Dick Van Dyke reveals why The Odd Couple remake didn’t happen

As per a recent article by People, renowned actor Dick Van Dyke revealed that he, along with his late fast friend Ed Asner, was preparing to make a remake of the classic comedy The Odd Couple before the demise of Asner.

The question was answered by Dick Van Dyke during a Q&A session with his wife, Arlene Van Dyke, at a Dick & Arlene Van Dyke Present Vandy Camp event held in Malibu, California.

"That would've been such fun, and we lost it. I've lost a lot of friends." Dick Van Dyke answered his wife with a sigh.

To this, Arlene chimed in about Dick Van Dyke and comforted him by saying that his husband had outlived everyone (Dick Van Dyke is 99 years old, and Asner died when he was 91).

"He's outlived everybody," Arlene said for her husband. "That's the curse of living to almost 100."

Arlene further mentioned that despite all the hardships and pain, Van Dyke had maintained a positive attitude.

“Well, life’s been good to me. I can’t complain.” Dick Van Dyke added.

He further added that he stays upbeat, and the love from audiences is what gets him going.

“I’m a ham. I love it. I get a jolt of energy from an audience,” revealed Dick Van Dyke.

Van Dyke also took the chance to reflect back on his career. He called his role of Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie from April 1960 to October 1961 on Broadway, his most standout role to now. It was this gig that kickstarted his acting career when he played the role of Albert Peterson in the 1963 movie Bye Bye Birdie, an adaptation of the same.

Dick Van Dyke also recalled the time when cast in 1964's movie Mary Poppins, in which he played the characters of Bert - a chimney sweep and Mr. Dawes Sr.- a bank chairman. He appreciated his co-star Julie Andrews and said that she supported Van Dyke while he was struggling with his singing performance.

"She was as sweet as she could be and so patient with me. I'm not a real singer, so I tend to be under, fighting to get up there and sing on top of the note. Just took me forever in the recording.

"But [Andrews] was just patient as could be and kept helping me, saying, 'Think high. Think up there.' And it turned out great. She was wonderful. We had a wonderful time together." Dick Van Dyke told People.

During the same time as the movie was being shot, Van Dyke was also hosting a comedy show titled The Dick Van Dyke Show, in which he played the role of a comedy scriptwriter named Rob Petrie.

About The Odd Couple

The Odd Couple first introduced Oscar and Felix, the iconic duo, in Neil Simon's Broadway play in the year 1965. A movie of the same name was released in the year 1968, in which Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon starred.

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The plot of the movie revolves around Felix, who is a cleanliness freak, and starts living with his best friend Oscar. Oscar, on the other hand, is quite a messy person, and their contrasting personalities test their long-time friendship.

A television series of the same name was developed in September 1970. The series ran for five seasons. Jack Klugman and Tony Randall played the roles of Oscar and Felix, and the story is set in New York.

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