Dick York - the ‘be happy’ man!
Dick York (1928-1992)
Dick York was an actor best known for his portrayal of Darrin in the 1960’s television sitcom Bewitched.
The show was a great success and Dick was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1968.
A back injury he received in his earlier career flared up and he was forced to retire from the show in 1969. As a star in ‘Bewitched’, he was earning $120,000 a year. As an unemployed actor his union pension amounted to a little over $600 a month.
He had a family of seven to feed. By 1976 he was bankrupt and living in conditions that could be best described as close to abject poverty.
He tried to get back into television but failed to get any significant work.
His health declined. Years of being a heavy smoker took its toll. He spent his final years battling emphysema as well as battling a degenerative spine disorder.
While bedridden, he founded ‘Acting for Life’, a private charity to help the homeless and others in need. Using his telephone Dick motivated politicians, business people, and others to contribute supplies and money.
His memoir ‘The Seesaw Girl and Me was published after his death. In it he describes his struggle to beat his addiction to pain killers and how he came to accept the loss of his career. The seesaw girl referred to his wife Joan. It’s worth a read.
Despite the fact that he was hooked up to an oxygen tank and was housebound with his Emphysema and degenerative spine disorder, he was as positive as ever in his final months.
When he was asked about death Dick said ‘that the world was kind to me. That I never met anybody I hated or who hated me,’ and that he wanted to be remembered laughing and encouraged everyone to “be happy.”
He lost his battle with respiratory problems on the 20th of February 1992.
Rest In Peace Dick. You were a remarkable man!
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I remember that programme but had no idea of the back story.
It’s an amazing story. I was privileged to read the book ‘The Seesaw Girl and Me’. It’s an eye-opener of a book.
The man had spirit and if only for that alone he should be acknowledged and remembered.
He will also be remembered as a great and funny actor. The 60’s pre-cursor to Jim Carrey I think.
Dick York had an amazingly expressive face.
In the face of great pain and hardship his motto of ‘be happy’ always rang through.
I’ve come across some video interviews with him on the net. I’ll try and post links to them later.
[...] posted about Dick York earlier. He led a remarkable life and he faced his health problems with the adage [...]