Dick Sargent was actually the THIRD actor to replace Dick York for health reasons

[Arfies]

The first two replacements were Gene Hackman in the Broadway comedy "Any Wednesday" in 1963 and the second was Bob Crane in an ABC-TV remake of "Arsenic and Old Lace" that aired in April 1969 (though the casting process occurred in 1968). And of course, Dick Sargent was cast as Darrin in "Bewitched" in January 1969.

Found this in a search of Google Books: Dick York was originally supposed to star in "Any Wednesday," written by Muriel Resnick. She wanted Gene Hackman, but everyone else wanted Dick York. She wrote about it in her book "Son of Any Wednesday" from 1965:

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p. 67-69:


(after Resnick writes a note about her displeasure with the casting process dated Tuesday, December 17th, 1963):

They tried to sell me on a Hollywood actor, Dick York. I'd never heard of him. (Most of the candidates were names- or so I'd been told because they'd starred in television series. I never watch television). They arranged for us all to see Inherit the Wind, a film in which he'd had a featured part. It was impossible to judge from that. They flew him in.

On the sage of the Belasco he was a very good-looking, tall, slim, young man with high cheekbones- almost a younger, rougher version of Michael Rennie [who was to be in the play]. He read well and was very pleasant and attractive- a young leading-man type.

The producers huddled. George Morrison thought York could do it. They were all six against me. I had to give in. We cast Dick York.

Our rehearsal date was moved back to December 30th. York flew back to the Coast to move his wife and children east.

The Shuberts would not give us a theater to rehearse in, but the producers found a place. Two. We were to start at the old New Amsterdam Roof, stay there for four days, and then move to the old Riviera Gardens at Broadway and 97th Street.

Robert Randolph clamored to know the color of the set. So did Theoni Aldredge. George Morrison hadn't arrived yet.

Tharon Musser, who was going to do our lighting, was told that Mr. Rennie must have footlights. It was in his contract.

George and Granat were told that Mr. Rennie's shirts must be custom made.

Sandy [Dennis] said she was going to diet. Rosemary [Murphy] had already lost fifteen pounds.

Theoni said that if she didn't get a color for her set she'd simply have to go ahead with her gowns and the set would have to be built around them. Michael [Rennie] and Sandy [Dennis] both had the star dressing room in their contracts. York was given star billing above the title. Michael's contract guaranteed that only his name and one other- Sandy's- would appear above the title.

It was a strange, tense, strained, and un-Christmas-like Christmas. I swung between a deep, brooding anxiety and manic optimism.

December 28th Dick York's clothes had arrived but he hadn't. Neither the producers nor his agents were able to contact him. Although he had a wife and a gaggle of small children, his home phone went unanswered.

The producers tried all day and during the night. At three o'clock that morning Howard spoke to a very small child who said his daddy wasn't home, and hung up.

The morning of the 29th, the day before rehearsal, the office was notified that due to a sudden illness Mr. York would not be able to do the role.

I went into my now accustomed state of shock, but rallied at once. "OK," I said, "we have just one day to cast Gene Hackman. Let's hope we can still get him."

We got him. George Morrison had been his dramatic coach and friend for years and was able to cope with the actor's wounded ego. The wounds were real, for Gene knew that the producers didn't want him. I don't think he knew then that Sandy refused to have him.

Gene's agent was negotiating with the producers. Sandy had to be told.

That afternoon she was at Kenneth's, becoming a sun-kissed blonde. George Morrison went to Kenneth's.

Her reaction was traumatic, which isn't easy when your entire head is wrapped in tin foil and someone is working all over it, but after a couple of hours, as she became blonder and blonder, she gradually accepted Gene Hackman as a fait accompli.

George Morrison told me that Gene was going on a diet, that Sandy would behave herself, and he'd like me to read the play to the cast in the morning.


. . .

p. 225, in the conclusion:

Dick York began co-starring with Elizabeth Montgomery in the television series, Bewitched.
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That's such a shame- more than likely, it was related to his back again. Of course, if he had been cast in "Any Wednesday" (which, according to www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=2821, opened on Feb. 18, 1964, he more than likely wouldn't have been able to do "Bewitched." Considering the pilot was completed on December 6, 1963 and "Any Wednesday" was supposed to start rehearsals December 30, that was a very tight schedule.

"Any Wednesday" was made into a movie starring Jane Fonda (www.imdb.com/title/tt0060112/) with Dean Jones in the Dick York/Gene Hackman role of Cass Henderson. So if you wanted to see if Dean Jones would've made a good "second Darrin" since it was a role Dick York was originally supposed to play- yes, he does a very good job.

The playbills had already been printed with York's name (under the title after all) and he had apparently even autographed a few despite never eventually appearing in it.

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Hollywood Closeup
by Marilyn Beck
Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa
May 29, 1968

BOB CRANE, the "Hogan's Heroes" lead, says he can't get out of the rut of being master of ceremonies and a TV lead, wants to be considered a serious movie actor. Last week a network offered him $5,000 a week to o a Johnny Carson-type show during his hiatus from the series. "I turned the offer down, and I'll keep turning them down until someone finally believes that I want to act for a living."

Bob admits the transition won't be an easy one. He was hired to star with Helen Hayes in "Arsenic and Old Lace," but only as a last-minute replacement when Dick York's bad back wouldn't allow him to fulfill the commitment.

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That's a shame- I would've loved to see York in that, acting with Fred Gwynne. You can see Bob Crane in it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeNiT4wd5cM

[RetroGuy2000]

Way cool finds, Arfies!

I love these behind-the-scenes stories. Most excellent research!

[Arfies]

You're welcome! This is pretty much the only place left to discuss in-depth stuff about "Bewitched." I miss how things used to be. The IMDB boards were killed years ago, the Reddit community is pretty dead, the HarpiesBizarre.com board used to be a hotbed back in the day but hasn't been for years, the bewitched.net board was nuked a long time ago, and the interaction on Facebook just doesn't get very in-depth at all even though that's where most of the traffic went.

[RetroGuy2000]

I, too, miss the IMDB boards. I was also on Television Without Pity, but it also closed.