Dick Sargent
 |
Dick Sargent |
Dick Sargent (
April 19,
1930 -
July 8,
1994) was born
Richard Cox in
Carmel, California. He was an
American actor probably best remembered as "the second Darrin Stephens" on the hit
television show
Bewitched, although Sargent had been appearing in films since his debut in 1956.
When
Dick York was forced to leave the
Bewitched series due to health problems, Sargent stepped into the role. He had first been offered the role in 1964 but was under contract to
Universal Studios and unable to accept it. By 1969, however, he was free and played Darrin until the show ended in 1972.
Sargent continued to work regularly in film and made numerous guest appearances on various TV shows. In the mid-eighties, he played the role of Richard Preston, the widowed father, in the
syndicated sitcom
Down to Earth [
1]. It was the second time that Sargent replaced a previous actor in a role.
Later in life, he
came out as
gay, and championed
gay rights issues. He and his former co-star
Elizabeth Montgomery, who had remained a good friend, were Grand Marshals at the Los Angeles
Gay Pride day.
He died shortly thereafter from
prostate cancer in
Los Angeles at the age of 64. Montgomery died less than a year later of cancer, aged 62.
