Dick Van Dyke reveals he almost played James Bond – but delivers unexpected reason he turned down 007

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Dick Van Dyke recently shared that he was almost offered the role of James Bond, but he ultimately decided against it for a surprising reason.

The beloved 99-year-old actress has been a fixture in Hollywood for many years. She began her career in radio and theater, and later became famous for her roles in classic television shows like The Dick Van Dyke Show and iconic films such as Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Dick Van Dyke recently shared on the Today show that after starring in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 1968, film producer Albert Broccoli considered him to replace Sean Connery as James Bond.

“I almost did [become James Bond],” he said.

Albert Broccoli, the film’s producer, asked me if I wanted to play Bond. I jokingly replied, ‘Do you realize I have a British accent?’” he explained, recalling the complaints some people had about my working-class London accent in the 1964 film Mary Poppins.

Van Dyke explained that although he thought playing the famous spy would have been fun, he doubted audiences would have embraced seeing him in a role so different from the wholesome characters he usually played.

During the interview, Van Dyke also mentioned he wished he’d had the chance to star in a film with Cary Grant before Grant passed away in 1986.

“I regret that every day of my life. I turned Cary Grant down. I don’t believe it,” he said.

Even though Dick Van Dyke declined those particular parts, his career remained successful, and he’s now marking 75 years as an actor as he nears his 100th birthday.

He added that he’d still love to play Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol.

He stated he has no plans to retire, explaining that his work is his passion and a central part of his life. He’s currently seeking new employment opportunities.

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2025-11-21 15:34