Renowned comedian and actor Dick Van Dyke revealed that he and longtime friend, the late great Ed Asner, were set to team for a remake of classic comedy The Odd Couple prior to the latter’s death in 2021.
“That would’ve been such fun, and we lost it. I’ve lost a lot of friends,” Van Dyke said during a Q&A at a Dick & Arlene Van Dyke Present Vandy Camp event held in Malibu, Calif. today, per People.
Wife Arlene Van Dyke chimed in, adding, “He’s outlived everybody. That’s the curse of living to almost 100.” (Van Dyke is 99, and Asner was 91 when he died.) Despite this, she maintained that the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang star is “still so positive” in the face of grief.
“Well, life’s been good to me. I can’t complain,” Dick answered as to how he stays upbeat. He added later of why he continues to perform and entertain, “I’m a ham. I love it. I get a jolt of energy from an audience.”
The Odd Couple — about two recently divorced men, neurotic neat-freak Felix and carefree slob Oscar, who decide to live together — was created by Neil Simon in 1965 as a play, before he translated it for the silver screen three years later with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau in the roles. A box office and critical success, the comedy was later adapted into sitcom format for ABC, featuring Tony Randall as Felix and Jack Klugman as Oscar, running for five seasons beginning in 1970 and winning three Emmys. A sequel to the original film was released exactly three decades later, exploring the titular duo’s road trip to their son and daughter’s wedding, but it was a critical and commercial bust.
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