Why I Prefer Dick York Compared To Dick Sargent - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Umbrella Girl · 03-07-2022, 11:24 AM

Dick York had a warm, friendly demeanor, he often smiled, and he was quite funny…

Dick Sargent had a cold, stiff demeanor, he rarely smiled, and he was not funny, whatsoever...

ThisLittlePiggy · 03-07-2022, 01:19 PM

I love Dick York. I can watch him in anything. I just saw him in an episode of Route 66. He has something about him that compels me to watch and care about his characters. It's a gift.

Umbrella Girl · 03-07-2022, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThisLittlePiggy

I love Dick York. I can watch him in anything. I just saw him in an episode of Route 66. He has something about him that compels me to watch and care about his characters. It's a gift.

I agree. He had a certain charisma as an actor.

Willbo · 03-07-2022, 03:54 PM

Dick York was the best. His chemistry with EM was remarkable.

Umbrella Girl · 03-07-2022, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willbo

Dick York was the best. His chemistry with EM was remarkable.

I agree. Dick Sargent had absolutely no chemistry with her, in my opinion.

Duster76 · 03-07-2022, 11:51 PM

Dick York was a much better actor, it's really unfair to compare the two. Montgomery wanted the focus of the series to be on her character so really Sargent was actually playing the part of Darrin more in line with Montgomery's wishes. If there was an issue with one of her children, or there was something going on between Darrin and Endora she wanted that issue seen from her point of view. When the series entered season 6, Montgomery's name came before the series the actor playing Darrin was on par with the actors playing Endora and Larry Tate.

Everything I've read suggested Montgomery and Sargent got along very well, but it's true he had no on-screen chemistry with Montgomery and that really hurt the show. The magic is the magic, in and of itself it's really not funny, it the reaction to the magic that's funny and York was great in that regard.

tcr1701 · 03-08-2022, 09:10 AM

I don't think Liz ever dictated that the focus be on her. Lila Garrett said that the writers deliberately stopped writing stories where Sargent's Darrin was the (comedic or romantic) focus because Sargent couldn't do the comedy and had no romantic chemistry with Elizabeth. The focus switched to Samantha and her magical family in the writer's room. Elizabeth, I think, did take on the more broad comedy reactions after York was gone to keep the comedy alive.

As for Elizabeth's name before the credits that was part of the deal Jackie Cooper offered her to stay after season 5 for the syndication package. He did admit to low-balling Liz by not telling her how lucrative the deal was for him.

Arfies · 03-08-2022, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThisLittlePiggy

I love Dick York. I can watch him in anything. I just saw him in an episode of Route 66. He has something about him that compels me to watch and care about his characters. It's a gift.

Right? It doesn't matter what he's in- you just automatically care about his character. It's a charisma thing. So it's kind of a bummer when he's playing a villain, but it's also unexpected!

ThisLittlePiggy · 03-08-2022, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arfies

Right? It doesn't matter what he's in- you just automatically care about his character. It's a charisma thing. So it's kind of a bummer when he's playing a villain, but it's also unexpected!

I totally agree.

Umbrella Girl · 03-08-2022, 08:21 PM

I’ve never seen Dick Sargent portray any other characters besides Darrin. I wonder if his acting ability was better utilized when portraying other characters?

tcr1701 · 03-08-2022, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Umbrella Girl

I’ve never seen Dick Sargent portray any other characters besides Darrin. I wonder if his acting ability was better utilized when portraying other characters?

Sargent is more suited to non-leading man roles. He was pretty good as a country lawyer in an episode of "I Dream of Jeannie" but he still always seems stiff in comedic parts. Bea Arthur mentioned that Esther Rolle was a very good actress but as a person just didn't have "a funny bone." So she could never play up the comedy in "Maude." Sargent seems to be like that. He is better at light drama and supporting roles (he was on "The Love Boat" and "Three's Company"). Lila Garrett said he would have made a good TV detective. I do like Dick Sargent and if we had to lose York he was a good choice - just not a comedic choice.

Dick York did at least 4 episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and was very good in all of them. "The Dusty Drawer" is a particularly good one where his character gets revenge (in a comedic way) on a bank clerk for stealing money from him. Dick York started in radio so he understood how to emote through words alone. That always seemed to be great training for actors back then.

Duster76 · 03-08-2022, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcr1701

I don't think Liz ever dictated that the focus be on her. Lila Garrett said that the writers deliberately stopped writing stories where Sargent's Darrin was the (comedic or romantic) focus because Sargent couldn't do the comedy and had no romantic chemistry with Elizabeth. The focus switched to Samantha and her magical family in the writer's room. Elizabeth, I think, did take on the more broad comedy reactions after York was gone to keep the comedy alive.

As for Elizabeth's name before the credits that was part of the deal Jackie Cooper offered her to stay after season 5 for the syndication package. He did admit to low-balling Liz by not telling her how lucrative the deal was for him.

I don't agree with your interpretation. The notion that Sargent who was a well known talent at the time was mistakenly cast in the part of Darrin seems farfetched. What seems much more likely is Montgomery envisioned the role of Darrin much differently than the way Dick York played it. York saw himself as more or less an equal to Montgomery as in an also starring billing. What I'm suggesting is this, Sargent played the role closer to the way Montgomery wanted it played, that's why he was hired. Keep in mind there is nothing unusual going on here. This goes on in showbusiness all the time. In the 60 & 70's we saw problems like this between Ritter and some of the talent on Three's Company, Linda Lavin on Alice, Cindy Williams and her line counting on Laverne & Shirley, even on I Dream of Jeannie. There are no good guys or bad guys here, it's just the nature of the business.

Willbo · 03-09-2022, 11:30 AM

Dick Sargent did play Elise's (Meredith Baxter Birney) father on "Family Ties" and was good in that role. However, he was only on there a few times and not the main focus. I did like him as the country lawyer on " I Dream of Jeannie". He was just not a good Darrin. We were spoiled by Dick York.

MichaelKeith · 03-09-2022, 06:30 PM

I have to agree. I like York in every acting role that I’ve seen him in. He just has that certain something, that “IT” factor that makes for a great actor.

TMC · 04-17-2026, 04:04 PM

“Bewitched” Child Star Erin Murphy Reveals Who Was the Better TV Dad: Dick York or Dick Sargent

Erin Murphy, who played Tabitha on Bewitched, declared Dick York the better "TV dad" over Dick Sargent. In a 2024 interview with PEOPLE, she explained that York was more "paternal" and felt "like a dad" to her. While she noted she stayed in touch with both actors, York was her favorite due to his nurturing, real-life father figure persona.

03-07-2022, 11:24 AM	#1
Umbrella Girl Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 27, 2022 Posts: 12	Why I Prefer Dick York Compared To Dick Sargent Dick York had a warm, friendly demeanor, he often smiled, and he was quite funny… Dick Sargent had a cold, stiff demeanor, he rarely smiled, and he was not funny, whatsoever...

03-07-2022, 01:19 PM	#2
ThisLittlePiggy Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Nov 02, 2013 Posts: 83,252	I love Dick York. I can watch him in anything. I just saw him in an episode of Route 66. He has something about him that compels me to watch and care about his characters. It's a gift.

03-07-2022, 03:54 PM	#4
Willbo Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 10, 2012 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 859	Dick York was the best. His chemistry with EM was remarkable.

03-07-2022, 11:51 PM	#6
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,639	Dick York was a much better actor, it's really unfair to compare the two. Montgomery wanted the focus of the series to be on her character so really Sargent was actually playing the part of Darrin more in line with Montgomery's wishes. If there was an issue with one of her children, or there was something going on between Darrin and Endora she wanted that issue seen from her point of view. When the series entered season 6, Montgomery's name came before the series the actor playing Darrin was on par with the actors playing Endora and Larry Tate. Everything I've read suggested Montgomery and Sargent got along very well, but it's true he had no on-screen chemistry with Montgomery and that really hurt the show. The magic is the magic, in and of itself it's really not funny, it the reaction to the magic that's funny and York was great in that regard.

03-08-2022, 09:10 AM	#7
tcr1701 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 22, 2012 Posts: 461	I don't think Liz ever dictated that the focus be on her. Lila Garrett said that the writers deliberately stopped writing stories where Sargent's Darrin was the (comedic or romantic) focus because Sargent couldn't do the comedy and had no romantic chemistry with Elizabeth. The focus switched to Samantha and her magical family in the writer's room. Elizabeth, I think, did take on the more broad comedy reactions after York was gone to keep the comedy alive. As for Elizabeth's name before the credits that was part of the deal Jackie Cooper offered her to stay after season 5 for the syndication package. He did admit to low-balling Liz by not telling her how lucrative the deal was for him.

03-08-2022, 08:21 PM	#10
Umbrella Girl Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 27, 2022 Posts: 12	I’ve never seen Dick Sargent portray any other characters besides Darrin. I wonder if his acting ability was better utilized when portraying other characters?

03-09-2022, 11:30 AM	#13
Willbo Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 10, 2012 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 859	Dick Sargent did play Elise's (Meredith Baxter Birney) father on "Family Ties" and was good in that role. However, he was only on there a few times and not the main focus. I did like him as the country lawyer on " I Dream of Jeannie". He was just not a good Darrin. We were spoiled by Dick York.

03-09-2022, 06:30 PM	#14
MichaelKeith Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2007 Posts: 1,139	I have to agree. I like York in every acting role that I’ve seen him in. He just has that certain something, that “IT” factor that makes for a great actor.

04-17-2026, 04:04 PM	#15
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,545	“Bewitched” Child Star Erin Murphy Reveals Who Was the Better TV Dad: Dick York or Dick Sargent Erin Murphy, who played Tabitha on Bewitched, declared Dick York the better "TV dad" over Dick Sargent. In a 2024 interview with PEOPLE, she explained that York was more "paternal" and felt "like a dad" to her. While she noted she stayed in touch with both actors, York was her favorite due to his nurturing, real-life father figure persona.