Hollywood icon Dick Van Dyke, who approaches his 100th birthday next month, has revealed a remarkable piece of cinematic history: he was once in the running to play the legendary British spy, James Bond.
The Bond Offer That Never Was
Speaking on US television's Today programme, the veteran actor shared that he was directly approached by Bond producer Albert Broccoli in the early 1960s about taking on the role of 007. This conversation occurred before Sean Connery was cast in 1962's Dr No, making Van Dyke one of the earliest potential Bonds.
"Would you like to be Bond?" Van Dyke recalls Broccoli asking him. The actor's immediate response highlighted what he saw as an obvious obstacle: "Have you heard my British accent?" This self-awareness about his vocal limitations came years before his now-infamous cockney performance as Bert in 1964's Mary Poppins.
A Career Defined by One Accent
For more than six decades, Van Dyke has faced criticism for what he himself has called "the most atrocious cockney accent in the history of cinema" in the Disney classic. He has since apologised for the performance, at times blaming an Irish dialect coach and wondering why London-born co-star Julie Andrews and others didn't correct him during production.
Despite the accent controversy, Van Dyke's career has been extraordinarily successful. He won three Emmys for The Dick Van Dyke Show and a Tony award for Bye Bye Birdie. Now promoting his new book, 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist's Guide to a Happy Life, the actor shows no signs of slowing down.
Still Going Strong at Nearly 100
Van Dyke remains actively seeking acting work as he approaches his centenary. "I don't want to [retire], I mean, it's my life. I love it," he stated during his recent television appearance.
The star has lived an eventful life beyond his film roles. In 2010, he recounted how porpoises saved him from drowning by pushing his surfboard to shore after he fell asleep on the waves. He survived a burning car incident on a California freeway in 2013 and another close call in 2023 when he lost control of his Lexus in rainy weather.
Meanwhile, the search continues for the next James Bond following Daniel Craig's departure and Amazon's acquisition of the franchise. While Scottish, Irish and Australian actors have played 007, no American since Van Dyke's near-miss is believed to have been seriously considered. Current frontrunners include Callum Turner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Theo James.
