her last TV appearance in 2002.
• A really young Carrie Beth Van Dyke acted for a while and after that decided to live a quiet life. The actress, married to Kevin McNally, her co-star in the film, has given birth to two children.

Despite not being the biological parent of all the family members, Silver is clearly happy to play such an important role in their lives.

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Supporting a lasting legacy

Arlene Silver has been a constant companion in Van Dyke's private life and has encouraged him to continue to be creative. In 2024, she participated in a music video for Coldplay’s “All My Love” alongside Van Dyke's family as a surprise to the actor on his 99th birthday. The whole idea of embedding the kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was a manifestation of the joy of the family and the vision of art.

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A quiet but present figure

Arlene Silver did not really want to get noticed and did not like being in the limelight, but she has become indispensable in one of the longest-lasting Hollywood families. That she can be a wife, stepmother, and supporter shows that the family has many appearances and that connecting with love and mutual respect can reach across generations.

Even though she has not given birth to any kids, the life of the actress with Dick Van Dyke connects her to a very much alive and constantly increasing heritage.