Dick Van Dyke Reveals Why Turned Down Playing James Bond
Dick Van Dyke is opening up about almost playing James Bond!
The 99-year-old actor, who turns 100 in just less than a month, recently shared that he could have played the iconic secret agent, but he actually turned it down.
While speaking with Al Roker for a TODAY interview, Dick revealed the big reason why he said no to Bond.
Keep reading to find out more…
“I almost [played Bond],” he said. The producer for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang also produced James Bond movies and approached him about the role as a potential successor to Sean Connery.
“[Albert] ‘Cubby’ Broccoli came to me and said, ‘Would you like to be Bond?’” Dick added. “And I said, ‘Have you heard my British accent?’”
While he turned it down, the actor admits to having some regret over it.
As he nears his 100th birthday, Dick adds that he wants to keep acting!
“I don’t want to [retire],” he says. “I mean, it’s my hobby. It’s my life. I love it. I’m looking for work right now.”
One role he hasn’t done but has always wanted to? Scrooge!
“And I could do it. It’s just November, I’ve still got time,” he jokes.
Earlier this fall, Dick made a dark joke about his age and nearly turning 100.