Dick Van Dyke Jokes He’s ‘Looking for Work’ Ahead of 99th Birthday: 'I Can't Believe I'm Still Here and Performing'

Dick Van Dyke is never done working.

On Saturday, Sept. 7, the esteemed actor, 98, said he is "looking for work" after he won an award for outstanding variety special at the 2024 Creative Arts Emmy Awards for his 2023 birthday special, Dick Van Dyke 98 Years of Magic. 

After accepting his award, he answered questions from reporters, one of which was about how he hopes to be remembered. "For laughter," Van Dyke said to the press room. "I hope for making people laugh for 75 years."

The actor continued to reflect on his career, saying, "I've been in the business 75 years. I can't believe that I'm still here and performing."

He then paused and looked around the room before adding with a laugh, "I'm looking for work if anybody has."

Van Dyke was later asked about advice he would give to young performers.

Recalling the early days of his career, he said, "You have to stick with it. You're gonna go through hard times and a lot of auditions ... but you have to stay with it. Be patient if you've got the confidence in yourself, and it's very important to believe that you can do it."

Van Dyke's recent win ties him as the oldest winner of a Creative Arts Emmy alongside the late Norman Lear, who won at age 98 in 2020.

While accepting his honor, Van Dyke praised the applause he received, stating, "Thank you! That reception, I cannot tell you what it means."

He was joined on stage by his wife Arlene Silver, who worked as a producer on the special. "The young lady who got this award, you may think of the word nepotism and I would understand it, but this lady got the job all by herself as producer of the Dick Van Dyke special because she knows me inside and out, and knows how I work, and don't take no sass from anybody,” Van Dyke said of his partner.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

In June, Van Dyke became the oldest Daytime Emmy winner ever after winning best guest performer in a daytime drama series for his role as Timothy Robicheaux on Days of Our Lives.

Prior to the event, he told PEOPLE in an exclusive statement, "This is a very different honor for me; I seldom get recognized for dramatic or straight acting - comedy and musicals are my specialty after all. I'm so honored and it will be a fun night celebrating with the entire daytime television community."

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Over the course of his illustrious career, Van Dyke has won several Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award and a Tony Award. His acting credits span decades and genres, with titles such as The Dick Van Dyke Show, Bye Bye Birdie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Dick Tracy, Night at the Museum and Scrubs. 

He told PEOPLE earlier this year that he wants to do a one-man show about his vast experience in the industry. "I was thinking of doing — 80 years in the business, I have a lot of stories to tell. I thought I'd just do a one-man show, like this," he said. "Just sit and talk to the audience.

The 2024 Creative Arts Emmys will air Saturday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m. ET on FXX, and can also be streamed on Hulu from Sept. 15 through Oct. 9.