Dick Van Dyke Reveals The Iconic Role He Regrets Turning Down

Dick Van Dyke is making headlines as soon as once more, this time for revealing a stunning Hollywood “what if” that followers by no means noticed coming. Because the beloved “Mary Poppins” and “Dick Van Dyke Present” legend approaches his a hundredth birthday, he’s opening up in regards to the iconic position he nearly performed many years in the past. James Bond. The 99-year-old star shared that he was as soon as approached about turning into 007, however an sudden impediment, his famously shaky British accent, stored him from moving into the tuxedo. Van Dyke’s revelation arrives as he additionally provides followers an emotional well being replace, reflecting on how ageing has modified his life and profession. From turning down cross-country work to adjusting to new bodily limitations, the Hollywood icon is talking candidly about what life seems like as he nears a century.

The 99-year-old leisure legend, who will have a good time his a hundredth birthday subsequent month, revealed in a brand new interview with “Today”’s Al Roker that he was as soon as approached about turning into the following James Bond. In keeping with Van Dyke, the chance got here instantly from iconic producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, who labored with the actor on “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and, in fact, introduced the early “007” movies to life.

“Cubby Broccoli got here to me and stated, ‘Would you wish to be Bond?’” Van Dyke recalled. “And I stated, ‘Have you ever heard my British accent?’”

Van Dyke famously struggled with the accent in “Mary Poppins,” and even many years later, his portrayal stays a lighthearted Hollywood punchline. He joked that even he knew audiences would by no means purchase the world’s most refined spy sounding like that.

Nonetheless, the actor admits there’s a tiny a part of him that wonders what might’ve been. The Bond position went on to grow to be considered one of Hollywood’s most coveted, with solely a small handful of actors, Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig, ever moving into the tuxedo.

Van Dyke’s stunning “Bond” revelation comes on the heels of a deeply personal update about his health as he approaches his milestone birthday. In a candid reflection for the Sunday Times, the Hollywood icon opened up in regards to the bodily and emotional challenges which have include ageing and the way he’s studying to navigate a world that feels more and more smaller.

“It’s irritating to really feel diminished on the planet, bodily and socially,” he wrote, explaining that long-distance journey has grow to be too taxing. He lately turned down work in Chicago and New York as a result of the journeys had been merely greater than his physique might deal with. Nowadays, most of his socializing occurs at dwelling.

For many years, Van Dyke performed spry, comedic older characters, and now, he says, he has unintentionally grown into these roles. “Like my previous characters, I’m now a stooper, a shuffler, and a teeterer. I’ve toes issues and I am going supine as typically as is politely potential,” he shared.

Regardless of the restrictions, Van Dyke continues to give attention to pleasure, gratitude, and the individuals who encompass him. His reflections function a reminder of the humor and coronary heart which have carried him by practically a century of life, and a unprecedented Hollywood profession that nearly included James Bond.