Hollywood icon Dick Van Dyke has made a surprising revelation that he was once offered the chance to play James Bond, but his famously criticised British accent cost him the iconic role.
The Bond opportunity that never was
During a recent appearance on the Today show, the 99-year-old acting legend shared the remarkable story of how producer Albert Broccoli approached him in the 1970s to take over from Sean Connery as the next James Bond.
'I almost did become James Bond,' Van Dyke confessed. '[Producer] Albert Broccoli came to me and said, "Would you like to be Bond?" And I said, "Have you heard my British accent?" Click!'
The actor, who hails from West Plains, Missouri, immediately recognised that his attempt at a British accent wouldn't pass muster for the sophisticated secret agent role.
A legacy of accent criticism
Van Dyke's self-awareness about his accent struggles stemmed from previous criticism he received for his cockney accent performance as Bert in 1964's Mary Poppins. The portrayal had been widely mocked by British audiences and critics alike.
Despite believing that playing Bond would 'have been a great experience,' the veteran performer admitted he wasn't the right fit. He explained that fans likely wouldn't have 'accepted it from me' to play the British spy given his previous accent mishaps.
Sean Connery, who originated the role in 1962's Dr. No, went on to star in seven Bond films until 1983, though he was briefly replaced by George Lazenby for 1969's On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
A flourishing career regardless
Despite missing out on the Bond franchise, Van Dyke's career continued to thrive spectacularly. The actor, who turns 100 next month, remains actively seeking work, telling audiences: 'It's my hobby. It's my life. I love it...I'm looking for work right now.'
His impressive career spanning seven decades includes legendary roles in The Dick Van Dyke Show, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Night at the Museum. His trophy cabinet boasts six Emmy Awards, a Grammy Award, and a Tony Award.
Van Dyke was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1993 and the Television Hall of Fame in 1995. His most recent film appearances were in 2018's Mary Poppins Returns, The Great Buster: A Celebration and Buttons: A Christmas Tale.
Meanwhile, the search for the next James Bond continues, with Amazon recently taking creative control of the franchise in a $20 million deal. While Denis Villeneuve is set to direct and Steven Knight will write the screenplay, the next actor to play 007 remains unconfirmed.
