Superstar Dick Van Dyke opens up about the role he offered Julie Andrews — and why she turned it down

It’s hard to resist Dick Van Dyke’s charms. The beloved Hollywood icon has nothing but praise for the many leading ladies in his career but admits there was one famous actress who turned down his offer to co-star in another project.

The Diagnosis Murder star made the surprising comments while reflecting on his eight decade career during an appearance at one of his Vandy Camp shows which raise money for fire-fighting services in Malibu, California.

Inspired by their previous success Van Dyke hoped his Mary Poppins co-star Julie Andrews would join him on one of his next projects but the Best Actress Academy Award winner had other plans.

“I would’ve liked Julie to be in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” he said.

“But she didn’t want to do any more children’s stuff, which I love to do.”

It was an astute career move for Andrews as the 1968 children’s fantasy musical, about an inventor and his flying car in Edwardian England was generally met with disappointment on its release but found another life on television and home video.

Still, Van Dyke had only good things to say about working with Andrews and recalled her professionalism as he struggle to sing the musical numbers in the Disney musical.

“She was as sweet as she could be,” he said.

He also praised Andrew’s understanding and empathy.

“She was so patient with me,” he added.

“I’m not a real singer, so I tend to be under, fighting to get up there and sing on top of the note. It just took me forever in the recording.”

She also gave Van Dyke tips to hit those high notes and was “just patient as could be and kept helping me, ‘Think high. Think up there.’ And it turned out great. She was wonderful. We had a wonderful time together.”

While he hasn’t spoken to the 89 year old Sound of Music star in years, she is responsible for Van Dyke meeting his wife of 13 years, make up artist Arlene Silver.

The two tied the knot in 2012 after first meeting at the 2007 SAG Awards where Van Dyke presented his Mary Poppins co-star with the Lifetime Achievement Award.