SAG Awards: Dick Van Dyke Accepts Life Achievement Honor From Alec Baldwin

Dick Van Dyke was the toast of Hollywood on Sunday, Jan. 27, accepting the life achievement honor at the 19th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

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Alec Baldwin presented Van Dyke's award, noting that “I've been borrowing from Dick every time I step in front of the camera."

After a brief montage clip featuring highlights from Van Dyke's roles on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Diagnosis Murder, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Bye Bye Birdie, the acting icon took the stage to accept his trophy.

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“I have to say one thing -- my lord and savior Carl Reiner couldn't be here tonight,” he joked. “There's a lot of flu going around.”

And with a megawatt grin on his face, the actor went on to say, “I've knocked around in this business for 70 years, and I still haven't quite figured out what it is that I do. But the years have just been full of surprises for me and a lot of fun. Aren't we lucky to have found a line of work that doesn't require growing up? I love that.”

Van Dyke received a standing ovation from the crowd inside the Shrine Auditorium. Among the famous faces shown during his speech were Jennifer Lawrence, Bryan Cranston and Daniel Day-Lewis.

“I'm looking at the greatest generation of actors in the history of acting,” Van Dyke remarked. “You've all lifted the art to another place now… if this very heavy object right here means that I can refer to you as my peers, then I'm a very lucky man.”

Email: Sophie.Schillaci@THR.com; Twitter: @SophieSchillaci