Dick Van Dyke "almost" became James Bond.

The 99-yer-old actor has revealed that he was very close to replacing Sir Sean Connery as 007 during the 1970s - but Dick ultimately missed out on the opportunity because of his notoriously bad British accent.

The veteran film star - who was born in West Plains, Missouri - said on the Today show: "I almost did [become James Bond].

"[Producer] Albert Broccoli came to me and said, 'Would you like to be Bond?' And I said, 'Have you heard my British accent?' Click!"

Dick is convinced that playing the British spy would "have been a great experience". However, he accepted that he wasn't a good fit for the role, having been criticised for his cockney accent in 1964's Mary Poppins.

Dick is set to celebrate his 100th birthday in December, and the actor is keen to continue working.

He said: "It's my hobby. It's my life. I love it ... I'm looking for work right now."

Despite this, Dick previously revealed that he "never planned" to become an actor.

He told New York Magazine: "My whole life was unplanned.

"Just the next opportunity that came along -- one great thing after another. I never planned anything.

"One job led into another one, and I just kept working and enjoying it. I'm a ham. I don't know, something happens and I come alive and I want to perform. I would have starved in any other business. Being on the stage -- there's nothing like it in the world for anyone who can experience it. I pity the people who can't get on the stage. Good God, it was fun!"

Dick wasn't actually able to dance prior to auditioning for a show on Broadway.

He said: "I'd always been limber and loose, but I'd never danced before.

"When I auditioned for Gower Champion, I did Once in Love With Amy, the Ray Bolger song, and I did a little soft-shoe, which is all I knew. And he came up and said, 'You have the part.' I said, 'Sir, I don't dance.' He said, 'I'll show you.' And he did."