Dick Van Dyke Turned Down James Bond Role Over Accent

Dick Van Dyke, the veteran actor approaching his 100th birthday, revealed in a recent interview that he turned down an offer to play James Bond, citing concerns over his British accent. The disclosure came during a conversation on NBC's Today show, where Van Dyke, known for his roles in family classics like Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, recounted the exchange with producer Albert R. Broccoli following his 1968 performance in the latter film.

Broccoli, who produced Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and several early James Bond movies, approached Van Dyke about succeeding Sean Connery as the iconic spy for the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Van Dyke recalled responding to the offer with a pointed question: "Have you heard my British accent?" The remark referenced the widespread criticism he faced for his portrayal of the cockney chimney sweep Bert in the 1964 Disney musical Mary Poppins, where his accent drew mockery from audiences and critics alike. Van Dyke later attributed the accent's flaws to guidance from an Irish dialect coach during production, noting that colleagues, including co-star Julie Andrews, had not corrected him at the time.