Dick Sargent

Birth:	Apr. 19, 1933
Death:	Jul. 8, 1994
Actor. He replaced actor Dick York in the role of 'Darrin Stephens' on the popular television comedy, "Bewitched." He had been offered the initial role of Darrin when the show first premiered in 1964, but he turned it down as he was under contract to Universal Studios. Born Richard Cox in Carmel, California, his father, Colonel Elmer Cox, was a World War I hero and a Hollywood business manager, and his mother, Ruth McNaughton Cox, was a film actress who went by the stage name of Ruth Powell. He initially attended the San Rafael Military Academy in Menlo Park, California, but changed to Stanford University, where he majored in Drama. His first movie role was uncredited in the 1954 film, "Prisoner of War." Adopting the stage name, Richard Sargent (later shortened to Dick Sargent), he found work in both television and film, including such popular television shows as "Gunsmoke", "Wagon Train", "The Rat Patrol", "Love American Style", "Baretta", "Charlie's Angels", and "The Dukes of Hazzard". Between television episodes, he also fit in supporting roles in such movies as "Operation Petticoat" (1959), "That Touch of Mink" (1962), "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" (1966) and in such lesser-known films as "Body Count" (1987), "Murder by Numbers" (1990) and "Frame Up" (1991). In 1964, the television show "Bewitched" became a hit, and without explanation after three seasons, he replaced veteran actor Dick York as the foil husband of witch 'Samatha Stephens', played by actress Elizabeth Montgomery (Dick York had become severely ill from a back injury suffered five years earlier, that would plagued his life). His role of 'Darrin' would last another three seasons, from 1969 to 1972. He continued taking support roles in television and movies, and occasionally performing on the stage. In 1989, he was diagnosed with prostrate cancer, and two years later, he came out as gay, becoming a role model for gay men. He had a long-time companion with whom he lived for over 20 years, before the unidentified man died from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1979, after whom Sargent lived with writer/producer Albert Williams until his death in 1994. His last role was that of 'Mr. Randolph' in the television movie, "Acting on Impulse" (1993). He died of prostate cancer in Los Angeles, California, in July 1994. Cause of death: Cancer