Margie Willett First wife of Dick Van Dyke

Margie Willett is popularly known as the ex-wife of legendary American actor Dick Van Dyke. Dick Van Dyke got recognition through the CBS sitcom, The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961-1966). Margie Willett and Dick Van Dyke tied the knot on 12 February 1948 in Chapman Park Hotel, Los Angeles. The couple has four children together.

Who is Margie Willett?

Margie Willett is popularly known as the ex-wife of legendary American actor Dick Van Dyke. Dick Van Dyke got recognition through the CBS sitcom, ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ (1961-1966).

Margie Willett and Dick Van Dyke tied the knot on 12 February 1948 in Chapman Park Hotel, Los Angeles. The couple has four children together.

However, the couple separated after spending more than three decades together in 1984. Margie Willett died of pancreatic cancer in 2008 after battling it for one year.

Want to know more about Dick Van Dyke’s ex-wife, Margie Willett? Let’s get into it.

Table of Contents

Quick facts

Full nameMargie Willett
Also known asMarjorie
BirthdayNovember 3, 1927
Age96 years old)
SunsignScorpio
TraitsPositive: Passionate, ambitious, full of imagination, assertive, loyal and honest
Negative: Jealous, stubborn, vindictive, intense, resentful and controlling
BirthplaceDanville, Illinois, USA
Currently residingNot applicable
NationalityAmerican
EducationUnknown
Death2008
Cause of deathPancreatic cancer
Marital statusDivorced
Ex-husbandDick Van Dyke
ChildrenBarry Van Dyke
Carrie Van Dyke
Stacy Van Dyke
Christian Van Dyke
ProfessionHousewife
Eye colorBlue
Hair colorDark Brown
Net worthUnder review
Social mediaNot Active

Early life and Childhood

On the 3rd of November, 1927, Margie Willett was born in Florence County, South Carolina.

However, she grew up in Danville, Illinois.

Margie Willett was a perfect homemaker. Her life always revolved around her children and husband. Margie loved to keep her life simple and classy. She had dark brown short hair.

Margie had no connection with Hollywood until she met her ex-husband Dick Van Dyke. Dick became one of Hollywood’s biggest names after several years of marriage.

Margie lived a peaceful life until she got diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2007.

After battling cancer for a year, Margie died in 2008 at 81 years.

Relationship

Margie Willet and Dick Van Dyke met somewhere around 1940 in Illinois. They decided to get engaged just after one month of their relationship.

On 12 February 1948, the couple tied the knot in Chapman Park Hotel on Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles.

Margie and Dick had a lot of financial difficulties during that period. Before making it to the Hollywood industry, they didn’t have money to buy their own house.

Online sources suggest that they spent their nights inside a car for many days. They didn’t have money to fund their marriage.

A generous producer funded Margie and Dick’s wedding and honeymoon.

And their wedding aired on a radio program named Bride and Groom.

After the marriage of Dick and Margie, they lost their twin babies in a miscarriage. Nevertheless, the couple gave birth to four children. They are Barry, Carrie, Stacy, and Christian.

One of his sons, Barry Van Dyke, also played Dick’s on-screen son in Diagnosis Murder. Additionally, Dick Van Dyke’s grandson Shane Van Dyke also appeared in the same show.

Margie Willett and Dick Van Dyke spent a very blissful life together. But, their relationship collapsed after Dick had an extramarital affair with Michelle Triola.

Unfortunately, the couple ended their 36 years of marriage in 1984.

But unfortunately, Margie and Dick had to face a tragic stage in their life when they lost their twin babies in a miscarriage.

Dick Van Dyke (husband)

The legendary actor Dick Van Dyke was born in West Plains, Missouri, on 13 December 1925.

He is the elder brother of Jerry Van Dyke, best known for the TV series Coach. The Dick Van Dyke Show, Bye Bye Birdie, Mary Poppins (1964), and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) were some of his notable works.

Dick appeared in movies like The Comic, Dick Tracy, Curious George, Night at the Museum, and Mary Poppins Returns (2018).

The actor also got massive recognition for his role in The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Diagnosis: Murder, and Murder 101.

Margie Willett and Dick Van Dyke Divorce

Margie Willett and Dick Van Dyke were in love for more than three decades. However, dick started having an extramarital affair with Michelle Triola,

They had a secret affair until 1976. Then Dick finally confessed to his wife, Margie Wille, his experience.

Dick Van Dyke also revealed his affair in his memoir, saying, “I met a former actress, Michelle Triola; she was feisty, smart, and, unlike Margie, knew the showbiz world inside out.”

He added, “I was involved with a woman other than my wife. It was unbelievable. I was writhing in guilt. By 1976 I had to do something. I needed to be honest.”

Margie and Dick decided to live their life separately; they divorced in 1984.

Life After divorce

After their divorce, Margie Willet maintained a low profile. However, she stayed very close to her children and raised them.

There was no rumor about her relationship after her divorce.

On the other hand, Dick lived 30 years of his life with Michelle Triola until she died in 2009. The actress had lung cancer.

Three years after Michelle’s death, 94- year-old Dick married makeup artist Arlene Silver.

Barry Van Dyke (son)

Barry was born on July 31, 1951, in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the second son of Margie Willett and Dick Van Dyke. Barry Van Dyke appeared in the series The New Dick Van Dyke Show, The Van Dyke Show, and Diagnosis: Murder with his father.

Read more about Shane Van Dyke here.

Barry Van Dyke also appeared in movies like Heavenly Deposit and The Untold Story in 2019.

In 1974, Margie’s son Barry married Mary Carey. Barry and Marey have four children together.

Grand-children

They have five grandchildren called Shane, Carey, Taryn, Wes, and Jessica Van Dyke. Alongside they have five great-grandchildren.

Unfortunately, Jessica passed away due to Reye’s syndrome on April 8, 1987. The couple had a big family, indeed.

Margie Willett Net worth

Margie Willett was living a lavish life with her husband and children.

The exact data about her net worth is not yet out. But her former husband, Dick Van Dyke estimated net worth is USD 30 million.

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