Gnome from The Masked Singer season 9 is a contestant who was revealed to be legendary actor Dick Van Dyke, and his unmasking was the greatest in the history of the show. At 97 years of age, Dick is the oldest person ever to compete on the famous series. The Emmy, Tony, Grammy, and Golden Globe Award winner has many acting credits to his name, but is best known for his iconic roles in the films, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Bye Bye Birdie. He also starred on the television sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show and the crime drama, Diagnosis: Murder.

As The Masked Singer season 9's Gnome, Dick sang Frank Sinatra's version of the classic song, "When You're Smiling." After he was unmasked, he performed a rousing rendition of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" from Mary Poppins. Before the unmasking, panelists Robin Thicke, Jenny McCarthy, Ken Jeong, and Nicole Scherzinger had no idea who he was. Jenny thought he might be Tony Bennett, while Ken wondered if he was Robert De Niro. Robin and Nicole guessed that he was Dustin Hoffman. When Dick was revealed, the panel was shocked. Nicole even began to cry, which was the reaction of so many others, as Dick stood there smiling. For many reasons, Dick's unmasking was the greatest in Masked Singer history.

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No One Expected Dick Van Dyke To Do The Masked Singer

Because he is elderly, no one expected Dick Van Dyke's The Masked Singer appearance. In an interview with EW, Dick said that he knew that the panelists would not guess who he was. He stated, "I don't think they expected anybody from my generation to be on that show. So I knew I was gonna fool them. They were so surprised. I stepped out and everybody's mouths dropped open. I think some people thought I was dead." Dick's unmasking was a wonderful surprise. To see him singing and dancing again was a real treat for his many fans. The fact that it was so unexpected made it even more joyous.

Most People Know The Masked Singer's Dick Van Dyke

At times on The Masked Singer, celebrities have been unmasked that have a specific audience. Whether they are YouTube stars, athletes, singers, or actors, they are often not universally known. However, Dick has a fan base that spans generations. He said, "You know what is fun now? We're on our third generation and I would get little kids who will see me and say, "It's [his Mary Poppins character] Bert!" And I love that, that kids are just discovering those movies now. And it's great to be on a third generation."

The Masked Singer unmaskings are always fun. However, they're even better when people know the celebrity well. In this case, it was almost certain that everyone knew who Dick was when he emerged from the Gnome costume.

The Masked Singer's Dick Van Dyke Is Universally Loved

The Masked Singer is generally considered to be a fun family show, but there have been some controversial unmaskings in the past, especially when contestants are involved in politics. From Sarah Palin to Rudy Giuliani, some of the celebrities have caused outrage when they were unmasked. However, when Dick was revealed to be the Gnome, there was nothing but happiness. Nicole was brought to tears, which was a feeling that many others had when they realized who the Gnome actually was. Dick's joyous rendition of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" was delightful, and had everyone singing along.

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The Masked Singer's Dick Van Dyke Is A True Legend

Dick Van Dyke as Gnome on The Masked Singer side by side images in and out of costume

Dick is definitely a living legend. His The Masked Singer appearance was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for his fans to enjoy. His career has spanned 70 years, and has touched so many lives. From Broadway to the silver screen to television, Dick has entertained countless people. He is respected and loved by everyone. His talents are infinite, and he is an inspiration to people of all ages. Dick's appearance as the Gnome on The Masked Singer was the most impressive moment in the show's history.

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Sources: EW, The Masked Singer/YouTube, The Masked Singer/YouTube, The Masked Singer/YouTube

The Masked Singer airs Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.