William Froug: "Dick York was in love with Elizabeth Montgomery, she couldn't stand him"
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ส.ค. 2024
- William Froug was the producer of Bewitched in the third season, and talks about Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York's relationship off camera
How could a guy work that close to Elizabeth Montgomery WITHOUT falling for her ???
She was no doubt gorgeous, but she was too far left. She loved playing Serena, (her alter ego) which tells you a lot.
@@kathrynbriley4299 too far left...wow.you guys are everywhere huh. Freedom from Religion!!!
@@alanroberts7916 You're right! They are clueless!
@@rgreene152 let them watch "Rosanne".
@@kathrynbriley4299 what the hell does that mean? It was a 60s show and Elizabeth Montgomery was progressive enough not to discriminate against people because they were gay, black, brown or whatever.
Dick york was my favourite darrin. He always played the role with warmth and love. Dick Sargent always played darrin as mean, sarcastic and cold.
I think that York was the better Darrin as well. Although I wouldn't go as far as to say I hated Sargent. That's just a little extreme.
@@radar0412 To be honest, when I was a kid, I didn’t notice they were different actors…
@J d
My thought exactly! I have always thought Bewitched would not have been anywhere near the hit that it was had Dick Sergeant been the original Darrin.
Marilyn Russell it was perhaps not noticeable to children, but it was very noticeable to adults. Sargent played the role with little warmth, no humour. It looked as if he really had to work at it.
@@wolfhound1452
Sargeant also had ZERO charisma, and there was no chemistry between him and Elizabeth Montgomery as there was between her and Dick York.
Funny, I heard how everyone really like Dick York. Agnes Moorhead was upset when York left, and loved him dearly.
Elizabeth Montgomery and Agnes moorehead had an argument over Dick York.
@@harperstacey9604 Please go on........ And ? About what ?
I am sure so many versions around. I heard that once York left the show, not one person (actors / producers / etc) never reached out to him to see how he was doing health wise. It was like he never existed. Plus, if he were in love with Montgomery, who could blame him.
@@GaCracker that's a damned shame. That show wouldn't have lasted without him.
@@GaCracker At an interview york said he tried to reach out to Elizabeth but no respond. She ignore him i always though she was a kind person it sad.
Say what you want about Dick York, but the guy was an outstanding actor. His work BEFORE Bewitched was outstanding and you never knew how much he elevated the character of "Darrin" until Dick Sargent took over. York's acting made Sargent look like a high schooler. The two played the role like Day and Night. Whatever his relationship with Montgomery, the quality of the show took a noticeable dip when York departed.
I agree. Dick Sergent had big shoes to fill and there was no chemistry between Sam and Darrin anymore when Dick York left the show. No spark, and Dick Sergent seemed like he didn't believe in the world they'd created
@@urspendy
I just posted a few minutes ago that there was no chemistry between Dick Sergeant and Elizabeth Montgomery. Then I saw your post. It is hard to believe that William Asher actually wanted Sergeant as the original Darrin. This proves that even talented, experienced people can make big mistakes.
I’ve been watching the Bewitched episodes and prefer Dick York over Dick Sargent. Like someone else stated Sargent lacked warmth and charisma.
Dick Sargent just had no personality in the show.
It's almost like spicy Mexican food...and dull, Mexican food with no spice to it.
DY played the part as a geeky, emotional Darren. DS played him as a more suave, almost calm guy...which wasn't really the premise of a "geeky mortal."
Dick York made the show ... he as the reason the show was a hit
Dick York was the best Darrin. He captured the essence of the character.
Yes! He was a wonderful and versatile actor♥️
I am sure his wife (who took care of him when his health crashed) just loved that he loved her
*yeah what was the story with the other guy?*
He was animated. Dick Sargeant totally lacked that and was expressionless
Despite a lot of suffering, Dick York was the reason he saved "Bewitched", combined with a lot of people watching.
As the first Darren, how did Dick York save Bewitched? ???
@@flenif2247 He made it the success that it was, in relating to his character.
@brothergaryii Mmmm. YES he was good as Darren. BUT In my opinion that's also debatable because he was obviously replaceable enough that the show went on successfully 4 more years. Imo, there were only 2 people not replaceable in that cast - Endora and Samantha Elizabeth pulled the plug on series because she wanted a divorce. Also Agnes was diagnosed with cancer and dead 2 years later.
@@flenif2247The show was best in the first 4 years though
@lorraineb.4698 in your opinion which I'm sure some others share. Got it. I enjoyed all episodes
We were friends of Dick York and he was in pain to the day he died from that back injury, but he did care for the homeless. Elizabeth never made contact with him that I know of, after he left the show and I think it hurt him deeply.
I remember seeing him interviewed, not too long before he passed.....it may have been "Hard Copy", or some show like that. He was using oxygen tubes to breathe and looked horrible. I felt so bad for him, it was like the world abandoned him.
She didn't keep in touch with him because she didn't like him evidently.
@@richardedmiston3756
I heard BOTH Darrins were gay.
@@jrussellcase I saw that, but wasn't that where they showed him getting huge stacks of fan mail ?
@@shaunclifton5281 I think this may be the one I saw. It was 30 years ago, so I'm not sure.
I was close. I said "Hard Copy", but I guess it was "Inside Edition" instead:
m.th-cam.com/video/pGFVYkzb9Ic/w-d-xo.html
The predicaments Darrin got into were beyond hilarious. Makes me laugh just to think of it. Dick York is and always will be Darrin.
You do realize that Bewitched was a comedy and not a documentary, right?
@@patbrennan6572 How did you come up with your deduction?. Of course I knew it is a comedy.
Agree. I loved him as the one and only Darrin.
@@lilyr.8520 👍
Dick York and the recurring supporting cast was more of a reason to watch this show than Montgomery was. She always seemed like she was in love with herself. Which, of course, most actors are but hey, let´s hide it a little better, eh?
York was one of the reasons why the show was successful. He was great at comedy.
Brilliant as Darrin Stevens!
If the show had started with Dick Sargent it would have failed. Dick York brought a great personality to the show. The whole tone changed with the second Darin, and the ratings started on the way down.
So true. Ironically, Dick Sargent was originally asked to be Darrin, but he had a contractual conflict on another project and wasn't available, so they cast Dick York.
Concur
Sargent was the best Darrin
@@richardedmiston3756 every body is entitled to his opinion…I thought that Sargent’s performance was wooden and poorly acted. Because he was gay it showed in the way way he interacted with Samantha. It was totally different. His demeanor was also very gay In his performance. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing at all against gay people…I’m just saying it showed through in his performance. There was a coldness that he brought to the thing. Dick York was much more natural and comedic. More affection between Darrin and Sam too. Elizabeth Montgomery’s first choice for Darrin was however Sargent. He had other commitments. I’m not sure if the show would have lasted….maybe so because people would have no reference. Again, just my rambling opinion. Your ying is my yang in the Darrin department.
@@richardedmiston3756 Huh? What have you been smoking?
Dick York was the bomb. Dick Seargent always seemed constipated.
Dick York seemed like the frustrated husband in love with his wife. Sargeant never seemed in love with his wife, so all the yelling and arguing looked like abuse.
Exactly. He was as Wooden as a plank.
Dick Sargeant always seemed constipated? Um, I’m sure there’s a reason for that. 😏 Seriously, no sitcom had a cast as gay as Bewitched did. Second Darrin, Endora, Endora’s ex-husband, Uncle Arthur; actors who played them were all homosexual
@@Sunshine-zm1fx I'm coming down as Team Endora increasingly: Bewitched was all about Darrin calling Samantha basically a liar, being proven wrong, and vowing never to do it again.
Well he did like men
That show was over when Dick York left! He was made for that role.
yes - and he MADE Liz look great, on this show, the York-Montgomery pairing was ESSENTIAL. Asher and wife found that out when Ratings dropped IMMEDIATELY and kept going after York had to leave. Miss Moorehead knew - she was a very distinguished lady and she was close friends with Dick. She knew what a screwy mistake Sargent was!!
That comment that York "made" Elizabeth is funny, in fact, it's hysterical. Liz had already been nominated for an Emmy before she even met York. York was nominated for one Emmy for BEWITCHED, Liz was nominated for five Emmys and four Golden Globes. So, who made whom?
Yes, people liked to see the two together, but sadly Dick York had the injury, an injury he didn't tell Ackerman and Asher about. But instead of firing him, the entire unit tried their best to help him. Even when he couldn't work or showed up under the influence of the painkillers, they still tried to help him, by not firing him. They wrote two scripts, just in case he couldn't work.
The seizure ended the association. Dick York was fortunate that he worked for someone who didn't out and out fire him, because today, I suspect the studio would've "released" him or fired him.
Ratings. Yes the ratings dropped some, but they recovered somewhat, thanks to the SALEM SAGA, some of the most popular episodes along with SERENA STEALS THE SHOW, and others. Oh, there's SISTERS AT HEART, which was Elizabeth's favorite episode and winner of the Emmy Govornor's Award. If York were able to have stayed, there's no guarantee that the ratings wouldn't have slipped anyway. Television was changing due to Norman Lear and his shows like ALL IN THE FAMILY, THE JEFFERSON'S, SANDFORD AND SON. BEWITCHED was moved to Saturday against ALL IN THE FAMILY for its final season. It still did fine and was renewed for another season (I have heard two). It wasn't canceled, Liz ended it.
But after all of the above, I think some people are missing the point of the interview. I generally don't get into issues behind the scenes, but I get the feeling that people want to blame Dick Sargent. That's unfair. According to Froug, Elizabeth was uncomfortable around York to the point she wanted him gone. But what I respect so much about her is that she didn't make a public issue about her feelings. She remained a professional. I'm not sure if York even knew her feelings. Remember, Froug was producer in season three, so this had probably been going on for a while, from at least three to five.
As for Dick Sargent, her feelings for him were totally different. She loved him as a dear friend and supported him when Agnus Moorehead insulted him on his first day to the point she went livid. She basically got Moorehead to apologize on set.
She also supported him in his private life and when he came out, Liz was proud of him. Chemistry? They had it on and off set. Note the change in his Darrin and York's Darrin. DS's Darrin was nicer to Sam and he was more willing to talk with her. Don't give me this "mean" stuff.
Dick York's Darrin was more volitile. York is supposedly to have said that he wished they had toned down his Darrin. Regardless, I enjoyed both of these actors.
So I suggest to some to replay the clip. This time put yourselves, especially the women out here, in Elizabeth's place. I don't have any reason to believe that Mr. Froug is lying. I've read that someone said that Sheldon Leonard confirmed this. I haven't read that. Gawking at someone is never a good thing. You don't know what someone is thinking.
Even Agnes morehead perfered York over Sargent .
@@rwdavis22461 Agnes moorehead was very nasty to Dick Sargent on the set of Bewitched. From Ms. Harper Stacey.
@@harperstacey9604 she can be what rhymes with witch. Lol
Dick York was the best Darrin
And especially if you grew up with the show. It was so disappointing that York was gone it would be hard for ANYONE to fill his shoes. But Sargent (Darrin#2,wasnt very nice. He was angry and upset all the time).
No question about it!
@@alanroberts7916 And the show wasn't as good after he left!
@@alanroberts7916 He was upset because they kept turning him into a toad or a slug. How nice was that?
@@jamesanthony5681 at least toads and slugs aren't responsible for global warming !!!
It was so sad that Dick York, in doing his own stunts earlier in his career, had irreversibly damaged his back and as a result became dependent on all they had at the time, ie. narcotic painkillers. He was not an abuser of the painkillers but as anyone who's been in his position knows, the painkillers just dulled the pain. The discomfort would still be there, eating away at the quality of his life. It's a terrible way of life.
In the end though it was the smoking that did him in. Chronic emphysema, a really nasty condition if ever there was one. Brian Keith was another one. This, coupled with the suicide of his daughter, culminated in his suicide.
As I watch Dick in various scenes he does a great job hiding the pain, I don't know how he managed to work through it all, as a chronic pain sufferer myself I can attest that the pain killers don't kill the pain they just dull it a little...
@@louiscaruso4167 Mr. York, may he rest in peace, was a consummate professional from his scalp to his toes. They don't make 'em like that anymore.
@@maxalberts2003 I agree my friend, he was a one-of-a-kind, thank you for sharing...
@@maxalberts2003well said 👏
Dick York was marvelous and warm and Quirky and added so much to the whole show. Dick Sargent was utterly wrong for the part and he showed it.
Funny thing was Montgomery much preferred working with Sargent, with whom she had been friends before she starred in Bewitched. It probably helped to that since Sargent was gay, he didn't pine for her like York did, and which clearly made her uncomfortable. it's a shame too, because York and Montgomery had real on screen chemistry, with I don't think she and Sargent did at all.
Even more ironically, Agnes Moorehead, while playing a character who detested York's character Darrin, actually really liked York a lot in real life, and resented Sargent for replacing her good friend, and she sometimes took it out on him, which really wasn't fair to Sargent, because he didn't _steal_ York's job; York simply had to leave because his back injury had degenerated to the point where he just couldn't work anymore.
I agree dick York was perfect dick Sargent was ok I didn’t like the ideal that Montgomery truly did not like dick York once he left she never check to see how he was for him to make a phone call and for her not to return I don’t think studio did right by him a few years later she gets cancer and dies endorses like dick York I don’t think she cared for dick Sargent I wonder y none of this was put out for fans and people to know what was going on
I think that York was the better Darrin as well. Although I wouldn't go as far as to say I hated Sargent. That's just a little extreme.
P.S.: Liz did talk about her co-workers in the BEWITCHED FOREVER book, including Dick York.
@@Hibernicus1968
Agnes Moorehead told Dick Sergeant on the set, "I don't like change!"
Dick Sargent was just way too cold. In every role he ever played there was a def coldness to him.
After Bewitched went off the air, Dick Sargent played bad guys on other TV shows.
Mom preferred York as well.
Montgomery didn’t even want to do the final three seasons of the show. They had to beg her to do them. The show just became so rote.
Sargent being Gay was incapable of showing love to a woman...and it showed
@@mycolortv1 Maybe he was just a bad actor.
I hope one day I'll meet a Dick York of my own. Dick was a kind generous man with a big heart and always managed to be positive despite his circumstances. He was a loving parent to his children and a loving husband to his wife Joan. Dick and Joan obviously had a very strong and loving relationship and I really loved to see that. Also Dick was an amazing actor.
I had a crush on Dick York. To this day he makes me laugh when nobody else can. How could anyone not love Dick York?
You are not the only one, I find him extremely sexy,
He seems sweet!
However, they were both married to other people at the time. If he was sending her love notes or anything and wouldn't stop, that would make any reasonable person very uncomfortable, I think.
@@melissasaint3283
Plus, at some point, he had
a tough time being reliable
because of his pain & pills.
I always liked Dick York.
Me too!!! I always raced home at lunch to watch repeats in elementary school.
Dick York was the best Darrin! He and Elizabeth Montgomery had great chemistry on screen. So sad! the way things happened to Dick. And Liz with her illness! Rip both together in Heaven❤
When Dick Sargent was brought in , it was a different show. It wasn’t the same! The show’s innocence was gone. And Sargent was such a cornball !
If Dick Sargent played Darrin from the beginning the show would not last one season, Dick York was the one that held the show together with his facial expressions, even Moorehead admitted that, this deal about York loving Montgomery only proved he liked women while Sargent did not.
Sargent was gay. No judgement, just fact.
Agree!
dick york was not only cute - he helped the homeless and while he was renting out a certain place with his wife joan, he didn't have the heart to evict the tenants when the tenants couldn't afford the rent, which lead to that place being foreclosed as they couldn't afford to make the repayments. He had a big heart
Be skeptical of accounts, even first hand accounts. For a lot of reasons. They often present a very distorted vision of what the reality really was.
Righton
What was reality in this case?
I heard a tape of Dick York speaking about Liz, and I have no doubt it was true. i loved Dick York, but the way he spoke about her was, in my opinion, a bit over the top. I can see why she may have been uncomfortable working with him. I heard the recording here on TH-cam.
My step grandfather always told my mom-don't believe everything you hear and only half of what you see
I didn’t know he lived in my area in his later years. Imagine my surprise when one day he was on my patient assignment list.( I’m a retired RN)
What did you say to him when you saw him?
Wow!
I would like to know the answer to Harper Stacey’s question too!
@@harperstacey9604 I don’t remember specifically but I treated him as I did any other patient, with good nursing judgement, skill and care. As I recall,
at that time he didn’t have anything good to say about Ms. Montgomery, but I didn’t want to get into that with him.
@Robert A. Lofgren Jr. He said something to the effect of he couldn’t stand working with her because she was spoiled and that it was her dad who got her the job. It sounded like he was someone important in show business…I don’t know. I tried to change the subject because he would get so agitated and was already so short of breath. He was quite a talker and a name dropper.
@Robert A. Lofgren Jr. Her father was Robert Montgomery, a big star in the 40s and beyond and maybe before, but he never achieved the outright fame Liz did in her Bewitched days
Bill and my Dad were college buddies. We stayed at his home in 1967. Lovely man who delightedly found a brilliant third or fourth career as a professor. Cheers for Bill Froug !!!
Mr. York was wonderful in the film about the Scopes monkey trial. A fine actor.
Inherit the Wind, plus he got to work with Frederic March and Spencer Tracy.
He's also is in one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes where he could hear people's thoughts.
@@williamblakehall5566 and Gene Kelly
Retired to upper Michigan
@@df5295
He was also in another "...Zone",
"The Purple Testament".
I was in love with her too, from the moment I saw her on television. And I was only 13. She was absolutely the perfect specimen of a woman.
@@kendraadman7229 your groin knew 😁
I'm sure if we had today's electronic technology back then, a high demand to bring Dick York back would have been granted.
It just wasn't the same again without Dick York
No, it wouldn’t have mattered. York was too ill with his back issues to continue in a weekly series.
@@stanloretta92
Absolutely!!
i stopped watching after the end of season 5
It's a little disappointing to hear that Elizabeth didn't care for Dick York.
A lot disappointing. York was definitely the Favorite of most.
Well, if he kept ogling her what could she do but get rid of him.
@@jamesanthony5681 I don't think he did, but his meds for pain were getting in the way of his acting and he admitted as such. However, Elizabeth seemed to not have a lot of sympathy for him... even many years after. She never even checked in to see if he was doing okay.
@@dan_hitchman007 That's surprising. It's obvious the guy was in bad shape, dying young, but not seeing him? Geez.
@@jamesanthony5681 I cannot read into her full motivations, but that kind of shook Mr. York in his failing years from the few interviews he did. He had a very tragic end... practically penniless and he was miserable.
This is ridiculous. First, Dick York’s back injury was occurred in the making of a movie; nothing to do with a “jeep accident.” Second, he was happily married to his wife Joan nearly 41 years when he died.
Thank you for stating the true facts! While I was not there the story I heard was he got hurt making a movie when he fell off of a horse. Everyone loved Elizabeth.... I still watch the show. One of my all time favorites.
@@joancollins54 York said he was injured while making a WW2 movie. He went to lift or pull something and another actor pulled at the same time in the opposite direction, tearing all his back muscles. The injury was an accident.
th-cam.com/video/ymyCPDcaqVw/w-d-xo.html
In his own voice....
Well at least that is settled. We all know that no human being in history has ever been married to one person but smitten with another.
I watch this show a lot. Dick York had great comedic timing. Really a terrific actor. Elizabeth was equally talented and lovely. I imagine many men fell in love with her. This show is incredibly clever and humorous. I recently watched the episode where Darren couldn't find his sportscoat (S. 3, Episode 10, "I'd Rather Twitch Than Fight.") What a riot. The characters of Larry Tate and Louise, along with the beautifully, troublemaking Endora, and NUMEROUS others were fabulous. First rate acting at its finest.
One of my favorites is
where Uncle Arthur switches
Sam & Darrin's voices!
@@laustcawz2089 I will look for that episode. Thanks!
And when they kissed it seemed real, not acting. Whereas Dick Sargent hardly put effort into it. York was a natural.
Loved Dick York! He was able to use his face like clay/putty to create all those great facial expressions. Much like Jim Carrey many years later.
It's funny that you say that, because Jim was the original choice to play Darren in the Bewitched movie. 17 years later and I still say that had he did the movie, it would have been a success.
@@EssentialClassic I had no idea that Carey was considered for the movie role!! He would have made a fantastic Darrin! Thanks s
Exactly! I often said that the best actors to play Darrin and Samantha in a Bewitched movie true to the series would be Jim Carry and Meg Ryan respectively.
excellent comparison which I'd never thought of!
@EssentialClassic really? I never knew that, he would have been perfect as Darrin...Ferrell was totally miscast!
It is interesting to note that at the end of the 1st Sargeant season, Dick was told by the producers that his characterizations were seen as abrasive. Even when he was telling Samatha how he loved her at the end of an episode, it sounded sarcastic. He told the producers that he was not York and would portray Darrin the way he wanted to. The viewership declined because of that attitude.
Sargent sucked
Sargeant just didn’t have a natural flair for comedy the way York did.
After he left the show and was ill, in a wheelchair, on oxygen he really thought she cared about him but she moved on and probably never gave him a second thought. He died ill and broke. Very sad. I think he deserved a star on the Hollywood walk of fame.
York was also a caring person who advocated for the homeless long before it became fashionable to do so.
Those stars are sponsored. So if it's something you really believe, you'd have to get a group to pay for it -- like, if there're other stars from the show (Montgomery or Moorehead for instance) on the Walk, find out who sponsors those stars, see if it's possible to get York added. OR see if there's a group that sponsors a bunch of the Walk stars. But it might be an uphill climb since that was his sole big role on TV.
I loved both EM and DY in the show. It was indeed a great loss for the show when DY left. But I can also understand why EM couldn’t stand him. Just picture yourself in her situation: You are a married woman with children you have this other guy around you who doesn’t even try to hide his feelings out of discretion and respect for you. But the main reason she wanted to get rid of him was because of his total unreliability and not showing up for filming due to his undoing depression caused by his chronic back pain and addiction to pain killers.
I heard he owned an apartment building at one time, and he would refuse to evict anyone if they couldn't pay rent. He didn't think it was right to kick people out of their home.
@@johnsarkissian5519 well EM had affairs when she was with her husband director William Asher and he had affairs on her. DY should have kept his feelings to himself as he was a married man himself. I would have thought EM would have cared about what happened to him. DY was in unbearable pain and had to take pain killers and even said if he had known things would have turned out the way it did that he would have never wanted to jeopardize the show and he did feel bad about not being able to show up toward the end. He spent episode after episode in pain so bad that he had to lie down and couldn't hardly move between screens. He tried his best. Had a seizure on set when he came to work with a fever and decided it was better to get out after William Asher visited him in the hospital. Asher liked him and he knew he was in love with his wife. He thought it made it more believable when he played EM's TV husband. He was also a good man who wouldn't kick people out who couldn't pay rent. Died poor and forgotten.
Show wasn’t as good without Dick York and Gladys, the nosy neighbor.
I’ll cut some slack to Mrs. Kravitz #2. She wasn’t half bad at all.
Gladys kravitz and her husband, Abner were dropped from the final season of Bewitched.
@@harperstacey9604
The Gladys replacement wasn’t good and the nosy neighbors got repetitious.
@@harperstacey9604 They probably ran out of there screaming after Dick Sargent joined the cast. 🤪
@@tubeyouuser Dick Sargent was a fish out of water on Bewitched.
Everyone was "smitten" with Elizabeth Montgomery. My favorite female name is "Samantha," as a result of Elizabeth Montgomery in "Bewitched." Dick York was a terrific actor, who also was well respected and admired.
"Serena" is a pretty name too. As hot as Elizabeth was, she was even better as a brunette. See the Twilight Zone episode with Charles Bronson!
Everyone was smitten with Elizabeth Montgomery until they got to know her.
I named my cat Serena. Mischievous but loveable, lol.
@@harperstacey9604 How about Robert Foxworth? Was he not smitten to the very end?
@@jamesanthony5681 Robert foxworth loved Elizabeth Montgomery to the end before she died. After her death, he quickly remarried. From Ms. Harper Stacey.
We were all in love with Elizabeth Montgomery!!!!
Gorgeous, very talented. A true Legend!
So sad she passed away .Too soon to go!
Damn it took about 2 min just for him to say something meaningful..and yet it wasn't. Sounds like a bunch of bullsh*t to me. No one was going to sabotage their own hit show by getting rid of the main comedy provider. Gimme a break. Once Dick York left..the show sucked.
I don't agree that he was in love with her, he was super happily married and had 5 kids, adored his wife. I mean, who knows, but he was in such pain all the time, he probably didn't have the energy to think like that. He may have been staring at her to try and seem engaged, he was on a lot of meds.
In his own voice...
th-cam.com/video/ymyCPDcaqVw/w-d-xo.html
I agree, plus there is a certain "chemistry" that takes place between two actors working in a situation like that. Dick York made "it work"...
I totally agree, York wasent in love with her, and those words seemed pretty cold from Liz Montgomery.. but on screen everything seemed to work perfectly, and dick York was the best Darrin..!!!
@urspendy, you are right. This guy who is he anyway?
@@elmerfudd6305 Dick York has admitted in a video that he had fell in love with Elizabeth Montgomery.
Who wouldn't have been smitten with Elizabeth Montgomery? I still am after 60 years. Her glorious personality, stunning beauty have never been equalled.
She couldn't hold a candle to Barbara Eden.
@@JoJoGunn1956 No she held 10 candles OVER Eden
Dick York made that show, great supporting cast but when Dick York left the show wasn't the same...the great expressive looks York would make and his timing was uncanny, you can't teach that kind of acting.
It's been said that both Asher and Montgomery were having affairs while doing the show, who knows for sure if Dick York had a thing for Montgomery, probably did.
yes @George Williams, there was lots of personal stuff other cast had to suffer through with Liz and Bill.
Elizabeth Montgomery was BEAUTIFUL!!!!
Dick York was the best Darrin! Who wasnt in love with Elizabeth? They sure had tv chemistry
No I read he use to follower Elizabeth around the set .He would follower to the dressing room .He made her feel uncomfortable.
@@louiserowland9940 Welcome to Hollyweird
Dick had had a seizure and his falling apart was getting to her, not Dick. He was drugged up trying to survive the pain.
Didn't we all fall for her? 💓
I loved EM and DY in that show and those roles, but EM would have made a huge mistake getting rid of him. His facial expressions and reactions were the perfect "mortal" foil and natural response to all the witchcraft, and especially Endora's toying with him. He was one of the best parts of the show, and I don't know if it would have been a hit or the show it was without York. She probably realized and would admit that years later. Just a fantastic and really kind of timeless show and my favorite fantasy sitcom as a Boomer kid growing up.
You are correct. You are paid TO ACT, and there are hundreds incidents of offscreen dischord but PERFECT ONSCREEN CHEMISTRY!
THE SHOW CLICKED because York portrayed YOU in his situation. You saw yourself as Darren, wondering how to keep one foot in the everyday world, knowing that other foot is on shaky SUPRTNATURAL ground.
Like DICK VAN DYKE, or the great DANNY KAYE, YORK could communicate far more into his body stance, facial exaggerations and fluttering voice pitch, to drive home the hapless plight he found himself in.
DICK SARGENT did try.
@@nealbradleigh5069 Dick Sargent did try. But imho failed miserably. I stopped watching as a child (and reruns now) if Sargent was in the episode. His Darren showed very little chemistry with Samantha and appeared (to me) to be overly stern, awkward, and not at all attractive. Beauty is in the eye, I guess...
@@annajacob7981 NO, you're right on all points. The success of the show centered around our "everyman" character trapped in a world he has no stability in.
We watched each week to see how we would figure our way out of Darren's latest predicament
(remember, he's a mere mortal).
DECADES LATER we have GENERATIONS of TREKKIES doing the same things, as they ponder the next installment episode of STAR TREK-THE NEXT GENERATION, with the presence of Q (and almost omnipotent entity, who finds humans as odd, but toys with them, as you would with your child's toy).
DY and DICK VAN DYKE could easily flesh out this role (put ROB PETRIE in Darren's shoes, for a sec) and DY was TOTALLY BELIEVABLE as Darren (DON KNOTTS brought fullness of character from the stage to the movie, to his tv comedy skits, and now, to the fictitious MAYBERRY (actually Mt Airy).
Barney Fife was as real as Darren. I hate to hear about the issues that impeded the series, but the production company should have learned from DESILU that sometimes your second banana IS THE DRAWING CARD TO THE SHOW!
How much life was left in Mayberry, after Barney's exit, hmm?
It sounds like this all could have been solved if the show runner would have had a private meeting with York and just told him his staring wasn't subtle and made EM feel uncomfortable. I bet he would have been mortified and never stared again.
@@nealbradleigh5069 The show flopped after Barney left. But Andy said that he saw right away that he needed to play straight man to Barney's comedy.
DY's Darren was a out as dorky and geeky as you can get...But he Was one of the successes of the show. I grew up watching Bewitched every week...and never Did understand what "Sam" saw in him. But I saw later, that DY version of the geeky, business like version was well played against her beauty was what the show needed.
Well heck, I had a crush on Elizabeth Montgomery as a kid! Who wouldn't? Still one of my favorites 💜
This helps explain why Montgomery never reached out to York a single time between his exit from the show and his death. She was also an amazing actress because the affection and even "sizzle" her character had for York's Darrin was palpable through the screen. And I can blame no man for falling in love/lust with 60's era Elizabeth Montgomery.
She seemed plain to me
@@lockandloadlikehell hardly plain. Wow. Are you sure you're even looking. She ooozes class and sexiness.
I don't believe he would have lasted 5 years if the star of the show couldn't stand him.
Totally agree. Especially with her husband as the producer. It's tough to fake the great chemistry they had on screen. I don't believe this at all.
@@jac7124 William Frawley and Vivian Vance had great chemistry on I Love Lucy and hated each other in real life. It’s called ACTING.
@@howardmoore1332 Thanks for putting acting in all caps, it really helped me. Vivian Vance and William Frawley were snarky to each other on camera too. And it was very rare you even saw them kiss or hug. You can't really compare the two couples. But, I noticed your other comment as well about not believing someone because it's uncomfortable. I agree that could be the case here. But, at the same time, the people involved are not here to defend themselves, so it's not cool to go around talking about private matters. And he could not even remember Liz was in the room at first!
@@jac7124 You're an idiot, If Liz liked York, how come she never talked with him again since he left Bewitched? Liz never mentions York when she does interviews, however she kept in touch with Dick Sargent after Bewitched ended, and she always says good things about him in interviews. This makes me believe what it's true that she didnn't like York.
I suspect "couldn't stand" is probaby overstating it. She was clearly uncomfortable because he was so attracted to her, and if Froug is right, clearly wanted to get him replaced, but when the show started and it was clear she was stuck with York as a costar, she probably got along with him well enough, and was professional. That said, it probably was always a bit awkward behind the scenes; and she was probably relieved when he left, that source of awkwardness was gone, and she worked with Sargent instead, since he and she were friends (and being gay, he wasn't sending longing looks her way all the time). She stayed friends with Sargent after the show wrapped, but never contacted York again from what I've read.
In truth it was lucky for York he never got "lucky" with Montomery, as his wife stuck by him the rest of his life, even when he was bedridden, flat broke, and unable to work. And the memoir York wrote before he died made it clear he really loved his wife. It's good he didn't throw that away for a fling that certainly wouldn't have lasted had he managed to charm his costar.
Dick York was perfect!! He played a lovable neurotic! I don’t know how much I believe this guy. But Elizabeth was amazingly gorgeous. I mean really a goddess.
She!was very beautiful and talented! 💔
If you’re old enough to remember Bewitched, you’re were not doubt in love with Elizabeth Montgomery too. Her beauty was bewitching. I can’t even imagine what it would have been like to work with her. It would have been impossible not to fall in love with her.
The best Dick York episode on Bewitched was when Endora put a spell on him making his ears grow bigger and bigger and bigger. He already had that Clark Gable-type head, lol.
Dick York already had big ears.
A lot of those episodes were similar. Darrin was about to get fired by Larry Tate because of some perceived screw up, only to have the client in the end say, "That's fantastic. *THAT'S* the kind of creative thinking I'm looking for," thus saving Darrin's job, and Tate sucking up to the client.
Now days in a remake something else would grow bigger and bigger .
@@kendraadman7229 😃😅😆😆😆 Hilarious!
Dick York was an accomplished actor before Bewitched ( Inherit The Wind)
His back injury happened on the set of a film .By the 4th season Dick could barely move.William Asher approached him and asked him if he wanted to quit and Dick confirmed it to Asher .
I don't know if EM disliked him or not but I always heard the two were on friendly terms.
Dick was a heavy smoker and he developed emphasema .He was in such poor health in the remaining years of his life.
I never liked Dick Seargent's Darren .He came off as a smart assy Kermudeon
Curmudgeon?
I can't blame Dick York, I was in love with Elizabeth Montgomery when I was growing up. She is so beautiful and pretty and sexy. She is still my dream girl.
I was in love with her and I was still in elementary school. Jeannie too! Dick York was the most favorite person on the set to Endora. She threw a fit when they cut him.
A little useless trivia. Dick York and Barbara appeared together in an episode of wagon train. Ironically she appeared in a costume similar to Jeannie for part of the episode.....kid you not.
Oops, it was Rawhide, not wagon train. 🤓🤓
EM was next level beautiful. Barbara Eden was many levels above her. No one was more beautiful that Barbara Eden.
@@mrwhite2628 How about the ladies on Gilligan's Island? Except Mrs Howell, of course.
I fell for her "arms" when she appeared on an episode of The Untouchables. She just had "it". I nearly had a fire on the stove because I couldn't stop admiring her. Her appearance on The Twilight Zone opposite Charles Bronson is another 4 alarm 🔥.
I remember an episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" where Dick York was very affecting. He made you care about what happened to his character. (I had never seen him in anything but "Bewitched," and I was quite impressed.
I'm glad you lived.
York found out the hard way Lizzy Lizzy truly was Untouchable!
I know that EM never ever spoke to DY after he left the show, but Agnes Moorehead hated that he was replaced.
It's disappointing to hear that how Elizabeth Montgomery felt about Dick York, I believed the chemistry between the two, Dick Sargent didn't look right in the role.
Makes me sad to hear that story... some things you’d just rather not know. Dick York was 100 percent the best Darren ...
Yes, I don't even believe it, this guy is just running his mouth.
People say things that are not true.
Dick York was hilarious.
He was also great in the Twilight Zone episodes or Alfred Hitchcock. I loved him as a banker who kept reading minds for awhile then was delighted to have lost his capability of it
I read somewhere years ago that she financially contributed to his health care for quite some time. Doesn’t sound like she couldn’t stand him, she obviously cared about him.
“Read somewhere”??
@@danc3693 Do you remember everything you've read? Oh but I'm sure you're perfect. Get a life.
@@karenglenn6707 Talk is cheap.
@@danc3693 "years ago"??
This pretty much answers a question I had about a story when in his final years, Dick York was living in poverty and had called Elizabeth Montgomery several times, and she never returned his phone calls.
She wanted to forget about him forever.
Before Yorkd died, he did an interview and said he and Elizabeth Montgomery never talked to each other since Bewitched ended, so this makes me beleive it's true that Elizabeth didn't like York.
Elizabeth Montgomery kept in touch with Sargent after Bewitched ended, and she always speaks highly about him in interviews, however she never talked about York in interviews
@J d It's quite simple. Some folks absolutely hate it when others denigrate people that they put on pedestals, and will attack anyone who does so, even if they very well may be telling the truth. So, they'll plug their ears and yell at the top of their lungs to drown out such information, and maintain plausible deniability so that their idols aren't tarnished in their minds.
Actually, Elizabeth had moved on and lost contact with her fellow cast members. Dick Sargent and David White met in April of 1989 for Herbie Pilato's book BEWITCHED FOREVER. It renewed her friendship with them. They wouldn't talk to Pilato until they knew Liz was involved. She called them and they agreed.
Remember this is before wide use of cell phones and the wide spread availability of the internet. Pilato got hold of Bill Asher who then called Elizabeth.
Elizabeth did not lose contact with Dick Sargent. They were friends until his death.
@J d Who was Erin?
P. S.: According to Pilato, Liz had to get the phone numbers from Pilato for White and Sargent. That rekindle their friendship, especially her and Sargent.
This incident from "Bewitched" was also told in a book by Sidney Sheldon. Love "Bewitched"!
Ahhhhh which book was it?
What book was it that Sidney Sheldon mentioned this? Elizabeth didn't like Sheldon because he created I Dream of Jeannie, which she thought was a copy of Bewitched and ironically, made at Columbia Studios where Bewitched was filmed as well
@@javiervalverde2374 I believe it was in his memoir book, The other side of me. Sidney Sheldon. And you are right. Elizabeth Montgomery didn't like how Sidney Sheldon took ideas from her husband William Asher and copied things from "Bewitched ". But "I Dream of Jeannie " never was a big hit like "Bewitched." Jeannie never even made the top 20 in audience ratings.
@@rhyswong8976 The book: The other side of Me: Sidney Sheldon his memoir.
@@sheldoncooper146 thank you very much
I wouldn't read too much into this. This producer was only around for one year. He said it was his assumptions, not fact. The role was originally offered to Sargent, who was friends with Liz. Regardless of any crush York may have had (and who wouldn't get caught unintentionally gazing at Elizabeth) she was sick of his instability and his loopiness. She spent the whole 2 or 3 seasons wishing Sargent had the role. Froug projected his own attractions onto York who was probably just spaced out when he had to go take time-outs. You think York didn't mind his P's & Q's? Liz's husband was always present. But most importantly, it was BILL who said, "she can't stand him." What jealous husband wouldn't throw shade at a man he has to watch kiss his wife every day? I'm not really buying it.
Dick York brought a lot of energy to the character in roles he played on Bewitched it's a big difference between Dick York and Dick Sargent not taking anything from Dick Sargent but York was better for that role.
Apparently, Elizabeth Montgomery had that effect on a lot of people. When her then-husband Gig Young filmed the boxing movie "Kid Galahad" with Elvis Presley, she frequented the set.
Elvis would "jump up and down on the ropes, cooing over her", according to one of his associates.
Wow i thought they got along but that's how great the acting was on the show.
Well, the replacement for Dick York was totally lame so I guess the motto of this story is, "Be careful what you wish for, Elizabeth. You might live to regret it."
Dick York was awesome, it wasn't very magnanimous of Ms Montgomery to say negative things about him in the public domain.
It's only public because this old coot is now repeating it.
@@jamesmcinnis208 Hahahaha, "the old coot".
I always wondered if there were other reasons for York's departure, and I know Elizabeth Montgomery was friendly with Sargent, but I never saw her badmouth Dick York, which makes me suspicious of this guy.
@@mannymontgomery9807 Same here. EM was generally very reticent about doing interviews anyway, and I've never heard her badmouth anyone in public.
Dick York and Samantha were great couples in the show
Dick York was the best Darrin. I think the show began declining in viewership when Dick York was no longer the Darrin everyone loved. Even to this day, me a mid 30s guy who loves old TV shows still appreciates what Dick York contributed to 'Bewitched'.
Dick York was the greatest.. A real man - Hollywood screwed him over - he and his family lost everything, ended up cleaning apartments for income until they moved to MI.. Genuine man who loved his wife.. Sad story about his and her gravesite though..
What man wasn’t in love with Liz. She was one gorgeous woman
Be hard not to be.
Dick York's reactions are what made the show funny. Agnes Morehead loved Dick York. She was a scream. Uncle Arthur was funny. I loved Aunt Clara. I loved Elizabeth Montgomery but she wasn't a comedian. Darrin's reactions drove the show and when he left, it lost it's Zazzle.
Dick Sargent was a man who was not in love with her because he was gay, and gay men exist
Elizabeth would not have had any trouble of this sort with Dick Sargent. He and Uncle Arthur were nice boys.
You are absolutely right. Dick Sargent was a real "dick" Sargent!
He and uncle Arthur were nice boys who liked other nice boys!
Funny Elizabeth was offended that York was crushing on her, but she had adulterous affairs with Asher and Richard Michaels. Hypocrisy at it's finest.
No. Not hypocrisy. Having affairs doesn’t mean that you invite everyone’s attentions.
@@swanhill5759 Also, this is just one guy's POV. Although someone above says it was in Sydney Sheldon's autobio.
Liz had daddy issues.
Daddy issues? Well, one can probably blame her father for part of that. He was always criticizing her work early on, instead of supporting her. It's been said by those who knew her, that her father was jealous of her success.
I don't know if this is true or not, but her father wasn't happy that she took the role of Lizzie Borden. He felt it represented her true feelings towards him. In reality, she eas saddened by her father's death.
I really don't care about a person's private life. They have to live it. In an interview in 1999 for the documentary on Elizabeth, by A&E (it's here on TH-cam along with the E: Channel version), Bill Asher blamed himself for their breakup. I've read, in general reading, that Asher cheated on Liz more than once, and she caught him. If one will notice, Liz stopped wearing the necklace in seasons seven and eight.
Asher, apparently still had loving feelings for Liz and if one has seen the unveiling of Elizabeth's statue, one can see that Asher still had feelings for her, by the way he's looking at it. Pilato has said in writing that Asher pined for her.
Asher was her real life husband
BRAVO, Mr. Froug! As rambling, memory-lapsing senior, you still manage to trash talk...
When producer William Asher visited Dick York in the hospital where he was taken when he had passed out on the set & he told Asher he was done & they needed to move forward without him. For the next ten years he led the public to believe he merely took a sabbatical of sorts, rather than reveal the truth about his injury; he never saw Elizabeth again, & she never made any comment about him when he died, sad...
“Everything has a back story”
Yep! The old man in the interview fails to mention Elizabeth Montgomery‘s affairs when she was married to Asher on the bewitched set
See Dick York in My Sister Eileen and then watch Inherit The Wind, comedy and drama, to appreciate his wide range as an actor. Unfortunately his back injuries limted his availability to work and emphysema, related to his lifelong cigarette smoking habit ended his life. 1-derful artist !!!
He was a good actor.
Well it sure proves what great actors the both of them were!
Dick York had a Jim Carrey kind of style that Dick Sargent totally lacked. I quit watching when Sargent came on board.
Me too!
From what I understand, Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick Sargent (Darrin # 2) became very good friends.
He was guy. She felt safe
@@captainjamescook2978 guy?
@@craigsmith157 Gay
@@captainjamescook2978 Thanks.
Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick Sargent were close friends long before bewitched was on tv
Bernie Kopell, who guested on Bewitched many times, made the statement that "everybody" had a crush on Elizabeth Montgomery.
Bernie Kopell?
Sure you're not thinking
of Bernard Fox (Dr. Bombay)?
Bernie kopell made numerous appearances on Bewitched.
Laying on a board in pain looking lovingly at EM? Come on man !
I’m sure he was only thinking of his pain
I never knew this fact. Thanks for posting.
Darrin wasn’t athletic or particularly handsome or company president or wealthy or powerful. But he was loved by Samantha. That was the magic of the show … and Dick York created the character perfectly. The relationship between the two actors would be a separate issue.
Dick York suffered terribly after a 1959 accident injured his back. That's why he left Bewitched half way through.
He was the best actor for that character. Circumstances as they were back then made his life all the more sad. Acting can be a tough road to take
I would have to question this guys memory?
I like Dick Sargent. But Sargent had no personality as Darrin. It's unfortunate that Dick York likely killed any possibility of even just a cordial day to day interaction. I like Liz too, but I think her assessment of Dick York is cold blooded. She doted on Sargent, from what I gather. I've seen him in other things where he did display a great personality.
I was in love with her the first time I saw her, too. And I was about 8 years old the first time I saw an episode of Bewitched...
Liz didn't realize that Dick was the real star of the show. Well, maybe on second thought she did, hence her wanting him gone. Hmmm.
That’s crap.
@@danc3693 Actually, it's true. Montgomery wasn't all that.
Elizabeth Montgomery wanted Dick York gone because he was causing too many problems on the set of Bewitched. From Ms. Harper Stacey.
York looks a lot like Jim Carey. When they did the Bewitched movie in 2005, they should have cast Carey as the Role of Darrin. The movie bombed with Will Farrell as Darrin.
Anything With will feral in it is a bomb.....he nausiates me...
I'm sure Dick Sargent was a wonderful actor, but, he and Elizabeth Montgomery didn't have the same chemistry as Dick York and Elizabeth Montgomery.
I've always felt that Darrin 2 was less tolerant and accepting of Sam. And outright hostile towards her parents.
Darrin 1 co-hosted a party for Sam after she was crowned Queen Of Witches. The party was in their own home. Darrin 2 would have never been so generous. Sure, at first Darrin 1 wasn't keen on the idea of Sam being Queen, but soon warmed up to it. Darrin 2, on the other hand, demonstrated outright prejudice towards Sam's heritage. Plus, he had a tendency to talk down to her. The only nice thing Darrin 2 did was to let Sam's father name the second Stephens child.
@Pamela Mays, they had zero chemistry with Sargent unlikeable
Darrin tricked him into it,
by arbitrarily rejecting the name
Adam, knowing Sam's dad
would insist on the name
just out of spite.
Lies! Dick York was already happily married when he started Bewitched. Depending on what year he’s talking about, EM might have meant that Dick York’s back problems were becoming a progressively worse issue. Elizabeth, being a consummate professional was probably frustrated that DY could no longer give his all. I do know that Agnes Moorhead was not pleased when Dick York left the show.
Gee...no one in the history of the world has ever been married yet in love with someone else...
Agnes and Dick were very close on the set. They really seemed to like each other.
You can hear Dick York saying he was in love with Elizabeth Montgomery, here: th-cam.com/video/ymyCPDcaqVw/w-d-xo.html
@@randallkeith8947 I always liked him as Darrin. Sometimes one should just keep their opinions to themselves. Some of the things he said didn't sound right.
If you read Sherwood Schwartz’ book about “Gilligan’s Island”, you can learn about the integrity of William Froug. I doubt the truth of anything he said here.
I was thinking the same.
Even though I haven't read that book, this interview was incredibly suspect to me. It's basically this guy just jumping to conclusions: "I think..." "it was pretty clear..." etc. And maybe the "We've got to get rid of him" comment made by EM wasn't because she couldn't stand him but because his health problems were becoming an issue for the production of the show.
Dick York, almost unintentionally, played Darrin as a doofus. This enhanced the mortal-witch dichotomy which was the key to the whole show. With York, Darrin was very mortal, especially juxtaposed with the sexpot Montgomery. Watch TCM for her father, Robert Montgomery in pre-Hays Code films. They are cheeky and very suggestive. Elizabeth got that from her dad In York's defense, I would guess he was full of prescription drugs for his health problems, and did not always use good judgment. Dick York proved that it's a short drop from the penthouse to the outhouse. I'm very proud of the fact the both Endora and Uncle Arthur are from my home state of Ohio, and buried there.
Liz may have meant that York’s drinking and drug abuse (to dull his back pain) may have been a problem - and York admitted some time after that it was. I think he eventually got help and sobered up.
Toward the end of Dick York's "career" on Bewitched, he was ranting obscenities and misbehaving in front of the child actors. This enraged Elizabeth Montgomery and to explain the Dick York "money situation", he made $135,000.00 a year "base salary" for the show ( He made more for the advertisements- Quaker Oats and Chevrolet were the two sponsors ).. Where did that money go ? That was a decent amount in the mid 1960's ….
@@1953childstar Wow! What a mess!
I guess he was self medicating because of his back problem. Back problems are the worst! No matter what you do (stand, sit, lay down) you are always in pain.