The Role That Got Away: Dick Van Dyke's Missed Bond Opportunity
As he approaches his landmark 100th birthday, veteran entertainer Dick Van Dyke has revealed one of Hollywood's most intriguing 'what if' stories - he was personally approached to play James Bond before Sean Connery secured the iconic role.
The beloved star of Mary Poppins and The Dick Van Dyke Show disclosed on US television programme Today that Bond producer Albert Broccoli directly asked him if he wanted to become cinema's most famous spy during the early 1960s.
'Have You Heard My British Accent?'
Van Dyke recalled his immediate response to Broccoli's proposition: 'Would you like to be Bond?' to which the actor famously replied, 'Have you heard my British accent?'
This conversation occurred before Sean Connery's casting in 1962's Dr No, indicating Van Dyke was already acutely aware of his limitations with British accents years before his much-criticised cockney performance as Bert the chimney sweep in 1964's Mary Poppins.
The actor has since repeatedly apologised for what he describes as 'the most atrocious cockney accent in the history of cinema' in the Disney classic. In subsequent interviews, he attributed the flawed performance to working with an Irish dialect coach while also questioning why London-born co-star Julie Andrews and other crew members didn't correct him.
Still Going Strong at 100
Despite his centenary approaching next month, Van Dyke confirmed he has no plans to retire from acting. 'I don't want to [retire], I mean, it's my life. I love it,' he declared during the interview.
The multi-award winning performer - who boasts three Emmys for The Dick Van Dyke Show and a Tony for Bye Bye Birdie - is currently promoting his new book, Keep Moving and Other Tips and Truths About Aging.
Van Dyke remains one of television's most entertaining guests, known for sharing remarkable life stories including being rescued from drowning by porpoises in 2010 and surviving both a burning car incident on a California freeway in 2013 and a recent car crash in 2023 during rainy weather.
The American Bond That Never Was
While Scottish, Irish and Australian actors have portrayed 007 over the decades, no American star has seriously been considered for the role since Van Dyke's near-miss in the early 1960s.
The search for Daniel Craig's successor continues after Amazon acquired the franchise rights, with British actors Callum Turner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Theo James currently considered frontrunners for the coveted role.
Van Dyke's revelation adds a fascinating chapter to Bond history, proving that even Hollywood legends have their regrets about roles that got away.
