He was the first actor to play Darrin Stephens on the ABC fantasy sitcom Bewitched. Within a decade he had moved to New York City, was working on radio soaps and had married his childhood sweetheart Joan Alt, with whom he had five children and remained wed to until his death. He began getting notable screen work in 1953, acting with Adam West in an episode of The Philco Television Hour, and by 55 he got some major films roles, one of them co-starring with Janet Leigh and Jack Lemmon in the musical, My Sister Eileen.He followed Jack Lemmon to Operation Mad Ball in 1957, which was the screen . I've been surrounded by people in radio, on stage, and in motion pictures and television who love me. Elizabeth Montgomery, Samantha herself, understood this change motivated by the fictional couples time together. The actor reportedly continued to take his medications, but he quit cold turkey in 1971. While Grimes was still scheduled to play the lead, a young actor named Richard Sargent was close to being signed on to play Darrin Stephens. In 1969, with Dick York as Darrin (his final season), the show was a ratings hit at #11, but when Sargent took over the role, ratings soon dropped and the show went to #24. We bring you the neatest, weirdest, and When a character popped in and out and changed clothes in the interim, the director made sure that the actors shoes were firmly affixed in place on the stage while the actor dashed backstage to change costume. "[5], York died of complications from emphysema at Blodgett Hospital in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, on February 20, 1992, at age 63. Darrin wasn't the only. Bewitched is an American fantasy situation comedy originally broadcast for eight seasons on ABC from 1964 to 1972. He said he had to turn it down because he was already under contract. Erin Murphy, the actress who played Samantha and Darrins daughter Tabitha, told Parade that Ive never tried [twitching my nose]! Eventually, Dick was given more scenes where Darrin was either lying in bed or seated on the couch. I had a board in my trailer where I would flatten out, he told People in 1989. The act of nonchalantly switching out actors has become playfully known as "The Darrin Syndrome " evidence that they didn't exactly get away with the switcheroo. So, they redid some scenes with Sargent reading lines already spoken by York as Darrin Stephens. York managed to work through his severe pain for the first four seasons. Web every day. Darren was also missing from the opening but Samantha just did her normal acts as if he were there anyway. In 1960, a year after York's injury, he played Bertram Cates (modeled on John Thomas Scopes, of "Monkey Trial" fame) in the film version of Inherit the Wind.[6]. Bad investments had left him broke, and his teeth rotted out (a common problem for drug abusers), so he and his wife were reduced to cleaning houses for a living. Darrin's role was later recast with actor Dick Sargent, who played the character for the last three seasons of Bewitched. Another young man named Dick Sargant was immediately hired to replace Dick York as "Darrin number 2." And that was the start of it all the pain, the painkillers, the addiction, the lost career. They just snapped and let loose. York's career was hampered by a serious back injury he sustained while working on the film They Came to Cordura in 1959; although his role in Bewitched was a success, he left the series in 1969 after a further decline in his physical health, and rarely acted thereafter. [3] In his memoir, The Seesaw Girl and Me, published posthumously, he describes the struggle to break his addiction and come to grips with the loss of his career. This could be because the show spent its first two seasons in black and white. However, according to Pilato, the show cut a few corners after the cast change. Why did they replace Darren on Bewitched? Cordura and Inherit the Wind (1960) were his biggest film successes, but it was an accident during shooting on the former that would inform and influence the remainder of his life. I imagine most people at the time thought that as well. Some cast members did not even fully understand what a classic theyd made until years after. But enough about them. York appeared in dozens of episodes of now-classic television series, including Justice, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Untouchables, Rawhide, The Americans, Wagon Train, Father Knows Best, and CBS's The Twilight Zone and Route 66. The story is actually quite sad. What's your excuse? He had appeared in a movie in 1959 called They Came to Cordura, and during filming he had severely injured his back. The trouble with staying of acting so long, even in todays era, is that people tend to forget a lot of what the actor has done and will seek out new forms of entertainment. No wonder Napoleon wasn't in the mood for Josephine - he was busy! Neatorama presents a guest post from actor, comedian, and voiceover artist Eddie Deezen. "Now, instead of lifting the expected weight, I was suddenly, jarringly, lifting his entire weight off the flatbed180 pounds or so. She just always seemed to be having more fun. Neatorama is the neat side of the Web. His 1959 role in They Came To Cordura changed his life forever. Who is the rude band in Old School and Starsky & Hutch? You can't sleep. York eventually kicked his addiction to painkillers and dedicated the latter part of his life to charity work. While filming the movie They Came to Cordura (1959) with Gary Cooper and Rita Hayworth, he suffered a permanent, disabling back injury. Actors quickly become synonymous with their characters on and off-screen. The classic series replaced original actor Dick York with Dick Sargent in Season 6, but many fans still to this day don't know why Dick York chose to leave Bewitched. Enthusiastic Bewitched writer Herbie J Pilato has covered the show and its stars from multiple angles in multiple books. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window). The Christmas episode entitled Sisters at Heart would be considered politically incorrect today, to say the least (Tabitha, her parents, and even Larry Tate all appear in blackface at one point). And she really didnt care for Derwent, who I always thought was a stick in the mind. While under care York knew his ability to continue working on the series was finished due to his worsening health and reliance on pain medication, prompting show producers to recast Sargent in the role for the sixth, seventh and eighth seasons, ahead of the series end in 1972. With that, York left the sitcom to devote himself to recovery, never to return. But Dick York had a secret he didn't tell the show's producers when he was cast. Grimes was not a fan of the premise, asking why she wouldnt use her powers to stop wars or deal with Los Angeles traffic. York and Montgomery indeed had instant chemistry. The show was a ratings hit and delivered York a steady paycheck, but his chronic back pain resulting from the Cordura accident and reliance on prescription painkillers continued to worsen and began to affect his physical abilities. "Sargent's new term on the show began on a foot of edgy hostility," explains Pilato . When the director yelled cut, one of the extras in the scene on the base of the car grabbed the rail that York was pumping and pulling, leading to his injury. In the words of Darrin Stephens, Make it a double, Sam., Read a 1964 profile of Elizabeth Montgomery, the star of the new show Bewitched, here in TIMEs archives: The Girl with the Necromantic Nose, BEWITCHED: Dick York (Darrin), Elizabeth Montgomery (Samantha), Erin Murphy (Tabitha), Agnes Moorehead (Endora), The MacArthur 'Genius' Grants: How They Started, The Secret History of the Shadow Campaign That Saved the 2020 Election. Why was York replaced in the first place, though? Darrin Stephens. He has warmly treated Samantha as if she were his daughter, but mostly, he reacts with disdain to Phyllis's delusions and hallucinations, unaware that these events are caused by Samantha's witchcraft. He and his wife Joan purchased an apartment building and planned to live off the rent for income, but he proved too compassionate for the job of landlord. The injury led to a chronic and debilitating back condition that York managed with a mix of painkillers, sleeping aids, and cortisone shots. Her spell went haywire and Tabitha ended up with black polka dots on her face and pal Lisa with white spots. Required fields are marked *. Lorne turned bumbling into an art form with her portrayal of loveable Aunt Clara. Bewitched only filmed two seasons with Sargent as Darrin before the show was canceled due to fallen ratings as well as star Elizabeth Montgomery's wish to move on. It turns out that Samantha and Darrin werent the happy TV couple living in their house. I continued to work through it." The act of nonchalantly switching out actors has become playfully known as The Darrin Syndrome evidence that they didnt exactly get away with the switcheroo. Pop Culturista - Pop Culture Finally! Montgomery admired the pin, and when Moorehead passed away in 1974, she bequeathed it to her TV daughter. At 15 he had a regular role on the radio show That Brewster Boy. If they had gotten the full story, they might have been a bit more forgiving of the swap. Eventually York would struggle with an addiction to painkillers that would in a sense keep him from the show and would end up getting him replaced as he couldnt fulfill his obligations. When Jennifer is burned at the stake in Salem, she vows to get revenge on those who ordered her execution. There was plenty of speculation surrounding why York departed Bewitched. Sargent was originally offered the role of Darrin in 1964, but declined in favor of a part in the short-lived sitcom Broadside.[7]. While in the hospital recovering, he was visited by director William Asher asked if he wanted to quit, and York answered, "If it's all right with you, Billy," according to his own account in his final interview before his death in 1992. They would plant someone on the other side of a door in case it was too heavy for me to open by myself." "We rented to people who were on welfare and a lot of times they couldn't pay the rent. I was just lifting the handle up as the director yelled 'cut!' Though he overcame his addiction, Dick's health problems were ongoing and his career in Hollywood was pretty much over. Imagine being part of a show where people expect you to be energetic and full of life and this is next to impossible since you cant move on account of the pain. Asher asked. Still, fans of the series insist that Sargent and Montgomery didnt have a ton of chemistry. The Reason The First Darrin Left the TV Show Bewitched Tom Foster 3 years ago Some actors grow disillusioned with their roles on TV and want something more, while others might find themselves in. Elizabeth Montgomery, on the other hand, was the exception to that rule: the actress got to play two different characters. Things seemed to be going great for both York and the show itself. Five years as Lizs husband on Bewitched; there are no hard feelings, he said. Am I right? But because of the slapstick nature and physical comedy required on such a show, occasionally situations arose that would tax even a man in good physical condition. It's like a squeaky piece of chalk scratching on my nerves.". Originally starring Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York, the series went through a bit of a metamorphosis during its eight-season run. We hope you like what you see! His back problems and then his dependency kind of took that choice and made it a necessity. Can you blame the second Darrin for the show's troubles? "And that was the start of it all the pain, the painkillers, the addiction, the lost career. In January 1969 during season 5, he underwent a seizure on the set of Bewitched and resigned from the show while talking to producer William Asher in the hospital. Thanks for the article. York did not appear in several third- and fourth-season episodes, and his eventual departure from the show well into the filming of the fifth season necessitated more episodes focusing on Samantha and other members of her family, with mentions that Darrin was away on business. The facade appeared in shows including Dennis the Menace and I Dream of Jeanie. Long before he appeared onBewitched, York had been injured on the set of a film. Read on to find out We did not love Buttercup in The Hunger Games. The initial awkwardness eventually subsided, and Sargent came into his own in the role. At one point York, who had been a three-pack a day smoker for years, developed emphysema and as a result his health started to deteriorate rather quickly as he passed away in his 60s. In a case like that, Elizabeth Montgomery had to stand in place, arms upraised, while the director called cut and members of the crew then rushed around to remove the laundry, newspapers, and other clutter from the set. Is Shirley Manson from Garbage a natural redhead? In 1960's sitcom Bewitched, Sam's husband Darrin has a habit of overreacting to her magical hijinks. This was the middle of the summer and I was wearing a sheepskin jacket and I was chilling. [2] By 1989, he was using an oxygen tank to help him breathe. RELATED: Bewitched Stole Certain Plotlines From I Love Lucy Because Of One Sneaky Producer. Copyright 2023 PopCulture.com. There was no such thing as computer-generated hocus-pocus in the 1960s; all the magic on Bewitched was created by a team of hard-working stagehands. After Darrin in a fit of frustration says that they should tell everyone about Sam being a witch, she makes him dream about that very situation and the reactions of their friends and the US Government. Sargent took another job while the pilot was in search of a new Samantha, and interestingly enough he would go on to play Tammys twin brother on her short-lived show. Let's talk about that iconic intro. Dick York remained on his back for a full year after leaving Bewitched and fell on hard times soon after. The book is in large part a love letter to his wife, Joan (ne Alt), the seesaw girl of the title, who stuck with him through the hard times. He knew of York's anguish and asked him point blank is he wanted to quit the show. We wouldn't throw them out so we lost the building," he said in his posthumous autobiography. "I loved it, because it was so old-fashioned," she said in 1967. Sol Saks, credited onscreen as the creator of Bewitched, has admitted in several interviews that his script for the pilot episode was inspired by the films I Married a Witchand Bell, Book and Candle. He unsuspectingly lifted the extras entire weight, and being unprepared for that additional 180 pounds, he tore most of the muscles on the right side of his back, and his spine never healed correctly. He revealed that York had been the first choice for the part. Darrin refused to acknowledge why this depiction of witches bothered his wife, and it wasn't until Sam hexed her husband to look like a haggard witch himself that he developed an understanding. 6XL T-Shirts | 7XL T-Shirts | 8XL T-Shirts9XL T-Shirts | 10XL T-Shirts People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. It's always jarring when a show recasts a familiar character with a new actor, but it's been done since the early days of television for myriad reasons. In 1968, he was even nominated for an Emmy award for his portrayal of the likable Darrin. Magazines, Digital He eventually quit the drugs, enduring a horrific withdrawal complete with auditory hallucinations. He died in February 1992 at the age of 63. Darrin wasnt the only character who got replaces sans explanation. Sadly, Dick's health did not improve after he stepped away from Bewitched. The years of poor health were not helped by his cigarette habit, and the three-pack-a-day smoker developed emphysema, which ultimately claimed his life at the age of 63 on Feb. 20, 1992. How could we improve it? - Wizard of Oz Coaster Set, Witch and Cauldron - Salt & Pepper Shakers, Wicked Witch of the East Legs and House - Salt & Pepper Shakers, Wicked Witch & Crystal Ball - Salt & Pepper Shakers, Playdough Surgery is Easier Than the Real Thing, Seniors Recreate Rihannas Super Bowl Dance Break, Invention Lets People Kiss Each Other Using Their Phones, The Challenge of Escaping from Colditz Castle. In the middle of Season Five, however, he was run-down and it showed on camera. Montgomery wore progressively looser clothing to disguise her expanding waistline. You have reached your limit of free articles. The muscles along the right side of my back tore. "[5], York's injury did not immediately end his career. However, Brockway refused to allow Darrin tohandle his account, since he mistakenly believed that Darrin was married to a black woman (actually the wife of Darrins co-worker). Additionally, Sargent overall felt, To tell you the truth, I think there was a stronger sense of warmth between Samantha and Darrin when I did the show. As well as radio soaps, Yorks early years in New York also saw him acting on Broadway in Tea and Sympathy with Deborah Kerr in 1953. Was Mark Wahlberg ever a member of New Kids on the Block? Bewitched Stole Certain Plotlines From I Love Lucy Because Of One Sneaky Producer, John Densmore, Drummer From The Doors, Owes His Career To His Bad Teeth, Charlies Angels and Sheena Star Tanya Roberts Dead at 65. Hewas then replaced by Dick Sargeant who saw the role until out until the end of the series. Poor Dick Sargent never did catch on with the show's loyal viewers and Bewitched was soon cancelled. The producers didnt agree, so she accepted a role in High Spirits on Broadway and the witch character, now named Samantha, had to be recast. A witch married to an ordinary man cannot resist using her magic powers to solve the problems her family faces. Later in his run, Darrin was written out of episodes with the explanation that he was away on business or by focusing on Samantha visiting with her warlock kin. She sometimes casts spells on Darrin for her own amusement, but mostly to try to drive Darrin away from Samantha. How did Scott Adams come up with the name Dilbert? It seems Dick had a debilitating back condition that stemmed from an injury he suffered while filming a movie in Canada. It came to everyone's notice, and to help the suffering actor, it became routine to have scenes and plots contrived and written in which poor Darrin was sitting down, lying down, or reclining (usually sitting at his office desk at work, or in bed or on the couch at home) as much as possible. However, circumstances beyond anyones expectations can throw a wrench in a shows casting plans. I Confess: Directed by Seymour Robbie. [2], The crew built York a slanted wall on which he could lean between scenes; during the first two seasons, this allowed York to manage his back injury with little difficulty. Sargent stepped into Yorks role of Darrin Stephens toward the end of the shows run and would forever be considered the new Darrin by fans. Fans of the hit sitcom were scratching their heads at the beginning of season six when a new actor stepped into the role of Darrin. Darrin Stephens, son of Frank and Phyllis Stephens, (originally Dick York, seasons 1-5; later Dick Sargent, seasons 6-8) is a mortal married to Samantha.He did not know she was a witch until she told him after they got married, and tries to dissuade her from using witchcraft as much as possible, preferring to live an ordinary, mortal life. They would plant someone on the other side of a door in case it was too heavy for me to open by myself.. Vaguely resembling Dick York, Dick Sargent played Darrin with a more defiant attitude toward his witchy in-laws. For example, if Samantha wanted to quickly tidy up the living room for a surprise visit from her in-laws, shed raise her arms in the air and zap the room clean. But when I grew older, my allegiances turned more to Endora. One famous example comes from Bewitched when Dick Sargent had to replace Dick York as Darrin Stephens. Because of this back injury however his time on Bewitched was great affected as he couldnt walk fast or run anywhere and he had to spend a lot of time seated in many scenes. York and Gary Cooper were propelling a handcar along the rail tracks while filming a movie scene. On the hit 1960s sitcom Bewitched, Dick York played Darrin Stephens, the long-suffering mortal married to witch-turned-housewife, Samantha. Laughosaurus - Humor & Amazing Videos You can see Moorehead wearing the brooch on an episode of Password above. It could also have been because Vi Alford, who handled the ladies' wardrobes, wasn't interested in using color as a storytelling tool. Producers, on the other hand, hoped that the audience wouldnt notice when they changed Darrins identity. The Stephens house in Bewitched is a mirror image of an actual house in Santa Monica, California, where the 1959 film Gidget was filmed. Tabitha liked to pretend that the two were sisters, and tried to make them both the same color so that theyd be twins. Thanks for reading! Lets have some Endora . According to Biography.com, the reason behind York's exit ties back to a previous injury that he sustained and subsequent addiction problems that he reportedly dealt with. The characters unusual fascination with door knobs was based on Lornes real-life fetish; she had a collection of over 1000 antique door openers. I had a temperature of 105, full of strong antibiotics, for almost 10 days. As any stuntperson the business could tell you anything that happens unprepared has a higher risk of injury than a stunt or action that is scripted and has people plan in advance for it to happen. Magic stuff happens, Darrin's boss/client/etc sees it, and Samantha saves the day with a catchy jingle to tie up the freaky loose ends. Many have speculated through the years that Dick York's departure from the show had to do with either a dispute with the network or show executives or a clash with the cast, but nothing could be further from the truth. According to York, it was during filming on Cordura when he sustained a severe back injury. Now, instead of lifting the expected weight, I was suddenly, jarringly, lifting his entire weight off the flatbed 180 pounds or so. Today, we'll recall his biggest overreactions. Yet in season six of the shows eight-season run, York was replaced in the role by actor Dick Sargent. Click here to view up to the first 100 of this post's. The classic television show focused on Samantha Stephens (played by Elizabeth Montgomery), a witch-turned-housewife who prompted magical acts with a signature wiggle of her nose. It might sound a lot more dramatic than what it is, but people tend to become invested in their shows and when theyre taken off the air some folks dont pay much attention while others experience a type of breakdown as they have to find something to do with their time after this. His last two credits were on two primetime television series, Simon & Simon and Fantasy Island. Source: getty Sandra Gould took over the role of Gladys Kravitz for the remainder of the series. They were never actually sung over the opening credits, but the Bewitched theme song does have lyrics. Both he and the producers tried to stay together but after so long, York had to bow out of the cast. The muscles along the right side of my back tore. I just want a chance to do other stage and movie roles." Growing up, there were many times I wanted to be Samantha Stevens, aka the magical housewife from Bewitched. On the day of filming the Daddy Does His Thing episode, he skipped lunch to see his doctor, who was out. Bewitchedoriginally aired from September 17th, 1964 to March 25th, 1972, and still airs reruns to this day because of its massive popularity. The legions of Bewitched fans who tuned in were surprised at the switch and the ratings plummeted. Darrin works as an account executive at the advertising firm McMann & Tate. While York later accepted Darrin's role on Bewitched, he dealt with lingering back problems during his tenure on the show. 'Bewitched' Star Dick York: Why the Actor Who Played Darrin Stevens Exited the Series, 'Fatal Attraction' Reboot for Paramount+ Trailer and Release Date, Major NBC Show Moves to New Night, Suffers Big Ratings Drop, 'House of the Dragon' Season 1 Timeline, Explained, Candice Patton Has Filmed Her Final 'The Flash' Scenes, Rachael Ray Launches Major New Venture as Her Show Ends, Classic CBS Sitcom Leaving HBO Max This Month, 'That '90s Show': Laura Prepon Had a Special Role Behind the Scenes, and You Might Not Have Realized It, Ronda Rousey Reportedly Injured Just Weeks Before WrestleMania. This later led to a dependency on painkillers and to York missing a handful of Bewitched episodes in seasons 3 and 4. Copyright 2023 Endgame360 Inc. All Rights Reserved. How Would a Fallout Television Series Work? The show revolves around a witchwho marries a regular, human man and promises to lead the life of a typical housewife. For audiences used to seeing York, no onscreen explanation was given, or even alluded to. If each season equaled about a year of marriage, by this point, Darrin could be expected to be calmer about the whole situation. The episode was titled: Darren's breaking point. In the "A Is for Aardvark" episode from the first season, Darren is laid up in bed with a bad foot and Samantha tires of . The child is finally named Adam. The truth, unknown to audiences for years after York left the sitcom, is far less salacious, yet just as mortal as the character Darrin was envisaged for television: injury and addiction were the catalysts that prompted Yorks departure from Bewitched. Did Kylie Minogue's famous gold hot pants really cost 50 pence? A lof of the original episodes were well-thought-out stories about acceptance and tolerance. I went to work that day, but I was sick. Is it true no mummies were found in the Great Pyramid of Giza? I found this strange but decided to continue on. Darren McGavin (born William Lyle Richardson; May 7, 1922 - February 25, 2006) was an American actor.. McGavin began his career working as a set painter for Columbia Pictures.In 1954, he originated roles in Broadway productions of My Three Angels and The Rainmaker, followed by roles in David Lean's Summertime and Otto Preminger's The Man with the Golden Arm (both 1955).
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