Dick York

Richard Allen York September 4 1928 February 20 1992 was an American actor best known for his role as Darrin Stephens on the classic television sitcom Bewitched 19641972 His portrayal of the character made him a beloved figure in American television history Dick York was born in Fort Wayne Indiana He showed an early interest in acting and eventually moved to New York City to pursue a career in theater Before his acting career took off York worked various odd jobs including as a radio announcer His big break came in the 1950s when he began landing roles in both television and film Yorks early acting career was filled with roles in movies and television series He appeared in films such as They Came to Cordura 1959 and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 1962 where he played small but significant parts His television appearances also included guest spots on a number of popular series However it was his role as Darrin Stephens on Bewitched that brought him lasting fame The show which debuted in 1964 starred Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens a witch married to an ordinary man Darrin York played the first Darrin a role he portrayed for the first five seasons of the show The show became a massive hit and is remembered as one of the most iconic sitcoms of the 1960s His portrayal of Darrin was beloved for his humorous and often exasperated reactions to the magical chaos caused by Samanthas powers In 1969 due to health issues York was forced to leave Bewitched during the sixth season His departure was explained on the show by having Darrin suffer an illness that made him unable to continue working Actor Dick Sargent replaced him in the role for the final three seasons but Yorks version of Darrin remains the most fondly remembered by fans of the show Throughout his life Dick York struggled with health problems In the early 1950s he was diagnosed with a severe back injury that led to chronic pain The pain became debilitating and York became addicted to painkillers which contributed to his departure from Bewitched His health issues were often a private struggle and they affected his career in the latter part of his life York married his wife Joan Alt in 1951 and they had three children together Despite his professional struggles and health challenges York remained committed to his family and enjoyed a relatively quiet life outside the public eye in his later years Dick York passed away on February 20 1992 at the age of 63 from complications related to emphysema His death was a great loss to the entertainment world as he was widely regarded as a talented and beloved actor especially for his work on Bewitched