Was dick york gay
BETTMANN ARCHIVES
Dick Sargent was a gem of a guy, and we all keep in mind him as the second "Darrin" on TV's long-running Bewitched, which has been revived in reruns on Nick at Nite. Sargent, who came out as gay late in experience, was in all the color episodes while his straight predecessor, Dick York, was in the black-and-white installments. Oddly, Nickelodeon brags that it airs only the black-and-white episodes. Perhaps this is a backlash against colorization madness, but most viewers remember the later, color segments more fondly, and there's no denying that Sargent was everybody's favorite Darrin.
Dick Sargent, who was born Richard Cox, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1989. In early 1991 he was outed and reflected later, "The article got me thinking, and I got angrier and angrier. If I'd done this years ago, they couldn't have put me in a position where I'm being treated shamefully." The relationship in the outing article ended soon after.
Sargent officially came out in 1991 on National Coming Out Time, October 11. In a speech at the Los Angeles Gay & Queer woman Community Services Center, he explained, "Finally telling the truth about who I am gives me more pleasure
DICK YORK
Instantly recognizable as "Darrin" from the classic sitcom Bewitched,
this actor endured more than his share of lousy luck
Interview by JOHN DOUGLAS -John Douglas
When an ailing Dick York was replaced on ABC's supernatural sitcom, Bewitched, the show dropped 13 places in the ratings. After five seasons, York's "Darrin Stephens" had become a member of the family and the audience was confused-particularly since replacement Dick Sargent was never explained. Today, one cable channel even refers to Sargent as "the other guy." York's shoes were hard to load.
Unfortunately, York's life has not been similarly prosperous. The veteran of stage, screen, radio and television now lives modestly in Rockford, Michigan, with Joey (actress Joan Alt, at right in a exceptional old publicity still), his wife of 39 years and the mother of their five children. But York, still gregarious and warmhearted, is a victim of emphysema
Actor Dick Sargent appeared on the 1970s game show “Tattle Tales” with comedian Fanny Flagg as his partner. The show quizzed star couples about secrets in their bond. But both Sargent and Flagg had secrets they wouldn’t have never revealed on the program - they were both gay.
Sargent is best famous as “The Second Darrin” in the sitcom “Bewitched”, replacing Dick York at the start of the 6th season (1969). York needed to leave the show due to severe back problems.
Personally I preferred Sargent over York as Darrin. York was too crabby. While I consider Sargent and co-Star Elizabeth Montgomery showed more affection to each other.
Oddly enough “Bewitched” echoed the plight of gays and lesbians who had to hide their right selves to excel fit into world. And the display was no stranger to gay actors - there was campy Uncle Arthur played by Paul Lynde and even Maurice Evans, who played Samantha’s father, was been rumored to be queer .
Sargent continued to act on television after “Bewitched” ended with 50+ production and TV credits through 1993. He also developed a 5 year association with producer Albert Williams.
In 1989, Sargent was diagnosed with Prostate Cance
Sargent’s professional career began in the mid 1950s, and he worked until a year before his death from cancer in 1994. There was high drama in the last years of his experience, when he openly declared his homosexuality. He called himself a “retroactive role model” in the battle for gay rights. Prior to his coming out in 1991, tabloids had written salacious items about Sargent’s relationship with a “young black guy.” Sargent commented on the tabloid date at the time: “I'm not against outing in terms of being pegged as gay. I am g