The entertainer is back for a small role in the new film, after his performance as Bert became legendary in the original. He’s playing Mr Dawes Jr – the son of Mr Dawes Sr, the second character he played in the first movie. And if fans’ first reaction to news of a new movie was one of trepidation, they weren’t alone: Van Dyke was there too.
“I had some misgivings, because almost traditionally sequels don’t work. They’re never quite as good as the original,” he told PEOPLE.
“[But] this is an homage to Walt and the original movie.
“I was so impressed that their heart was in the right place. They wanted to pay respect to the original.
“And I was so tickled when they asked me, because it was kind of like bookends for me.”
It seems that getting to perform his own musical number was what ultimately won him round.
“The minute I heard I was going to do a little number, that sold me,” he said.
“I thought I could contribute by just being a little bit of a reminder of the original. And I think it turned out well.
“I got to jump up on a desk and do a dance number. It surprised everybody, but nobody was as surprised as I was.
