Role models of greatness.

Here you will discover the back stories of kings, titans of industry, stellar athletes, giants of the entertainment field, scientists, politicians, artists and heroes – all of them gay or bisexual men. If their lives can serve as role models to young men who have been bullied or taught to think less of themselves for their sexual orientation, all the better. The sexual orientation of those featured here did not stand in the way of their achievements.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Dick Sargent

Actor Dick Sargent (1930-1994) was best known as the “second” Darrin on the 1960s TV sit-com, Bewitched. In a strange twist of fate, he was the original choice for the role when the show began, but a studio scheduling conflict prevented his taking the job when production began in 1964. Dick York played the character Darrin from the show’s inception until 1969, when Sargent took over the role, since a chronic back ailment prevented York from continuing the part. The network offered viewers no explanation for the different appearance of Darrin from 1969 through the show’s last season in 1972.

Sargent’s professional career began in the mid 1950s, and he worked until a year before his death from cancer in 1994. There was high drama in the last years of his life, when he openly declared his homosexuality. He called himself a “retroactive role model” in the battle for gay rights. Prior to his coming out in 1991, tabloids had written salacious items about Sargent’s relationship with a “young black guy.” Sargent commented on the tabloid outing at the time: “I'm not against outing in terms of being pegged as gay. I am gay, I always was. It can't really hurt me now, I mean professionally. But for them to reveal it as if they caught you, like some dirty little secret – that was despicable.” Sargent had a long-time male partner for 20 years before the man's death from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1979. From 1989 until his death, Sargent’s partner was African-American producer and writer Albert Williams.

Sargent gave an interview in which he talked about how so many Hollywood marriages are shams, especially those involving a gay actor  – “strategic moves” was the term he used. Dick also commented on the large percentage of gay actors among his Bewitched cast: “Now, whether George Tobias was gay or not, I couldn't say. But he never married, and his friends were always guys; he showed no interest whatsoever in women...” Even Sargent had "manufactured" a wife early in his professional activity, reporting it to the press to protect his career.

OK, then. This statement inspired me to do a little Internet research, and I found this comment:

At the funeral of George Tobias, Bob Siler, working as a parking attendant, noticed that there were more World War II vets than anyone else in attendance. One mourner told him that it was “well known among servicemen that if they were in Los Angeles, they were more than welcome to stay at George's ranch instead of spending money on a hotel. Everything was on George, who ‘couldn't do enough’ for the men fighting for his country”.

Guess that explains it.

Sargent’s take on being recognized as a celebrity: “Most of it is a pain in the ass. Sure, it can get you a theater ticket or a better seat in a restaurant, but a lot of times it's having your dinner interrupted or being asked for an autograph at the urinal.”

In June 1992, Sargent was Grand Marshal of the Los Angeles Gay Pride parade along with actress and former Bewitched co-star Elizabeth Montgomery.

He also spoke about what a gentleman Cary Grant was. The two went out on several dates, but there was no sexual activity, according to Sargent. “He hated being alone. He liked being around good-looking men. In fact, I heard all his secretaries were good-looking young men. He was indeed very closeted, but he didn't avoid you if you were a good-looking guy, the way some others will. I was just thrilled to be socializing with Cary Grant. It was the two of us, we'd go out together, then we'd talk, but nothing else.” Grant and Sargent made two movies together, but Sargent’s screen debut was in a 1954 film with Ronald Reagan (Prisoner of War). I’m not making this up.

When Sargent died after a 4-year struggle with prostate cancer at age 64, with his partner Albert Williams, age 37, at his side.

26 comments:

  1. I was about 8 yrs old when Sargent replaced York on Bewitched. Of course no one spoke of homosexuality then but I knew there was something different about Sargent when I watched that show. I think Dick was a good actor in other stuff but it seemed to me he tried too hard sometimes on Bewitched. York's indignation seemed more real. Or it might be just a bit of that oh too human tendency yo prefer what we see first. Anyway I also knew I was different from most other boys but that's another story. It would be nice to find a shirtless photo of Mr Sargent.
    looks like he had a nice hairy chest!

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    1. I completely agree,,, is there any photos of him shirtless??

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  2. I thought that he seemed better in the part. Dick York played the role too quick tempered IMO.

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    1. Dick York was the better"Darrin"

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    2. Dick York was way too hot tempered for the part. Sargent rocked the part beautifully!

      Please refer all other objections to your local toilet.

      Sincerely-

      Jon

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    3. Yes I agree he was to quick tempered, full of anxiety, constantly kind felt sorry for Elizabeth, but Sargent was more laid back let come what may!

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  3. I think each of these fine actors, York and Sargent, brought something different to the role of Darrin, which may have helped the show's longevity. I Loved "Bewitched" so much, I had to keep watching...and I am now on DVD!

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    1. You're the one I agree with here, Anonymous-- I absolutely loved both of them equally. There was no reason to compare them; they were simply two guys (named Dick) who had two different approaches to the same role, that's all. No contest.

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    2. You're right, Anonymous. No need for comparison s; they were both great.

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  4. They were good people and good actors that's what matters.

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  5. Ultimately this is the truth! Yahushua bless them all!

    Thanks for your post.

    Jon.

    "Ain't it something how it goes; that you don't know what you've got until it's gone?" - Joni Mitchell

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  6. Dick Sargent was perfect for the role. Great actor and a great loss to this world.

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    1. Totally agree! Dick York was good, but too emotional. Dick Sargent nailed it to the wall! Great actor indeed! He shall be sorely missed.

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  7. Both York and Sergeant deserve a great deal of respect as people as well as actors. When York's back ailment led him to his final days in a wheelchair, he was still on the phone trying to get meals and shelter for homeless people! Sargent's biggest reason for coming out as gay was that he hoped he could be a positive role model. He was troubled by the rising number of young gay men that were committing suicide.

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    1. Wow. Already knew about Dick Sargent's reason for coming out, but Dick York helping others? Total respect for both of them! Yahushua bless them and us all!

      BRING BACK BEWITCHED!!!

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  8. Way wrong of this guy to out other closeted celebrities. (I’m only for outing if they are publicly disparaging of gays.) Rather arrogant of him to refer to himself as a role model.

    I never liked this Darrin, and the downturn in ratings reflected that. He played the part rather boringly.

    I also thought there was something “different” about this guy when watching this show in reruns as a child. (Yes, I’m gay.)

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  9. Steve-

    Sargent was GREAT as Darrin Stevens. He nailed the role.
    Where on earth did you get the idea that he outed other celebs? Ridiculous! Then you accuse him of arrogance when he was simply being honest.

    Downturn in ratings? At the time the show went off of the air it was the #2 show on television! It was only ended because Liz Montgomery grew tired of playing the role as it pulled her away from time with her 3 sons and family.

    She was being typecast and didn't care for it either.

    For someone who passes himself off as being "humble" it is YOU who comes across as an arrogant know-nothing! Pathetic!

    Try being a little more understand of what it was like back then to actually be gay, and yet have to hide it from everyone constantly; always looking over your shoulder, worried about what others thought about you, etc. It wasn't easy. And a little humility would serve you well.

    York was great too. However, they're both dead now. Show some respect!

    And yes, I'm gay as well.

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    1. I don't see anything wrong with "this Darrin" at all. In fact, I quite enjoy Darrin #2 and maybe even prefer him to #1.

      Jon, I think Steve means it was wrong of him to out George Tobias, even if dead when he did so.

      Didn't this show go down #12 or below with Darrin's first season? Where did you get "#2"? Also, Esmeralda was so boring, and they repeated storylines and people by then were probably tired of Larry Tate's shtick. Every episode he did the same shtick with a different client, kiss up to him, fire Darrin, rehire him, not apologize etc.

      I don't think Steve referred to him as humble but bad of him to throw shade thrice at Dick Sargent. I do now wonder about Elizabeth. Maybe she wasn't just a "Liz", and this would account for her bizarre outspoken stance on gays, much like Paul Newman whose marriage to that woman was a complete sham as he was the flamiest homo ever. There is some kind of bizarro conspiracy among gays to brand Agnes Moorehead, simply because she was a Born-Again Christian. She wasn't into women at all but what about "Liz"? Maybe she was the originator of such sordid rumors? Yes, I'm straight. Deal with it.

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    2. Well spoken on almost all counts. However, there are a few “facts” of yours that I would question:

      1. “Jon, I think Steve means it was wrong of him to out George Tobias, even if dead when he did so.”

      I believe that outing others WHILE LIVING is also wrong.

      Moreover, George Tobias was a cool guy. He used to invite hundreds of military men over to house dude ranch there outside of L.A. and feed and take care of them very well. At his funeral, in fact, in 1980, there were hundreds of MILITARY MEN who showed up to pay their respects and to say goodbye.

      I’ll leave you to fill in the blanks as to what they got up to down at the dude ranch as well as the what, where, when, why and how.

      Presently, after they have died, I believe that it is fair to out Hollywood greats as they have nothing left to lose, and because we, as gay people, have a right to know that we do/did not live in vain. We were so often denied any kind of respect, love, fair treatment, and acknowledgement throughout history and were so often excluded from reality and society that it is repulsively insane and absolutely disgusting. We simply did not even exist.

      Posthumous outing is fair enough providing it is not done with malicious intent. There is nothing malicious about telling the truth! Do not read too much into Sargent’s outing of Tobias.

      2. “I don't see anything wrong with "this Darrin" at all. In fact, I quite enjoy Darrin #2 and maybe even prefer him to #1.”

      Perfect truth! I couldn’t agree more with you. Well said!

      3. “Didn't this show go down #12 or below with Darrin's first season? Where did you get "#2"?”

      The show was in the Nielsen top 10 for its first three seasons, and in 1966 ranked #2 halfway through the 3rd season; then top 25 for the next three seasons and fell out of the top 30 during it last two seasons. The show remains popular in syndication and is a top seller on DVD. In 2002, Bewitched was ranked #50 on “TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.

      You’re welcome.

      4. “I don't think Steve referred to him as humble but bad of him to throw shade thrice at Dick Sargent.”
      Once again, perfect truth!

      5. “I do now wonder about Elizabeth. Maybe she wasn't just a "Liz", and this would account for her bizarre outspoken stance on gays, much like Paul Newman whose marriage to that woman was a complete sham as he was the flamiest homo ever.”

      Perfect. Spot on truth! It seems that most liberals are so far over the edge there in Hollyweird that I’d bet they often stick their watches in banks just to save time.

      And dear God, please let us assume that instead of “Paul Newman”, one of THE most masculine Alpha-male actors to ever live!, you were, instead, talking about Paul Lynde? One of the most disgusting, flamboyant, flaming, fire hydrant-loud, gay-circuit, promiscuous, cuntsy and catty stereotypical homos to ever bloviate across the silver screen. EVER! Whenever he came on Hollywood Squares, I was usually super quick to either change the channel or run out of the room! God no!!!

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    3. Here is the 2nd part of my reply:

      6. “There is some kind of bizarro conspiracy among gays to brand Agnes Moorehead, simply because she was a Born-Again Christian.”

      Whew! That was homophobic, deluded and clueless to read. Even exhausting.

      Why do so many straights think that being gay is a curse before God, when it was God who created all of us in the first place? Then they quickly “dive bomb!” to the asinine conclusion, if not illiterate notion that THEY are somehow special and better than we as gay people, because, as anyone sane will tell you, God only loves straight people because only straight people can get married or raise families; and only straight people love God?! Good God!! Absolute BS!!!

      This may come as a surprise to you but it is more than true that there are millions upon millions of bi/gay/lesbian people who are also good Christians of various faiths who love their Creator dearly. They also possess spiritually and morally HIGH standards of living. Pete Buttigieg is one. I’m another. I suggest you investigate. Good luck with that!

      Here’s some more Moorehead facts:

      “Moorehead's sexuality has been the subject of much speculation and dispute. A number of articles that appeared in periodicals in the alternative press have identified her as a lesbian.

      Paul Lynde, Moorehead's co-star on Bewitched, stated: "Well, the whole world knows Agnes was a lesbian – I mean classy as hell, but one of the all-time Hollywood dykes". Journalist Boze Hadleigh reported an incident, in which, when she caught one of her husband’s cheating on her, "Agnes screamed at him that if he could have a mistress, so could she!!

      Moreover, in an interview, Moorehead was reported to have acknowledged her same-sex orientation while she identified a number of other Hollywood actresses who "enjoyed lesbian or bi relationships."

      Moorehead was a devout Presbyterian (Debbie Reynolds described her as terribly religious) and, in interviews, often spoke of her relationship with God.

      Erin Murphy stated that the actress would read Bible stories to the children affiliated with Bewitched. Shortly before her death, Moorehead, who embraced her Reformed Calvinist roots, sought conservative causes to bequest her estate. This angered some of her Hollywood colleagues and has been postulated as the reason for the rumors of lesbianism.

      Moorehead died of uterine cancer on April 30, 1974, in Rochester, Minnesota, aged 73. Her sole immediate survivor was her mother Mary, who died in 1990, aged 106. Moorehead may have developed cancer from radioactive fallout from atmospheric atomic bomb tests while making The Conqueror with John Wayne in St. George, Utah. Several production members, as well as Wayne himself, Susan Hayward, Pedro Armendáriz (who committed suicide) and its director Dick Powell, later succumbed to cancer and cancer-related illnesses. The cast and crew totaled 220 people. By the end of 1980, as ascertained by People, 91 of them had developed some form of cancer and 46 had died of the disease.”

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    4. Here is the 3rd and final part of my reply:

      7. “She (Moorehead) wasn't into women at all but what about "Liz"?

      And of course, you would know this, right? “DENI-AL IS NOT A RIVER IN EGYPT!” - Anon.

      This statement seems to me bizarre and without merit. Just wishful thinking, if nothing else. Just. Why are so many straights so threatened and terrified that some of their greatest actors/athletes/spiritualists/Pastors/preachers/Senators/warriors/historians/heroes etc., were most definitely gay/lesbian?

      In reality, who gives-a-crap if whether or not she/they were gay/lesbian?! Especially as whom we copulate and capitulate with physically is such a non-nomenclature and obsequiously private? She was a GREAT actress and talent! Let’s leave it at that, shall we?

      8. “Maybe she (“Liz” Montgomery) was the originator of such sordid rumors?”

      Ridiculous! NO, SHE WAS NOT! Her and Agnes were very close friends based on insider info/notes/knowledge.

      9. “Yes, I'm straight. Deal with it.”

      Quite possibly the most useless piece of info provided thus far. No one asked about YOUR sexuality. Probably because it’s just as boring as mine. But it is rather curious that you use THIS “qualifier” whilst simultaneously visiting a gay actor’s posthumous site to comment. I’ll say nothing further on that one.

      Besides, I’ve got enough drama in my life to deal with. If you’re not sure if whether or not you’re straight/bi/gay, etc., then quite obviously that’s something YOU’LL need to deal with! FAST!!!

      Thanks for the outreach.

      Jon.

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  10. I happened upon this site as I was researching the cast of Phantom of the Rue Morgue (1954). When I got to Delores Dorn I discovered she was married to Ben Piazza and Franchot Tone. I wasn’t familiar with Mr Piazza and read that his long time partner was Wayne Tripp. Long story short, I landed here and wanted to comment that I was much impressed by the civility of of the different views. Would that other blogspots maintain such civility. I’m a straight woman and appreciate contributions by all creative, intelligent human beings who communicate without put downs.

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    1. JON: Sabo76:

      No offense was intended, although at times you seemed to come off smarmy and self-righteous. If I misinterpreted, my apologies, naturally.

      Yes, Sargent was married to a woman for a while. No surprise here since most of us as gay men have either had girlfriends, fiances or have actually been married to women at some point in our lives. This is not out of cruelty or deception as much as it is out of terror, bullying and fear; all of which has long term side effects such as self-loathing, cowardice, self-hatred, obsession, self-denial, violence, self-ignorance, all of which destroy everything they ever touch. Disgusting and sad, really, but as long as men are taught shame and fear concerning their sexuality, then the pain, suffering, terror, disease, and spiritual depravity shall naturally continue. Everything has its price, eh?

      Again, thanks for your contributions here. You are always welcomed to comment, although I am rather blunt and frank; forgive me, as there is no harm intended.

      "The truth within my heart I bore-
      Long after it was heard no more..." - Jon B.

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  11. Dick Sargent was married for a time.... to a woman.

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    1. Yes, so you've stated and restated at least 3 times now. Luckily, he came to his senses and married a man for most of his life; so there's that as well.

      Let us know when you've come up with something new.

      Jon.

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  12. I would like to mention that, according to IMDB, George Tobias' on and off (no pun intended) girlfriend for 40 years was Milicent Patrick (actress/makeup designer/special effects artist/animator), who lead a rather wild and interesting life herself. As for Dick Sargent, his real name was Richard Stanford Cox. Dick changed his last name for professional reasons. Need I say more?

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