Hey there, folks! Let’s talk about something that might surprise you. How bad do you feel if you’ve never seen Mary Poppins? Pretty bad, right? Well, I can relate. But here’s something even more surprising: Dick Van Dyke, one of the original stars of Mary Poppins, had to actually pay Disney to play not one, but two roles in the film. Can you believe that? Let’s dive into this story and see what really went down.
Disney's Secret: Dick Van Dyke's Double Role
With the release of Mary Poppins Returns on December 19, Dick Van Dyke and Lin-Manuel Miranda, the genius behind Hamilton, sat down for a chat on Mary Poppins Returns: Behind the Magic — A Special Edition of 20/20. During this segment, the 92-year-old actor shared an unexpected story about his time on the original 1964 film. You see, Dick is famously known for his role as Bert the chimney sweeper, but did you know he also played the part of Mr. Dawes Sr., the elderly banker? Well, it turns out, Disney didn’t just hand over that second role easily.
“I said, ‘I’ll do it for nothing.’ Actually, I had to give him $4,000 dollars. I had to pay him to do the part,” Dick revealed. He mentioned that even after asking Disney for the role, they refused. It was only after Dick offered to pay that they agreed. Lin-Manuel was naturally curious and asked if Dick would do it again. Dick’s response? “And I’d do it again.”
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A Little-Known Fact About the Film
Lin-Manuel pointed out that many fans of the original film forget that Dick played two roles. “I always, when I tell my friends you’re in it. They go, ‘Oh, he’s playing Bert,’ I go, ‘Remember he played two parts in that movie,’” Lin-Manuel explained. Dick agrees, noting that it’s funny when kids watch the movie and don’t realize it’s the same actor playing both roles. “But you know when they made me up as the old man in the old one, I had to go to Walt and ask him for the part, he didn’t give it to me,” Dick said.
Now, before you start worrying, let me assure you that Dick didn’t have to pay anyone for his role in the sequel. I mean, I assume he didn’t, right? After all, how else would Disney manage to pay for everything?
‘Mary Poppins Returns’ and Its Stars
Mary Poppins Returns takes place years after the original, with Emily Blunt stepping into the iconic role. Lin-Manuel Miranda is also part of the cast, and he once shared with Closer Weekly how amazing it was working with Dick. “Dick has more energy than I will ever have in my life, and it’s incredible,” Lin-Manuel said. “It’s humiliating, and it’s awesome!”
So, there you have it. I think I’ll finally make time to watch Mary Poppins. But don’t expect me to watch The Sound of Music. That’s where I draw the line.
You can catch Mary Poppins Returns: Behind the Magic — A Special Edition of 20/20 on Thursday, November 22, on ABC at 8 p.m. ET.
