He's either the toughest 82-year-old around, or Dick Van Dyke is still one of the funniest SOB's on the planet.

Dick sent a letter to the editor of Malibu Surfside News, to comment how flattered he was about an encounter with unexpected paparazzi. Unfortunately, Van Dyke claims he still had to lay the smackdown on the pap -- out of loyalty to other celebs.

Maybe Dick's a member of MLO.