Dick Van Dyke and Carol Burnett Embrace in Sweet Photos

Carol Burnett and her longtime friend Dick Van Dyke enjoyed a rare reunion during a special event honoring Burnett on June 20.

Van Dyke, 98, isn’t often seen out in public these days, though he did recently attend the 51st Daytime Emmy Awards on June 7 to receive a trophy that made him the oldest winner in the awards show’s history.

But on Thursday, the spotlight was on Burnett as the 91-year-old joined the Hollywood legends who have immortalized themselves by forging their handprints and footprints in wet cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California.

The ceremony honoring The Carol Burnett Show star began with tributes from Jimmy Kimmel, Bob Odenkirk and Laura Dern, After delivering sweet speeches documenting their experiences working with and being inspired by Burnett, they turned the microphone over to the Palm Royale actress.

When she took the stage, Burnett noted that she had grown up just a few blocks away from the TCL Chinese Theatre and remembered going there to see movies—and to admire the handprints and footprints left by her idols—with her grandmother.

“Betty Grable was one of my favorites,” Burnett said. "And I remember bending down and putting my hands on her handprints, never dreaming that someday, I’d be putting my hands here, 80 years later.”

After her remarks, Burnett carved her name, a heart and the date into a slab of wet cement before adding her handprints and footprints. The dedicated comedian pretended to get her hands stuck in the cement, joking to her laughing audience, “Well, I guess I’m here forever.”

Once her hands were wiped clean and her shoes replaced, Burnett posed for photos with several famous guests and colleagues. After the first few photos were taken, Van Dyke walked up to join her.

Burnett looked emotional as she linked arms with Van Dyke, who appeared on her show decades ago. While he temporarily sent the crowd into a fit of giggles by yelling, “help!” in mock distress and flashing a quick grin after dropping his cane, his attendance at the ceremony clearly touched Burnett as they whispered to each other while posing for photos.

While speaking with Entertainment Tonight after the ceremony, Burnett said it was “so lovely” to see all of the people who showed up to watch the special event and celebrate her decades-long career in Hollywood. But when it comes to her fans—and the messages they send her—Burnett said that “what touches me the most” is when people say her show “cheered me up.”

“That would be the legacy I'd want,” she shared.

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