Margie Willett was the first wife of American actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke. They married in 1948, before he became famous, and had four children together. Their marriage lasted about 36 years before they divorced in 1984.
Margie preferred a private life and did not enjoy Hollywood attention. She died from pancreatic cancer in 2008 at the age of 81.
Margie Willett’s Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Margie Willett |
| Birth year | 1927 |
| Birthplace | Danville, Illinois, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Dick Van Dyke’s first wife |
| Ex-husband | Dick Van Dyke |
| Married | February 12, 1948 |
| Divorced | 1984 |
| Children | Christian, Barry, Stacy, Carrie Beth |
| Profession | Not publicly documented |
| Died | 2008 |
| Age at death | 81 |
| Cause of death | Pancreatic cancer |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Early Life
Margie Willett was born in 1927 and grew up in Danville, Illinois.
Some secondary sources give her birthday as November 3, 1927, but the exact date is not strongly confirmed.
Margie knew Dick Van Dyke for years before they became a couple. Both grew up in Danville.
Little is publicly known about Margie’s parents, siblings, or education.
How She Met Dick Van Dyke
Margie and Dick started dating when they were young.
Dick later said he was around 20 when he began dating Margie. Some reports place the start of their relationship around 1945, while others say 1947.
At the time, neither of them knew that Dick would later become a major Hollywood star.
Their Radio Wedding
Margie and Dick married on February 12, 1948.
They did not have much money for a wedding. A radio producer offered to cover the costs if they agreed to marry on the program Bride and Groom.
The couple accepted.
They exchanged their vows in front of a minister and radio microphones. Dick later said about 15 million people listened to the ceremony.
The program also paid for their honeymoon.
Life Before Dick Became Famous
The couple struggled with money during their early marriage.
Some reports say they even lived in their car for a short time.
Dick later found success in television, movies, and comedy. His career changed the family’s financial situation, but Margie Willett did not become interested in Hollywood life.
She preferred to stay away from the attention that came with her husband’s fame.
Dick described Margie as artistic and down-to-earth. He also said she did not enjoy show business.
Their Four Children
Margie and Dick had four children:
- Christian Van Dyke
- Barry Van Dyke
- Stacy Van Dyke
- Carrie Beth Van Dyke
Margie Willett also reportedly lost twins during an earlier pregnancy.
Christian later worked in law after making a childhood appearance on The Dick Van Dyke Show.
Barry followed his father into acting. He became especially known for playing Steve Sloan alongside Dick in Diagnosis Murder. He also appeared in Remington Steele and other television projects.
Stacy and Carrie Beth also made some acting appearances, including projects connected to their father.
Margie later became a grandmother.
Who Is Dick Van Dyke?
Dick Van Dyke is an American actor, comedian, singer, and entertainer.
He became famous through The Dick Van Dyke Show, which began in 1961.
His well-known film and television work includes:
- Mary Poppins
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- The Dick Van Dyke Show
- Diagnosis Murder
- Night at the Museum
- Mary Poppins Returns
He has received several major honors during his long career, including Emmy Awards.
Margie Willett was married to Dick during the years when he went from struggling entertainer to major television and movie star.
Margie Did Not Like Hollywood
Margie did not enjoy being part of Hollywood society.
She sometimes attended public events with Dick, but she generally preferred a quieter life.
Dick recalled that people occasionally mistook Margie for his sister or even his mother.
As their marriage became more difficult, Margie spent more time at the family’s desert ranch and away from Hollywood.
Problems in Their Marriage
Both Margie Willett and Dick faced personal problems during their marriage.
Dick struggled with alcoholism for many years.
In 1972, he entered a hospital for treatment.
Around the same period, Margie received treatment for an addiction to prescription medication. Dick later said he had not realized she was struggling with the problem until she sought treatment.
Their marriage was already under pressure when Dick became close to another woman.
Dick Van Dyke and Michelle Triola
Dick began a relationship with Michelle Triola, who was connected to his professional circle.
He later admitted the affair in his memoirs and described feeling guilty about being involved with another woman while still married.
By around 1976, Dick told Margie about the relationship.
Margie and Dick then began living separately.
Dick remained with Michelle for many years, although they never married. Michelle died from lung cancer in 2009.
Their Divorce
Margie Willett and Dick officially divorced in 1984, after about 36 years of marriage.
Their marriage had faced several problems, including addiction, growing distance between them, and Dick’s relationship with Michelle Triola.
After the divorce, Margie returned to a largely private life.
There is no reliable evidence that she remarried.
Margie’s Life After Divorce
Very little is known about Margie’s later years.
She did not build a public career or regularly appear in the media.
She also lived before social media became an important part of celebrity life, and there are no known verified social media accounts belonging to her.
Her Death
Margie Willett was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer late in her life.
Dick said she received the diagnosis in 2007.
She died in 2008 at the age of 81.
Dick later spoke about how much her death affected him, even though they had been divorced for more than 20 years. He said losing Margie felt like losing part of himself.
Net Worth
Margie Willett’s personal net worth was not reliably known.
Some biography websites estimate that she was worth around $1 million when she died. However, there are no reliable financial records confirming this figure.
Facts About Margie Willett
- Margie Willett was Dick Van Dyke’s first wife.
- She was born in Illinois in 1927.
- She grew up in Danville, the same hometown as Dick.
- Margie Willett knew Dick before he became famous.
- They married on February 12, 1948.
- Their wedding was broadcast on the radio program Bride and Groom.
- The couple had four children.
- Their children are Christian, Barry, Stacy, and Carrie Beth.
- Margie reportedly suffered a pregnancy loss involving twins.
- She preferred a private life and did not enjoy Hollywood attention.
- She received treatment for prescription drug addiction.
- Margie and Dick separated during the 1970s.
- They divorced in 1984 after about 36 years of marriage.
- There is no reliable record of Margie remarrying.
- She died from pancreatic cancer in 2008.
- She was 81 years old when she died.
- Her personal net worth was not reliably known.
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