Truth be known, my husband and I both have a crush on our longtime Malibu neighbor Dick Van Dyke. Adorable and approachable in his ninth decade, he is a wonder of nature. He works out at the gym with Barry (my husband), where he entertains with soft shoe and song. I usually catch him later at Ralphs or Vitamin Barn.
But recently, the iconic “Mary Poppins” and television star was given his due by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles, part of BAFTA.
He looked a far cry from a chimney sweep in his dapper tux and was presented with the Britannia Award for Excellence in Television at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
“Isn’t it great that Dick Van Dyke never grew up?” one guest told Malibu Seen. “He’s still a kid at 91 years of age.”
The red carpet was piled high with international press clicking away. The posh crowd then made its way into the VIP reception for a little mixing and mingling with a bit of bubbly topped off by fresh salmon canapés.
Soon it was show time.
In addition to Dick, Matt Damon was named as the recipient of the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film. Ava DuVernay took home the John Schlesinger Britannia Award for Excellence in Directing. Claire Foy walked away with the British Artist of the Year gong and Kenneth Branagh took home the Albert R. Broccoli Britannia Award for Worldwide Contribution to Entertainment. KB will have Agatha Christie fans on the edges of their seat as he tackles the role of international super sleuth Hercule Poirot in the glossy remake of “Murder on the Orient Express.”
Matt Damon received high grades from his colleagues. “Matt Damon is undoubtedly one of the most talented and respected actors working in film today,” said BAFTA Los Angeles Chairman Kieran Breen. “Having made a remarkable impact at a young age with ‘Good Will Hunting,’ he has developed a phenomenal career, combining both big budget studio movies and acclaimed independent films.”
Damon joins a prestigious roster of past honorees including locals Robert Downey Jr., Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Sean Penn along with Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Warren Beatty, George Lucas, Robert De Niro and George Clooney.
Kindly Dick Van Dyke was all too happy to join his guests who were enjoying spicy Moroccan chicken, fresh risotto, coffee and dessert.
After dinner, Van Dyke got a standing ovation. He was his usual humble self, saying: “Aww, this is too much. I am assuming that after 60 years, I’m off the hook for a bad Cockney accent. You’ve done an old man a lot of good tonight, so thank you.” No Dick—Thank you! See you at the gym!
STELLAR BENEFIT FOR LACMA
Malibu’s David Geffen and Brad Pitt joined a galaxy of stars at this year’s ART + Film Gala to benefit the Los Angeles Museum of Art. It was one celestial universe as dazzling guests like Selma Hayek and Jane Fonda seemed to float against the seen.
After a bubbly pink champagne cocktail ‘do, guests tucked into a first class feast of butternut squash agnolotti and chicken Milanese. The benefit placed an emphasis on social justice with special guests Mark Bradford and “Star Wars” creator George Lucas leading the way.
The out of this world bash raised a whopping $4.5 million.
Now that’s far, far away!