Q: Why did Dick Van Dyke play the part of Dawes Sr. in Mary Poppins? Story-wise, there wasn’t a connection so I’m wondering what the thinking was.
Steve, Rochester Hills, Michigan
A: Supposedly Dick Van Dyke very much wanted to play Mr. Dawes Sr., just for fun, and even prepared a screen test to show Walt Disney that he could believably portray the old man.
Dave Smith