Dick York

Dick York (September 4, 1928 ? February 20, 1992), born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, was an American actor.

Related Topics:
September 4 - 1928 - February 20 - 1992 - Fort Wayne, Indiana - American

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He began his career at age 15 in the radio program That Brewster Boy before moving on to a career in film and television. He had a major role in the 1960 classic Inherit the Wind, in which he played the young teacher charged with teaching the theory of evolution and defended by Spencer Tracy's character.

Related Topics:
1960 - Inherit the Wind - Evolution - Spencer Tracy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He is best known as the first actor to play the part of Darrin Stephens in the 1960s sitcom Bewitched. The show was a huge success and York was nominated for an Emmy for his role in 1968. Unfortunately, he was forced to leave the show in 1969 because of physical repercussions of a debilitating spinal injury suffered a decade earlier during the filming of They Came to Cordura. During the show he had become addicted to painkillers and prescription drugs, and he spent the next decade too ill to work, with his teeth falling out. York was replaced in the TV series by actor Dick Sargent.

Related Topics:
1960s - Sitcom - Bewitched - Emmy - 1968 - 1969 - Dick Sargent

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

York rarely worked after this and later founded Acting for Life, a private fund-raising effort for the homeless. He managed it from his home, where he was bedridden as his health declined. Things became so extreme that he and his wife became housecleaners for a living. However, in the late seventies, a friend lent him the money for new teeth, and he made a comeback to acting.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His final years were spent battling emphysema, which claimed his life on February 20, 1992. York is buried in Plainfield Cemetery, Rockford, Kent County, Michigan, USA.

Related Topics:
Emphysema - February 20 - 1992 - Plainfield Cemetery - Rockford - Kent County - Michigan - USA

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~