Spoiler alert!
Dick Van Dyke proved that age is just a number as he left everyone speechless during the season 9 premiere of “The Masked Singer” Wednesday.
The 97-year-old Hollywood legend was unmasked as the “Gnome” in what was described as the show’s “greatest reveal ever” as judge Nicole Scherzinger was in tears.
The Tony, Emmy, and Grammy winner performed the hit track “When You’re Smiling” by Frank Sinatra.
“This is the most seasoned and most decorated we’ve had on our show, ladies and gentlemen,” said host Nick Cannon, 42, as the iconic actor revealed his identity.
“It was really dark in there. …I couldn’t see anything,” Van Dyke told the audience.
Scherzinger couldn’t help but gush over the performer as he stood on stage.
“I love you so much, we love you, the whole world loves you so much. It’s an honor to have you on our show,” the Pussycat Dolls star said. “I can’t believe you’re here, I’m trying to play it cool. You look so gorgeous, you look so handsome.”
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Fellow panelist Jenny McCarthy, 50, said she was “so blown away” by the reveal.
Panelist Ken Jeong, 53, told the Hollywood veteran that he inspired him to try his hand at comedy.
“You’re our childhood,” Scherzinger chimed in, with Jeong adding, “Our greatest reveal ever.”
The audience was then in for a real treat when Van Dyke performed a rendition of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” — the hit song from his 1964 “Marry Poppins” film starring Julie Andrews.
Following his appearance on the hit show, Van Dyke told Entertainment Weekly, “I was so positive that nobody would ever guess it was me, that they would have somebody 97 years old on there.
“I would say it’s the weirdest thing I’ve ever done. But they didn’t put a mask on me. They made a great big like Pumpkinhead thing that I had to do.”
“It was a weird experience. I had two little peepholes I can see the audience with. It’s a good thing I’m not claustrophobic,” he added.
