Dick Van Dyke, Ed Asner Had been Set to Do Remake of ‘The Odd Couple’ Earlier than His Loss of life

Dick Van Dyke had a particular mission within the works with Ed Asner earlier than the latter actor’s loss of life.

Dick, 99, revealed throughout a Q&A together with his spouse, Arlene Van Dyke, that he and longtime buddy Asner — who died in August 2021 on the age of 91 — have been set to group up for a remake of the basic comedy The Odd Couple.

“That will’ve been such enjoyable, and we misplaced it. I’ve misplaced quite a lot of buddies,” Dick stated in the course of the dialog on the Dick & Arlene Van Dyke Current Vandy Camp occasion in Malibu, Calif.

“He is outlived all people,” Arlene, 53, chimed in about her husband. “That is the curse of dwelling to virtually 100.”

Arlene then famous that the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star is “nonetheless so optimistic” regardless of having misplaced so many beloved buddies and former costars over time and requested him the key to his cheerful mindset.

“Nicely, life’s been good to me. I can not complain,” Dick merely replied.

Followers have been first launched to The Odd Couple’s iconic duo Oscar and Felix in Neil Simon’s Broadway play in 1965. A film adopted in 1968, starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. Felix, a neat freak, strikes in together with his messy finest buddy Oscar following his divorce, and their relationship is put to the check — after which some.

A TV sequence, developed by Garry Marshall, then premiered in September 1970 and ran for 5 seasons. Jack Klugman portrayed Oscar, and Tony Randall performed Felix, and their differing family requirements led to plenty of comedic clashes because the pair shared a New York Metropolis condominium.

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Whereas chatting with PEOPLE on the Malibu occasion, the place Dick carried out together with his barbershop quartet, The Vantastix, the actor — who will flip 100 in December — shared why he continues to carry out and exit onstage as an alternative of easing into retirement.

“I am a ham,” he says. “I like it. I get a jolt of power from an viewers.”

Reflecting on his decades-long leisure profession, Dick singled out his flip as Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie on Broadway from April 1960 to October 1961 because the position that the majority stands out for him.

“[It’s] the one which acquired me off the bottom,” he explains. “It was the largest thrill. And I acquired a Tony [Award] later.”

The Broadway gig led to him kickstarting his movie profession by taking part in Albert within the 1963 film adaptation of Bye Bye Birdie.

At the moment, Dick was additionally headlining The Dick Van Dyke Present, a sitcom during which he performed a comedy author named Rob Petrie. Amid the present’s profitable five-year run, he was additionally forged alongside Julie Andrews in 1964’s Mary Poppins in not one, however two roles: chimney sweep Bert and financial institution chairman Mr. Dawes Sr.

Dick recalled to PEOPLE how Andews, 89, was “as candy as she may very well be and so affected person with me” — particularly as he struggled with the singing points of his efficiency.

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“I am not an actual singer, so I are usually below, combating to rise up there and sing on high of the notice. Simply took me eternally within the recording,” he says.

“However [Andrews] was simply affected person as may very well be and stored serving to me, saying, ‘Suppose excessive. Suppose up there.’ And it turned out nice,” he continues. “She was great. We had a beautiful time collectively.”