Who played Bert in the original Disney classic "Mary Poppins"?

Dick Van Dyke played Bert in the original Disney classic “Mary Poppins,” released in 1964.

Bert is a cheerful London chimney sweep and street performer who seems to have a different job each time he appears. He is also a close friend of Mary Poppins and helps bring imagination, music, and warmth into the Banks family’s troubled household. Van Dyke’s performance includes several of the film’s best-known numbers, including “Chim Chim Cher-ee” and “Step in Time.”

Van Dyke actually played two roles in the movie. Alongside Bert, he portrayed Mr. Dawes Sr., the elderly chairman of the bank where George Banks works. The heavily made-up character was initially difficult for audiences to identify as Van Dyke, and the actor was not prominently credited for the part.

A frequently mentioned detail is Van Dyke’s exaggerated English accent, which has been criticized by British viewers and performers. The accent became part of the film’s comic style, while his energetic dancing and physical comedy helped make Bert one of Disney’s most memorable live-action characters.