JC Olivera/Variety via Getty; Greg Doherty/Getty Dick Van Dyke revealed that he and longtime friend Ed Asner were set to do a remake ofThe Odd Couplebefore the Asner's death at age 91 in 2021 The Odd Couple— which has had iterations as a Broadway play, movie and TV sitcom — chronicles the comedic interactions of friends Felix and Oscar, who decide to live together despite one being messy and the other neat "That would've been fun, and we lost it. I've lost a lot of friends," Van Dyke said of the planned project with Asner Dick Van Dykehad a special project in the works withEd Asnerbefore the latter actor's death. Dick, 99, revealed during a Q&A with his wife, Arlene Van Dyke, that he and longtime friend Asner — whodiedin August 2021 at the age of 91 — were set to team up for a remake of the classic comedyThe Odd Couple. "That would've been such fun, and we lost it. I've lost a lot of friends," Dick said during the conversation at the Dick & Arlene Van Dyke Present Vandy Camp event in Malibu, Calif. "He's outlived everybody," Arlene, 53, chimed in about her husband. "That's the curse of living to almost 100." Arlene then noted that theChitty Chitty Bang Bangstar is "still so positive" despite having lost so many beloved friends and former costars over the years and asked him the secret to his cheerful mindset. "Well, life's been good to me. I can't complain," Dick simply replied. ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Fans were first introduced toThe Odd Couple's iconic duo Oscar and Felix in Neil Simon's Broadway play in 1965. A movie followed in 1968, starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. Felix, a neat freak, moves in with his messy best friend Oscar following his divorce, and their relationship is put to the test — and then some. A TV series, developed by Garry Marshall, then premiered in September 1970 and ran for five seasons.Jack Klugmanportrayed Oscar, and Tony Randall played Felix, and their differing household standards led to lots of comedic clashes as the pair shared a New York City apartment. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. While chatting with PEOPLE at the Malibu event, where Dick performed with his barbershop quartet, The Vantastix, the actor — who will turn 100 in December — shared why he continues to perform and go out onstage instead of easing into retirement. "I'm a ham," he says. "I love it. I get a jolt of energy from an audience." Reflecting on his decades-long entertainment career, Dick singled out his turn as Albert Peterson inBye Bye Birdieon Broadway from April 1960 to October 1961 as the role that most stands out for him. "[It's] the one that got me off the ground," he explains. "It was the biggest thrill. And I got a Tony [Award] later." The Broadway gig led to him kickstarting his film career by playing Albert in the 1963 movie adaptation ofBye Bye Birdie. BACKGRID At that time, Dick was also headliningThe Dick Van Dyke Show, a sitcom in which he played a comedy writer named Rob Petrie. Amid the show's successful five-year run, he was also cast alongsideJulie Andrewsin 1964'sMary Poppinsin not one, but two roles: chimney sweep Bert and bank chairman Mr. Dawes Sr. Dick recalled to PEOPLE how Andews, 89, was "as sweet as she could be and so patient with me" — especially as he struggled with the singing aspects of his performance. The PEOPLE Appis now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! "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," he says. "But [Andrews] was just patient as could be and kept helping me, saying, 'Think high. Think up there.' And it turned out great," he continues. "She was wonderful. We had a wonderful time together." Read the original article onPeople
