After a full career, including playing Dr. Bombay on Bewitched, actor Bernard Fox passed away December 14, 2016. Bernard also played roles in other well-known films including James Cameron’s 1997 epic Titanic. Fox was 89 years old when he passed away in Van Nuys, California due to heart failure.
Bewitched lasted for eight seasons, and many feel that the final season was one too many. Sagging ratings, an increase in competition, fewer regular cast appearances, and a reduced writing staff have been cited by some fans as possible reasons that the eighth season of the show was lackluster.
On National Coming Out Day (October 11) in 1991, Bewitched star Dick Sargent appeared on a Geraldo Rivera TV event and officially announced his homosexuality. Although he acknowledged that his decision to come out could have harmed his career, he said in a later interview that the relief of living openly as his “real self” was worth it. “I’ll probably never be allowed to play a father symbol again. I’m afraid for my career. I’m probably gonna lose a whole lot of work … I may even have to sell the house someday, but this is more important.” He continued, “I like myself, probably more than I have most of my life.” In 1992, Elizabeth Montgomery co-Marshalled the 1992 Los Angeles Pride Parade with Sargent in support of his decision. The event is pictured above.
Bewitched is still popular with fans today. Despite having aired its final episode several decades ago, many young people are familiar with Samantha’s clan and their witchy ways. The show can still be found on TV, having aired throughout the world in syndication since the show ended in 1972. The show has also been released on DVD so that new generation of viewers can fall in love with the classic show. The complete series can be found online for just $30, so if you are looking to get your hands on this iconic television series you are in luck!
The show was so popular that a movie based on the series was released in 2005. The romantic comedy fantasy film had a big name cast, featuring stars Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell in the lead roles. In supporting roles were famous Hollywood stars Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine, Jason Schwartzman, Kristin Chenoweth, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Carole Shelley, Heather Burns, and David Alan Grier. The movie, sadly, did not live up to the charms of the original series and was a critical and commercial failure. Despite having a budget of $85 million, the film earned only $63 million in domestic grosses.