Bewitched (1964 – 1972): York vs. pain
In the late 1960s, audiences were shocked when their favorite ‘witch-who-married-a-mortal’ Samantha Stephens on television’s Bewitched returned for its sixth season with a new husband. Samantha was still married to husband Darren, but Darren looked different. Before Bewitched, Dick York shot the movie “They Came to Cordura.” According to York, an extra unexpectedly grabbed the handle of a railway handcar he was using with costar Gary Cooper. York suddenly and unexpectedly lifted the man, a weight of 180 pounds (82 kilo). This jolt snapped the muscles of his back. Despite the pain, he joined the case of Bewitched in 1964. His pain and addiction to painkillers led to passing out on the set of Bewitched in 1969. While recovering at the hospital, he knew he couldn’t continue to do the series. Dick Sargent stepped into the role of Darren Stephens, leaving audiences to guess why York left the successful series.