Dick Van Dyke, as he prepares to celebrate his 100th birthday next month, has shared his regrets from his illustrious 75-year career in Hollywood. During an interview with the Today show's Al Roker, the legendary actor revealed that he turned down two opportunities that still haunt him to this day.
The first regret was when he was offered the role of James Bond after Sean Connery left the franchise. "They asked, 'Would you like to be Bond?' And I said, 'Have you heard my British accent?'" Van Dyke recalled, joking about his exaggerated Cockney accent in Mary Poppins that wouldn't have fit the part of Agent 007. However, he admits he wishes he had taken the role, "It would have been a fantastic experience," though he's unsure if audiences would have embraced his departure from his family-friendly film persona.
In addition to passing on the Bond franchise, Van Dyke expressed his regret for never working with Cary Grant before the latter's death in 1986. "I regret that every day of my life. I turned Cary Grant down. I can't believe it," he told the outlet with a hint of disbelief.
Despite these regrets, Van Dyke has no plans to retire and is still actively seeking new roles. He joked that he's "looking for work right now" and expressed his desire to play Scrooge, adding with a laugh, "I could do it. It's still November. I still have time."
As he prepares for his milestone birthday on December 13, Van Dyke has also shared his thoughts on aging and the loss of his contemporaries in a health diary for The Times. He wrote, "Every single one of my dearest lifelong friends is gone, which feels just as lonely as it sounds." He credits his long life to his wife, 54-year-old Arlene Silver, who keeps him moving and dancing. The couple has been married since 2012.
"Without question, our ongoing romance is the most important reason I have not withered away into a hermetic grouch," Van Dyke wrote. "Arlene is half my age, and she makes me feel somewhere between two thirds and three quarters my age, which is still saying a lot."
