Dazed and confused Dick Van Dyke took a terrifying tumble — and friends fear the comedy legend is facing his final curtain call.
On Oct. 2, the 89-year-old “Mary Poppins” star was at the Malibu Playhouse, where he was performing with “The Vantastix” quartet, when disaster struck.
“All of a sudden Dick appeared to lose it!” an insider told The ENQUIRER.
“He was disoriented and collapsed. Fortunately, he was able to regain his composure and didn’t need to be hospitalized.”
But the frightening fall is just the latest link in a long chain of health horrors for the dying star.
His issues go back to the 1960s when he starred with Mary Tyler Moore on their hit series, “The Dick Van Dyke Show.”
“He has admitted that he was basically soused for 15 years — though he maintains he was never drunk on the set of his sitcom,” said another source.
When he finally decided to seek help, the song and dance man entered an Arizona rehab facility in 1972.
“Dick was locked in a ward with hardcore addicts!” adds the source.
Through the years, the funnyman also waged grueling battles with severe arthritis and crippling back pain.
“He blamed his physical style of comedy and the pratfalls he took for his agony,” said the source.
“He was only able to control the pain with chiropractors, steroid injections and heat and ultrasound treatments.”
Frustrated Dick also endured mysterious pounding headaches, and was terrified he had a brain disease!
Two years ago, the star revealed he was suffering from an undiagnosed neurological disorder that robbed him of sleep and left him fatigued.
“My head bangs every time I lay down,” Dick complained in a scary Twitter message, adding he had been plagued with headaches for many years.
After undergoing a multitude of medical tests in a desperate effort to find answers, he finally announced the problem was linked to his titanium dental implants.
Still, there was speculation the beloved star was suffering from an undiagnosed brain tumor, an aneurysm — or even deadly meningitis!
His latest catastrophe has set off a new firestorm of worry among his friends and family, who’ve watched the brave performer keep smiling while always pushing through illness, injuries and pain.
“They are praying Dick is okay,” the insider told The ENQUIRER.
“Everyone is hoping this is not the end.”
But the source added the courageous star is a realist: “He knows his days are numbered!”
