Sunday, June 7, 2009

Out Spotlight LXXXIII

Today's Outspotlight is actor Dick Sargent.

He may be best known for his role as the second Darren (or Durwood, if you are Endora) Stevens, on the iconic television show Bewitched. He was cast as the straight man to the kooky cast of characters that came with marrying his witch wife Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery). But on National Coming Out Day in 1991 Dick Sargent gave up the role of "straight man" in real life and became known for an entirely different reason.

Sargent was born Richard Cox in Carmel, California on April 19, 1930. His mother, Ruth McNaughton Cox, had been an actress in silent films. His father, Colonel Elmer Cox, had served with distinction in World War I.

Sargent auditioned successfully for a lead role for Bewitched but couldn't to accept it because of contractual obligations to Universal Studios. He eventually did take the part in 1969 when actor Dick York, who originally played the role, had to withdraw for health reasons.

Sargent took over the part of Darrin, an adman who was married to a beautiful witch and who had to put up with the shenanigans of her decidedly eccentric supernatural relatives. He joined a cast that included actress Agnes Moorehead (who has be the subject about much discussion and debate about her own sexuality) and gay actor Paul Lynde, neither publicly came out before their death.

Like many other actors Sargent remained closeted, fearing that the revelation of his sexual orientation would spell ruin for his career. And like others, including Raymond Burr, had done before him, he invented a former spouse, in Sargent's case a fictional divorced wife. Later, he cooperated in fueling media speculation that he was romantically involved with women by being seen escorting starlets to Hollywood parties. On one occasion he posed with actress Connie Francis for pictures that appeared in a movie fan magazine. "We looked passionately at each other, but that was the only time I ever saw her," Sargent recalled in 1991.

Unknown to audiences, Sargent was in a loving and stable relationship with another man, a television screenwriter, whom he later identified publicly simply as Frank. It pained Sargent not to be able to speak openly about their bond and to have to call the love of his life a "business associate." The pair were together for twenty years until Frank died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1979.

Among those who knew of the relationship was Elizabeth Montgomery, the star of Bewitched, who became a good friend to Sargent. She and her husband often went out with Sargent and Frank.

In 1991 with so few actors were openly out as gay men that it made Sargent's made quite a significant impact. Overnight he went from playing roles to being a role model. Sargent said that factors motivating his decision to come out included California governor Pete Wilson's veto of a bill to protect gay men and lesbians from job discrimination and also his concern about the rate of suicide among young gay people, but he was also responding as well to his outing by a tabloid newspaper, The Star, that erroneously reported that he and a new lover had trashed a house and that the police had evicted them. He was not dispute the fact that he was gay, but that the rest of the story was false.

Howard Bragman, a past Out Spotlight topic himself, handled Sargent's PR when he finally came out , 20 years after the Bewitch ended.

Remembers Bragman: "I got a call from a guy named David Smith who was head of PR at the \[LA\] Gay and Lesbian Center at that point. David said, 'Listen, we're all going to march in Sacramento and this week is National Coming Out Day and I have two people who are coming out: Sheila Kuehl (Zelda Gilroy on The Many Loves of Doby Gillis) and Dick Sargent. Can you handle that?' We went to 'Entertainment Tonight' and we gave them Dick Sargent and Sheila Kuehl and Dick was joking: 'I'm in my 60s, who's gonna care? I haven't been on TV in decades.' People did care. A lot of actors had not come out at that point and still, to this day, when an actor comes out it's big news. So, I helped him out of the closet and was there when he passed away."

Sargent found coming out liberating. In a interview he shortly after he came out, he talked about the experience. "It was such a relief. I lived in fear of being found out. Now it's given me a whole new mission in life,"

Once out he became a leader to many through his visibility as well as his activism. In the months to come Mr. Sargent dedicated a great deal of energy to aiding gay and lesbian causes (in addition to his ongoing commitment to The Special Olympics). He a participated in the Lesbian and Gay Public Awareness Project and began speaking out on gay rights issues. 1992 he along with his former Bewitched co-star Elizabeth Montgomery, served as the Grand Marshals of The Orange County Pride Parade of 1992.

Sargent was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1989, despite going under extensive radiation treatment he passed away on July 8, 1994.

60 comments:

Clarity said...

Beautiful music today Special. Interesting Spotlight. Too bad we didn't know more about Mr. Sargent publicly.


"It's just Chapter 313 in the repetitive novel of Reeke."

Does anyone even believe in these 2 as a couple anymore? He seems more like a escort/bodyguard/butler these days imo. I don't even get the friend vibe anymore. His body language totally says "I'm sick of this crap".

Florida Tom said...

No I dont agree with that Clarity. Jake is very much into reeke and making it work for his career. Maybe even pushed Austin out of his life. Although it is virtually impossible for them to look like a happy loving couple he is in NYC with her and it doesnt look like reeke will end anytime soon.


Nice Spotlight Spesh. Just goes to show how much pressure is put on men and women to stay in the closet in HW. What makes me sad is that I wont be around when Jake is 60 and he finally comes out.

God I wish someone would end the cycle. Its works on TV(NPH,TR Knight)now and also on Broadway(Nathan Lane). Time to look for new promising young heros.

Anonymous said...

10:27, About Jake coming out when he's 60? I don't know about that, Tom. I have a feeling it will happen much earlier than that...Jake isn't the most discreet person in the world.

About Dick Sargeant--I LOVED him as Darren in "Bewitched,"--a show I watched repeatedly when I was a child. The show was so beloved by my generation (and he, too), that when Dick did a media tour in the early 1990s talking about being gay, the audiences who greeted him were not hostile one iota--just curious (and some in a kind of endearing way). I'll never forget when Dick did a talk show (I think it was Phil Donahue--not sure) and a lady in the audience asked him what he looks for in a man. Dick charmingly replied--"Well, what do you look for in a man?" She said, "Oh, I like them tall, dark, handsome, smart, funny..." to which Dick replied, "Yeah, that's good." The audience laughed. His coming out was a real turning point for the gay community because he was so beloved. RIP Dick Sargeant (and Elizabeth Montgomery--whom I also LOVED).

doubt said...

"I have a feeling it will happen much earlier than that...Jake isn't the most discreet person in the world."

Yeah according Ted and some entertainer bloggers.

lol said...

Doubt,

do you know more than them?

Elinor said...

Good Sunday for you all


Hope you are all fine. Here the weather is hot but grey with an unbearable "heavy" air. I hate that!

I am surprised about Dick Sergent, I didn't know about his sexuality. I loved so much this TV show being a little girl, ( still now lol)and I think they made a charming couple on screen.
I am sad for him because he couldn't show his real love publicely but at least they were together and could easily rely on good friends around to help them. Great lady this Elisabeth Montgomery.

Hey thank you for the music, great jazz standard. Stan getz and Oscar Peterson are unforgettable.
I have a version by Ella fitgerald absolutely wonderful! Ideal to revise lol

On other subject, I have figers crossed for the project "Love and others drugs", I absolutely love the script and the dynamic between Anne and Jake will be incredible IMO. Both have comic talent IMO being in same time, charming and chic!!!!

As for the recent pics of Austin in his blog that I just saw, I am a bit confused. Not on the fact that concerns girls meet in Italy, but on the fact he post pics like that on a blog. It seems a bit personal to me! I am glad he shares few experiences in few words but showing pics .... don't know.

Maria said...

10:56 here sorry about the the anon.


That's me Maria

destiny said...

I loved Bewitched. It also had two other stars who were gay, Paul Lynd and Agnes Moorehead. And with Elizabeth perhaps the Grace of the set, a very gay show. :-D

Hollywood Observer said...

10:56, Wow, Maria! I didn't know I have an imitator around here. Sorry, folks, 10:56 was ME, not Maria (whoever that is). And I do stand by my assertion that Jake isn't coming out when he's 60. He's too dense and indiscreet (and not hugely well respected by the HW community) to make his outing a lot earlier. I'm going with 40s and by that time, Jake's big career will be a memory. (I just don't think he has the smarts, talent, genuine charisma and momentum to sustain a several decades-long career despite his PR hoopla-_I just don't).

Florida Tom said...

Hope your mini vacay was good Destiny. Did u read Austins little Italian Birds prose yet. I cant wait to hear what u think.

m said...

All this twitter stuff reminds me of the time when PR opened about 10 live journal accounts at once, all under different names in order to post complimentary stuff about Reese/Reeke. You know, she's so cute, highest paid actress etc. They were foiled when google showed all the addresses at once. Notice how Jake became invisible right after Austin returned from Italy. I think the twitter trail was to mask his real whereabouts.

I used to watch Bewitched too, but at that age had no gaydar at all. Not sure I even knew what gay was then.

Glad you are having such a good time in Boston Prairie Girl. I loved it too, but the snow would be a definite turn off for me. I left that behind when I moved West and have no desire to experience it again.

Jake looks unhappy in the photos, distant from Reese as usual. But at least his hair is returning to the soft, lustrous locks he once had. I think the extensions reeked havoc on his hair and it's taken a while for it to recover.

not convinced said...

"I'm going with 40s and by that time, Jake's big career will be a memory. (I just don't think he has the smarts, talent, genuine charisma and momentum to sustain a several decades-long career despite his PR hoopla-_I just don't)."

Totally disagree but we will see.

Hollywood Observer said...

3:54, He isn't going to be the next Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise or George Clooney or Johnny Depp--no matter HOW HARD his PR and management team want him to be. He's not that good nor that charismatic nor that smart.

still not convinced said...

Humm no matter HOW HARD you say that, I still disagree.

:) said...

Tell us then, is Jake going to be new Brad Pitt or Will Smith?

convinced said...

"Tell us then, is Jake going to be new Brad Pitt or Will Smith?"

neither Brad pitt ot Will smith.

:) said...

Kevin Spacey?

Florida Tom said...

So Jake is not gonna be a box office star like Pitt or Smith and he is does not have the talent to be a De Niro or Pacino. Well at least he gets all the hot old ladies like reese:-)

Convinced said...

at least Spacey is an actor.

bye said...

"So Jake is not gonna be a box office star like Pitt or Smith and he is does not have the talent to be a De Niro or Pacino."

it's not a problem, there are so many actors to care for.

Spacey fan said...

Spacey is a great actor though.

Florida Tom said...

Spacey is a very good actor but is a closet queen like Jake. Well at least he doesnt beard.

Meg said...

Hey, is this the photographer friend. If so, looks like someone else is helping out in the Reeking.

looks familiar?


Oh and just because, have we ever seen Reese look better?

this will make you feel better about yourself

Hope your all still enjoying yourselves in Boston!

Florida Tom said...

Well lets see Bye we have two Out screen actors Ian McKellen and Ruppert Everert. Doesnt seem like too many to me. Well we do have all those closet queens and kings to care for.

Florida Tom said...

Yes meg that is Jakes friend the photographer. Cant think of his name right now. I bet he is also the one who took the pic of Austin with Jakes legs around his neck.

Oh yes Meg those are the Clampbetts and that chin should be registered as a lethal weapon.

Florida Tom said...

Matthew Frost

Meg said...

One more pic of the happy couple, blimey HW, if this is what you're offering to us as the 'beautiful people' you really need to go back to the drawing board.

the happy campers

They just look so bad together, despise the woman as I do, i can't help but feel sorry for her that she went out looking like that and must have thought it was a good idea.

Meg said...

One more comment, if you do look at the x17 site, it sort of looks like the flash photography has caused the 'ring' at the end of on of those chains around Jake's neck to show up (in shadow form). Its on a couple of the pics. Might does be the imagining of a rather febrile mind, or whatever.

Any thoughts?

:) said...

Link please.

Meg said...

5:41.. err... click on my 'happy campers' link above, or just go to the x17 site and see the first few pics.

:) said...

58 pics? No, thanks.

Meg said...

5:41.. just in case you have trouble. here's the first pic.

happy campers 1

Florida Tom said...

I know exactly where you mean Meg. Right under the 0 on Jakes shirt. Hard to tell.

blog said...

I looked at the pictures that Austin posted on the blog. In the 3rd picture he has his shirt off and you can see what he is at theend of his chains, they look like two different pendants. Also the girl isn't wearing any pants, just a t-shirt and hat.

I hope Austin got the ok from those girls to post those pics, not so much the first 2 but the 3rd.

Meg said...

Its probabaly just a grease spot, we've all been messy eaters before haven't we. Just thought it was interesting to point out.

Oh and just for you Tom, here's a link to some rather fabulous pics of ZQ on ONTD.

ZQ in Mexico

enjoy!

Florida Tom said...

Meg I love Zachary. He is my new Hope Child.

Meg your right it might be just our imagination but I went to IHR and at least they do have some pictures of Jake unlike X17 and it seems like you can see that damn round rind. Not sure it is a part of the fabric of the shirt, a band, or wishful thinking.

Someone said on Austins blog that the girl without the pants looked like Hilarie Burton.

Florida Tom said...

^ring

Florida Tom said...

I would love to see a video of Zachary in an interview. Does anyone have a link.

Meg said...

Tom, can't blame you for liking Zacary, there's loads of interviews on you tube, too many to link. Maybe you've seen all those, if so have you seen this one?

the two spocks

can't look for any more for you now as its late here and I have to go.

Florida Tom said...

Does anyone else think that reese is trying to become the third Olsen twin?

Florida Tom said...

Thanks Meg. Have a good sleep.

Florida Tom said...

I have watched a lot of the interviews that Zach did for Star Trek. I dont have a take on his sexuality yet. He seems to be able to act a little femme when he wants and then turn on the masculinity when the time is right.
Should be interesting to follow his career. I think he is a very interesting character.

Florida Tom said...

blog said...
I looked at the pictures that Austin posted on the blog. In the 3rd picture he has his shirt off and you can see what he is at theend of his chains, they look like two different pendants. Also the girl isn't wearing any pants, just a t-shirt and hat.

I hope Austin got the ok from those girls to post those pics, not so much the first 2 but the 3rd.



Blog I think the girl without any pants was Hilarie Burton. I am sure she would give Austin the permission. She was probably wearing a bathing suit they were living at the beach and I saw a pic of her wearing that hat before.

m said...

Girl with no pants? What date are those pictures from? Did I miss an Austin post somewhere?

Just an FYI, headed out tomorrow for a week long business trip. Between travel, work and business entertainment, I will have limited time to do any serious web surfing. So, if you notice no M for the next week, I am not gone, just tied to my job for a few days.

Florida Tom said...

M there is a link I believe from yesterday or the day before on OMG of Austins new SOGO post.

Spesh linked it under Italian Birds.

flf said...

Zachary Quinto is one of the most intelligent, articulate, funny, confident guys I have listened to. His interviews are really the best :)

Youtube has heaps. :))

Clarity said...

"Jake is very much into reeke and making it work for his career."

Tom. I actually meant ppl that are still fans of his and believed at first. Of course the masses will believe it because they don't know/care too much about them anyway. I don't think he will stop any time soon either. What else has he got really?

I love ZQ in those black glasses. Very sexy.

prairiegirl said...

Hi everybody!! Hi Clarityyy!
Haven't looked at the latest pics; I've been busy just catching up on today's comments. I told Special that I really liked that last picture of Dick Sargent. I can remember watching some Bewitched, although it wasn't one of my favorite sitoms. I always liked their neighbors, the Crabbits(?)

We had a really good time today, visiting Beacon Hill, the Boston Common, and we had a fantastic breakfast at this little diner close to where Special lives. It's real small and we ate at the counter. I was eyeballin' the guy's breakfast next to me and I asked him if he was having The Lumberjack and he said it was. So I said that's what I wanted.
The Lumberjack!! It was pretty darn good, but I'll tell you what was even better and that was watching the cook in front of us cooking non-stop & absolutely frantically. He had those breakfast potatoes constantly all along the north border of the big griddle, strips of bacon in the southwest, eggs poaching in the center, and eggs in the lower right quadrant of the griddle. Toast going on the upper left shelf, this plastic shoebox thing full of eggs that he just kept withdrawaling from. This guy was an artist! He was cracking eggs, popping toast in & out, flattening the bacon, scraping the residue off, and throwing more eggs on, and also doing omelets. He kept reaching into the fridge and pulling out slices of ham, spinach, and whatnot. Throwing the plates on the shelf in front of Special left & right. It was fascinating to watch!

I thought that one round thing on the griddle maybe was tortillas warming ? But Special said no, those were eggs poaching in there. That I would not find any tortillas in the vicinity.
Oh. LOLLLLLL!

A couple of unique (strange!!) things I have found here is a Best Buy on a street corner instead of freestanding as a big box store like I've always seen. I also saw a brick 7 Eleven built in the inner city instead of as a freestanding like I've always seen. And no gas pumps! And the biggest thing that's thrown me? Pedestrians cross when the little stick walking figure comes on the traffic signal, but the light is also RED! Who crosses on a red light?! It's insane. I've never seen anything like that. Why do you have a red light and yet it's okay to cross the street? I don't get that.

Okay, well, I better get off. Wicked is on her way back home tomorrow am and I don't get in until mid evening. So I am going to be really Cranky on Tuesday cause I have to go into work. So, so long for now.

m said...

I saw the italian birds post on sogo, but don't see how anyone can say the lady does not have pants on. I see a bit of leg, but hey Italy is hot. I was just there in May and it was warm in northern Italy, hot in southern. She could be wearing shorts.

Special K said...

New publicity stills for Brothers at IHJ.

Brothers - Publicity stills

Sienna said...

The Happy Couple pic posted from X17 is really hysterical. They could not look any more unhappy and weird if they tried. I keep thinking that he'll get sick of it and pull the plug soon. All the NY pics were terrible. He looks like he's been demoted from Fake Boyfriend to Head Bodyguard and Path Clearer. I wonder if she's paying him? S.

destiny said...

Boy are they both looking about as fug as you can get. Jake does look like a bodyguard, not a boyfriend.

And nothing like running about Manhattan in a gas-guzzling, 10 miles to the gallon if you're lucky Mofo badass SUV to show what a friend of the environment you are.

sienna said...

Me again: I really enjoyed today's OUT article. I loved Bewitched. It and I Dream of Jeannie were my favorite shows back in the day. I'm glad that DS was able to have a partner, even if it was on the QT. I can't imagine having to live a secret life. that would suck so bad, especially for me, since i can't keep secrets worth a dang. with all the states that are sanctioning gay marriage suddenly, i really hope the tide is about to change in this country, and maybe that will pave the way for folks like Jake to feel comfortable being more open about their private lives.

while i'm totally squicked by the turn jake's life has taken, especially over the last few months, i keep looking back at my own life. at 27-28, i was a total LOSER, and i had lots of loser years to go before i finally started getting it together. i think i was probably worse than your average person in the loser department, in spite of some things that i did have going on for myself (good, secure job, supportive parents and friends, home and health, etc). so even tho i want to stomp on jake's toe and tell him to buy a freaking clue and stop this madness, at the same time, i can't really give him too much grief because i was no better myself at his age.

i'll keep watching and hoping for better days to come. i miss happy jake. :(

m said...

Boy, I hear you Sienna. When I think back to my 20's, I am sometimes mortified at how immature I was. One of the many reasons I cut Jake some slack. Plus I think women start to get their act together earlier than men. I was lucky enough to meet a few people that steered me in the right direction. Yeah, Jake has a strong family, but sometimes that is more of a hindrance than a help. A some point your true self has to bust out and that can only be done alone.

lollipop said...

Zachary Quinto might be intelligent and articulate, but looks like a ridiculous scarecrow in those pics you labelled 'fabulous'. You seriously think Jake looks silly with the fedora hat and Zachary looks 'fabulous'? LOL! Not to mention ther is something seriously wrong about proportions in Zac's body.

sienna said...

M... we have always gotten the impression that Jake has a strong family, but i'm not so sure now. i don't know how much is truth and how much is fiction about what we've heard re: his parents, but if it's true about the financial disaster and stephen's basic abandonment of their life and co-responsibilities, then it might not have been good for a long time. that stuff doesn't just happen over night. and while we used to see lots of pics with maggie, now there are almost none. and none with chris or austin. reeke has usurped every other relationship in his life. that is never a good thing. :(

Kacie said...

To me, it is just the same old thing! Why not just be honest and
say that simply yes we are dating?
Everything looks so POSED I mean
not on spur of the moment! I would
give anything to see some of the
old Jake but things change and also
people change. I was glad to see
the photo of him and Austin on the
bicycles. I would not be surprised
if Austin calls it quits and says
goodbye! I do hope Jake and Anne
Hathaway reunite in this film. I
do hope Jake's movies turn out okay. Jake and Reese look like to
me like an old married couple of
25 or 30 years!! They just do not
look happy!!

Kacie said...

To me, why not just be honest about who or what you are? I really
do think that people would respect
you more! At times, I do think that
Jake and Austin were once close and
now are just friends. I do have
my doubts about Baby Tile but this
day and time nothing is impossible!
Do any of you think that Ted would
deliberately tell a lie? He has been a columnist for about 25-30
years, hasn't he? Anyway, Jake and
Reese to me are like an old married
couple of 25 or 30 years? They always look so POSED NEVER NATURAL!

flf said...

Dim witted pretty boys are a dime a dozen in HW, lollipop. But you knew that didn't you?

Trying to stir again?

:) said...

"and while we used to see lots of pics with maggie, now there are almost none. and none with chris or austin. reeke has usurped every other relationship in his life."

No, selling Reeke turned Jake's relationships into more private affairs.