Dick Van Dyke Says He and Wife Arlene 'Safely Evacuated' Their Home with All but 1 Pet amid Malibu Wildfires: 'Praying He'll Be OK'

"Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for Bobo escaped as we were leaving," Van Dyke wrote on Facebook on Dec. 10

Arlene Silver and Dick Van Dyke at the CBS Original Special DICK VAN DYKE: 98 YEARS OF MAGIC, scheduled to air on the CBS Television Network.
Arlene Silver and Dick Van Dyke. Photo:

Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty 

Dick Van Dyke is offering an update on his family’s safety amid the Malibu wildfires.

The legendary actor, 98, took to Facebook on Tuesday, Dec. 10 to assure fans he and his wife Arlene Silver escaped their home under threat of the massive Southern California fires. He did, however, reveal one member of the family was still missing.

“Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for Bobo escaped as we were leaving,” he wrote. “We’re praying he’ll be ok and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires.”

Later that day, he shared a video of Bobo, an orange cat, with the caption: “Hoping Bobo is ok.”

His followers took to the comments to share words of support for the family, who are among the tens of thousands evacuated from the area.

“Animals have incredible survival instincts,” one wrote. “Bobo will find safety and then will find his way back to you.”

Another said: “Cats are so resourceful. They can survive what people can’t. Sending good thoughts your kitty is ok and you’re reunited soon.”

The Franklin Fire burns on December 10, 2024 in Malibu, California. The wildfire has scorched 1,800 acres near Pepperdine University prompting evacuations along the coast amid high winds with some structures destroyed.
Franklin Fire.

Mario Tama/Getty

Red flag warnings are still in place for what has been labeled the Franklin Fire, which started on Monday, Dec. 9, and worsened through the night, forcing evacuation orders and warnings for over 20,000 residents. 

On Wednesday, Dec. 11, officials explained that they were hopeful things would settle down as the weather shifted out of the red flag warning zone.

“We’re far better off this morning than we were in the last 30-plus hours,” Malibu Mayor Doug Stewart said, according to CNN. 

“Up until this point, it’s been a wind-driven fire,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone added. “If the wind changes direction, we’re going to have the fire moving into new areas.”

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 07: Dick Van Dyke, winner of the Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) for Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic, attends the 76th Creative Arts Emmys Winner's Walk at Peacock Theater on September 07, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Dick Van Dyke.

Amy Sussman/Getty

Earlier this month, on Dec. 6, Coldplay released an extended directors’ cut music video — filmed at Van Dyke’s Malibu home — for their new single “All My Love” to celebrate the star’s career ahead of his 99th birthday on Dec. 13. 

In the seven-minute short film, directed by Spike Jonze and Mary Wigmore, Van Dyke was joined by Chris Martin, Silver and his children and grandchildren as he reflected on his life.

“I’m acutely aware that I could go any day now. But I don’t know why, it doesn’t concern me,” he said. “I’m not afraid of it. I have that feeling totally against anything intellectual I have that I’m gonna be alright. I think I’m one of those lucky people who got to do for a living what I would’ve done anyway. When you think how lucky I am — I got to do what I do, play and act silly.”

Full of singing and dancing, Van Dyke went on to tell Martin that his favorite lyric of the song is the line, “Until I die, let me hold you if you cry.”

“So beautiful,” he said.

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