MovieChat Forums > The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) Discussion > Why didn't they use Dick's, Mary's or Ca...

Why didn't they use Dick's, Mary's or Carl Reiner's son as Ritchie?

posted 9 years ago by Jupiter555555
7 replies | jump to latest

The little boy who played Ritchie was not an exceptional actor (or singer, drummer boy oye), so it's not like they were going for Emmy-award winning acting chops... Mary's son was exactly Ritchie's age, Carl's and Dick's sons were not far off... Dick's children were in at least one episode, so I don't think they were camera shy nor were he and his wife strict about their privacy... and didn't Rob Reiner become an actor too?

[–] snsurone 9 years ago

I think Rob may have been in his teens when this show aired.

[–] doug65oh 9 years ago

Yep, he would have been far too old at 14 for that part.

[–] kaneforgov 8 years ago

Most actors don't want their kids to be actors. It can be a toxic lifestyle for a child.

[–] myndchanger 8 years ago

I agree kaneforgov. I've noticed that Richie wasn't in that many episodes, and when he was it was only for a scene or two usually. I wonder if Carl Reiner made a decision to early on to limit the screen time for the kid.

[–] sonomagirl2120 8 years ago

There are laws that govern the time a child is allowed to work plus I am sure most people would not want their child stuck in a dark and dusty sound stage all day. They want their kids out in the light of day going to school and enjoying life with other kids.

[–] hifijohn 8 years ago

I dont blame him wow that kid was annoying!!

[–] CarolTheDabbler (570) 2 years ago

The main problem seemed to be that he was all too well aware of when his lines were funny. Of course some real-life kids will smirk when they make a smart-a$$ remark, so it's not necessarily unrealistic -- just, as you say, annoying.