When audiences think of Dick Van Dyke, most picture the smiling, sprightly chimney sweep Bert, singing and dancing across London rooftops in Mary Poppins (1964). His energy, charm, and warmth helped cement the Disney classic as one of the most beloved musicals of all time. Yet hidden in plain sight, behind a mask of wrinkles, stooped posture, and gruff voice, Van Dyke was also playing another role—one that remains one of the great Easter eggs in Hollywood history.
Few moviegoers at the time realized that Van Dyke not only embodied the cheerful Bert but also the cantankerous old banker, Mr. Dawes Sr. What makes the story even more fascinating is that Van Dyke had to fight for the chance—and even paid Walt Disney $4,000 of his own money to secure it.
A Comedian with a Bold Request
By the early 1960s, Van Dyke was already a household name thanks to The Dick Van Dyke Show. His blend of physical comedy, easy charm, and musical timing made him a perfect fit for Disney’s ambitious new project: a live-action musical based on P.L. Travers’ Mary Poppins books. Casting him as Bert was a no-brainer.
But Van Dyke saw an opportunity for more. He wanted to challenge himself, to disappear into another character entirely. When he learned that the film also needed an actor for the small but pivotal role of Mr. Dawes Sr., the head of the bank where George Banks works, Van Dyke set his sights on it.
In later interviews, he recalled how executives were skeptical. Could the tall, youthful, athletic Van Dyke truly become a fragile, hunched, 90-year-old man? Van Dyke insisted—and when persuasion wasn’t enough, he sweetened the deal with money.
“I had to convince them I could do it,” he said. “I even gave Walt Disney four thousand dollars of my own money to let me try.”
For Disney, it was an easy yes. For Van Dyke, it was a gamble worth taking.
Transformation Through Makeup and Movement
Disappearing into Mr. Dawes Sr. required more than stage makeup—it demanded a complete reinvention of posture, movement, and vocal tone.
Makeup artist Bill Baird applied heavy prosthetics to Van Dyke’s face, adding deep wrinkles, sagging skin, and liver spots. His hair was powdered to a thin, snowy white. But the real magic came from Van Dyke’s performance.
He studied the frailty of old age, bending his tall frame into a permanent stoop, shuffling with tiny steps, and adopting a raspy, trembling voice. The transformation was so convincing that many crew members—and even some cast—did not immediately recognize him.
Julie Andrews, who starred as Mary Poppins, later admitted that she was stunned the first time she saw him in character. “He disappeared into it,” she said. “It was like looking at a completely different person.”
The Banker’s Big Scene
Though Mr. Dawes Sr. appears only briefly, his role is crucial. As chairman of the bank, he pressures George Banks (David Tomlinson) to prioritize money and success over family. But in the film’s final act, when George tells a joke about two Englishmen on a desert island, Mr. Dawes laughs so hard he literally floats into the air—then collapses and dies from the shock of joy.
It is a bizarrely whimsical death, and yet it works perfectly within the film’s magical realism. For Van Dyke, it was a moment to flex both his comedic instincts and his physical control. The wheezing laughter, the tottering movements, and the final collapse all showcased the skills of a performer who had spent years perfecting slapstick comedy.
In the credits, the part was cheekily listed as played by “Navckid Keyd”—an anagram of Dick Van Dyke. Only the most observant viewers spotted the trick.
Fans’ Reactions Then and Now
At the time of the film’s release, many audiences didn’t notice the dual role. The heavy makeup and the uncredited performance kept the secret well hidden. But as the years went by, fans began to piece it together. By the 1970s, the story of Van Dyke’s double role was circulating widely, becoming one of those delightful behind-the-scenes facts that added to Mary Poppins’ legacy.
Today, the revelation is a favorite among Disney fans and film historians. On social media, it is often cited as one of the greatest movie Easter eggs of all time—right up there with Hitchcock’s cameos or Pixar’s hidden references.
Younger audiences encountering Mary Poppins for the first time often experience a double surprise: first in learning that Bert and Mr. Dawes were both played by Van Dyke, and then in discovering that he paid for the chance.
Why It Mattered to Van Dyke
So why did Van Dyke want it so badly? The answer lies in his passion for performance. Van Dyke has always thrived on pushing himself beyond expectations—whether leaping across rooftops, stumbling through pratfalls, or breaking into song. Playing Mr. Dawes Sr. was a chance to prove that he wasn’t just a cheerful song-and-dance man, but also an actor capable of disappearing into a character.
In later interviews, he admitted that the role brought him immense satisfaction. “It was one of my favorite things I ever did,” he said. “People didn’t recognize me, and that was the best compliment.”
For an actor who often worried about being typecast, the banker was a chance to show range and stretch his craft.
A Legacy of Laughter
Looking back now, more than half a century after Mary Poppins first enchanted audiences, the double role stands as a testament to Van Dyke’s creativity and determination. It also reflects the collaborative spirit of early Disney films—where actors, writers, and directors were willing to experiment in ways that might not happen today.
The fact that Van Dyke paid for the privilege has become part of Hollywood lore. Some critics have scoffed at the story, calling it unnecessary or indulgent. But most see it as a charming anecdote that perfectly fits Van Dyke’s personality: earnest, enthusiastic, and endlessly committed to bringing joy to audiences.
Influence on Disney and Beyond
Van Dyke’s bold move also set a precedent in entertainment. Actors occasionally take smaller roles or uncredited cameos in projects they love, but rarely do they pay for the chance. Van Dyke’s willingness to invest in his own artistic challenge showed a kind of old-fashioned showmanship.
And for Disney, the payoff was clear. The dual role added another layer of charm to Mary Poppins, making it one of the richest films in the company’s catalog. Decades later, when Mary Poppins Returns was released in 2018, Van Dyke reprised the role of Mr. Dawes Jr.—the son of the original banker—in a triumphant callback to his hidden performance. Audiences erupted in applause, recognizing the wink to history.
Conclusion: The Man Behind the Makeup
For most fans, Dick Van Dyke will always be Bert—the chimney sweep who danced with penguins, sang about kites, and captured hearts with his infectious joy. But for those who look closer, he will also be remembered as Mr. Dawes Sr., the grumpy banker whose hidden identity turned into one of the most enduring secrets in Disney film history.
That Van Dyke had to pay Walt Disney $4,000 for the chance only makes the story sweeter. It reveals a performer so dedicated to the art of entertainment that he was willing to risk his own money for a few minutes of screen time—and in doing so, left behind a legacy that continues to surprise, delight, and inspire.
More than half a century later, it remains a reminder of what makes Hollywood magic: not just the songs, the dances, or the special effects, but the passion of artists like Dick Van Dyke who give everything—even their own paycheck—for the sake of a story.
