Credit: Gage Skidmore / Amazon MGM

Dick Van Dyke reveals why he turned down James Bond

Wed 19 November 2025 10:49, UK

Dick Van Dyke has revealed that he “almost” played the role of James Bond and explained the reason he ultimately turned it down.

The veteran actor was speaking in a new interview with The Today Show, in which he reflected on the highlights of his career, as well as the one iconic role that managed to pass him by.

When asked if the rumour was true that he could have played the world’s most famous spy, Van Dyke responded: “I almost did,” adding that this would have been in the timeline after Sean Connery’s departure from the franchise in 1983.

He said: “Albert Broccoli came to me and said, ‘Would you like to be Bond?’ And I said, ‘Have you heard my British accent?’ Click!,” jokingly referring to the criticism he faced after his questionable Cockney accent while appearing in Mary Poppins.

However, on top of this, there were other reasons Van Dyke felt the role simply would not be the right fit for him. He claimed that audiences may not have “accepted it from me”, in light of him having made a career out of a slew of other family-friendly films.

Even though he turned down the chance to assume the 007 mantle in the end, Van Dyke was quick to assert that he was still sure it would “have been a great experience.”

The 99-year-old iconic actor, weeks away from his 100th birthday on December 13th, is marking his milestone age with a new book called 100 Rules for Living to 100: An Optimist’s Guide to a Happy Life, which came out on November 18th.

Despite his advancing age and the fact that many others would have long since given up their careers at the same point, Van Dyke has no signs of stopping.

“I don’t want to [give up],” he said. “I mean, it’s my hobby. It’s my life. I love it,” adding, “I’m looking for work right now.”