Dick Van Dyke’s documented dating history is defined by three major relationships—not a long list of confirmed celebrity romances. He married Margie Willett in 1948, lived with Michelle Triola Marvin for more than 30 years, and married makeup artist Arlene Silver in 2012 after meeting her in 2006.
Dick Van Dyke’s documented romantic history centers on three major relationships: his first marriage to Margie Willett, his more-than-three-decade partnership with Michelle Triola Marvin, and his marriage to Arlene Silver. Willett and Silver were his wives; Triola Marvin was his longtime unmarried companion.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Moonwalk: A Memoir | $23.38 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing: A Memoir | $10.26 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Stripped Down: Unfiltered and Unapologetic – A Modern-Day Memoir from the Trailer Parks of Vegas... | $16.05 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Intimate Audrey: An Authorized Biography | $15.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
The Book of Sheen: A Memoir | $16.61 | Buy on Amazon |
Margie Willett: Van Dyke’s first wife
Dick Van Dyke married Margie Willett on February 12, 1948, while he was still building his career. The wedding took place during a live broadcast of the radio program Bride and Groom. Willett came from Van Dyke’s pre-Hollywood life in Danville, Illinois, and was not a celebrity partner whom he met after becoming famous.
The couple had four children: Christian, Barry, Carrie Beth, and Stacy. Their marriage eventually became a long separation, and they divorced in 1984. That distinction matters: the divorce was finalized in 1984, but the relationship had been deteriorating and the couple had been separated for years.
#1 Best Overall
In his memoir, Van Dyke described himself as drifting away from Willett and becoming involved with Michelle Triola. That is Van Dyke’s retrospective account of the marriage, so it should not be treated as an independently verified explanation of every event between the couple. The chronology does establish that his relationship with Triola developed before the Willett divorce was finalized.
Michelle Triola Marvin: more than 30 years together
After Van Dyke’s marriage to Willett had effectively become separated, he began his long relationship with Michelle Triola Marvin. Biographical accounts commonly date the beginning of their relationship to approximately 1976, although the strongest official wording is that they lived together for “more than 30 years.” They remained together until Triola’s death in 2009.
Triola Marvin was publicly known in part because of her earlier legal dispute with actor Lee Marvin. That episode explains some of the public attention surrounding her name, but her significance in Van Dyke’s personal history is that she was his live-in partner for more than three decades. She was not Van Dyke’s ex-wife, and available biographies do not describe the pair as legally married.
The relationship therefore overlapped with the end of Van Dyke’s first marriage in both an emotional and practical sense. For accuracy, it is better to say that Triola became his longtime companion during a period when his marriage to Willett was breaking down than to assign an exact start date or present the transition as a clean break.
Recommended Free Tools
Arlene Silver: meeting in 2006 and marrying in 2012
Van Dyke met makeup artist Arlene Silver backstage at the 2006 Screen Actors Guild Awards. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Van Dyke recalled noticing Silver, approaching her, and later hiring her as a makeup artist.
The couple have emphasized that the relationship did not begin as an immediate romance. They first developed a friendship, which later became romantic. Silver moved in with Van Dyke in 2011, and they married on February 29, 2012—a Leap Day wedding, six years after their first meeting.
Coverage frequently notes that Silver is 46 years younger than Van Dyke. The age difference is part of the public biography, but it does not replace the more important chronology: a meeting in 2006, a period of friendship, cohabitation beginning in 2011, and marriage in 2012.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Based on reporting available through August 12, 2026, Silver continues to be identified as Van Dyke’s wife. Reports in 2025 and 2026 described the couple appearing together and marking their wedding anniversary.
Dick Van Dyke’s relationship timeline
| Period | Relationship | What is documented |
|---|---|---|
| 1948–1984 | Margie Willett | Married February 12, 1948; had four children; divorced in 1984 after a long separation. |
| Approximately 1976–2009 | Michelle Triola Marvin | Longtime live-in companion; together for more than 30 years until her death in 2009. The approximate start year varies by account. |
| 2006–present, according to the latest researched reporting | Arlene Silver | Met backstage at the 2006 SAG Awards; moved in during 2011; married February 29, 2012. |
What is confirmed—and what should not be added
The reliable public record supports three central relationships: Willett, Triola Marvin, and Silver. It does not require a longer list of alleged celebrity romances, and the available evidence does not justify presenting weakly sourced rumors as established relationships.
Rank #4
The legal labels are also important. Willett was Van Dyke’s first wife, Silver is his current wife according to the latest reporting covered here, and Triola Marvin was his longtime unmarried partner. Van Dyke’s memoir supplies valuable first-person context, but claims about the most sensitive parts of the Willett-Triola transition should remain attributed to his account.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Dick Van Dyke married to?
Dick Van Dyke was married to Margie Willett from February 12, 1948, until their divorce in 1984. They had four children: Christian, Barry, Carrie Beth, and Stacy. He later married Arlene Silver on February 29, 2012.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWas Dick Van Dyke married to Michelle Triola Marvin?
Michelle Triola Marvin was Dick Van Dyke’s longtime live-in companion. They were together for more than 30 years, commonly dated by biographical references to approximately 1976 until her death in 2009, but they were not described as legally married.
Best Value
How did Dick Van Dyke meet Arlene Silver?
Van Dyke met makeup artist Arlene Silver backstage at the 2006 SAG Awards. They became friends before beginning a romantic relationship, she moved in with him in 2011, and they married on February 29, 2012.
The Bottom Line
Dick Van Dyke’s documented dating history is best understood as three long relationships rather than a catalog of celebrity romances: his 1948–1984 marriage to Margie Willett, his partnership with Michelle Triola Marvin from approximately the mid-1970s until 2009, and his marriage to Arlene Silver, whom he met in 2006 and married in 2012.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →
