Dick Van Dyke celebrates his 100th birthday with humor
Dick Van Dyke turns 100 this December with a new book, theatrical tribute, and his signature humor.
His name is Bond – Dick Van Bond?
Emmy Award-winning actor Dick Van Dyke reflected on his illustrious career in an interview on the Today show that aired on Tuesday, November 18th.
“I’m speaking from a position of advantage,” Van Dyke, 99, told host Al Roker. “I had to do for a living what I could have done for free.” “If I had been sitting at a desk somewhere in a cubicle, I might not have been as happy.”
But Mr. Van Dyke, known for his career-defining roles in the musicals “Mary Poppins,” “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” and his namesake, “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” also reflects on what could have been.
Following Sean Connery’s departure from the series, he revealed that he was approached to play the subdued action hero James Bond. Connery, who passed away in 2020, brought the character to life on screen in 1962’s Dr. No, which was written by Ian Fleming.
“They said, “Do you want to be Bond?” And I said, “Have you heard my British accent? ”’ Van Dyke recalled, adding that he was skeptical whether viewers would “buy into” his genre change.
After five films, Connery’s successor was George Lazenby in 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Looking back, Van Dyke said playing Bond was “an amazing experience.”
Dick Van Dyke also turned down a Cary Grant movie
007 wasn’t Van Dyke’s only Hollywood role he regretted.
In an interview on the “Today” show, the actor revealed that he also turned down a movie with Oscar-nominated actor Cary Grant.
Van Dyke said Grant, whom he reportedly met while appearing on the Broadway show “Bye Bye Birdie,” suggested the idea one day while they were hanging out in Van Dyke’s dressing room. The actor did not elaborate on why he turned down Grant’s offer.
“I regret it every day of my life,” Van Dyke said. “I turned down Cary Grant. I can’t believe it.”
Dick Van Dyke reveals his surprising dream role
As Van Dyke nears 100 years old, he still has a bucket list of things to do in his creative life.
“I’ve always wanted to play Scrooge,” Van Dyke said on “Today”, referring to the holiday icon Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ novel “A Christmas Carol.”
Known for his cold demeanor and hatred of Christmas, Scrooge has been played in television and film by actors including Seymour Hicks, Jim Carrey, Christopher Plummer, Kelsey Grammer, and Will Ferrell.
“I can do it,” Van Dyke said with a laugh. “It’s only November. There’s still time.”
