Dick Sargent

Dick Sargent born 19 April 1930 (d. 1994)

Dick Sargent was an American actor. Sargent is best known for his portrayal of the second Darrin Stephens on the television series Bewitched.

Born Richard Stanford Cox in Carmel, California. Sargent had appeared in films since his debut in 1956. When Dick York was forced to leave the Bewitched series owing to health problems in 1969, 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. Sargent played Darrin until the show ended in 1972.

Sargent continued to work in film and made numerous guest appearances on various TV shows, including one episode of The Waltons with the second John-Boy, Robert Wightman, and two early episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard as Sheriff Grady Byrd.

Later in life, he publicly admitted his homosexuality, and supported gay rights issues. He had long hidden his sexual orientation, appearing with lesbian actress Fannie Flagg on the 1970s game show Tattletales as a couple. The game show featured celebrity married couples, and Sargent and Flagg claimed they were dating. In reality, Sargent lived with life partner Albert Williams until his death. In June 1992, Sargent was a Grand Marshal of the Los Angeles Gay Pride parade along with former co-star Elizabeth Montgomery.

Bewitched was actually a something of a hotbed for gay actors as Sargent was not the only gay cast member - he was joined by Paul Lynde, who played Samantha's Uncle Arthur and Agnes Moorhead, who played Samantha's mother, Endora.

Sargent died in 1994 from prostate cancer in Los Angeles.