This year's Guest Performer crop included last year's winner in this category, Alley Mills, as well as some first-time nominees. Mills was also the first repeat nominee in the category. In another first, Guy Pearce became the first nominee from a non-American-based soap. The winner also made a little history.
While comedy icon Dick Van Dyke won multiple Primetime Emmys for his role on The Dick Van Dyke Show in the 1960s, this is the actor's first Daytime Emmy nomination for a dramatic and heartwarming cameo role on Days of our Lives. Van Dyke played Timothy Robicheaux, who turned out to be John Black's long-lost father. At 98 years old, Van Dyke became the oldest person to win a Daytime Emmy Award.
Van Dyke touched fans' hearts as the confused older man who ended up in the hospital ER, having no idea who he was or where he came from. A musical moment with Doug and Julie delighted the audience, but there wasn't a dry eye in the house when John and this mysterious man learned he was really Timothy Robichaux, and they were father and son.
Van Dyke received a standing ovation when his name was announced, making him the oldest Daytime Emmy winner ever. He also used his signature charm to make the audience laugh.
"I don't believe this. I feel like a spy from nighttime television," he said, before introducing his wife. "I brought this lady up because she's -- trouble and strife and the love of my life -- because she was also on the show. She played the cop that brought me in. She looks better than she did in that cop outfit. I'm the oldest nominee in history. If I had known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself."
Van Dyke went on to describe how much fun he had on DAYS.
"I didn't realize that you guys, 'cause you have worked together so long, are a real family. You just took me in and treated me so nicely. I had a wonderful time," he said. "In one scene, where I am being really serious, I started to giggle and ruined the shot. I'm not used to frowning. Anyway, you know who put me into this? Drake, who goes to my gym. He said, 'Why don't you come on the show and have some fun?' And I said, 'Great.' And then it snowballed into this. I'm 98 years old. Can you believe that? Thank you so much, this really caps off a lifetime. Eighty years in the business. I love you. God bless."