Special furniture was used on the set of "Bewitched" (1964) for him due to his back problems. Other cast and crew members also helped him get around on the set. He had to leave the show when he suddenly collapsed one day on the set in 1969.
Started a charity called "Acting for Life". He spent most of his time on the telephone raising money for the homeless and getting people to donate food and clothing.
The "Bewitched" (1964) TV comedy series was originally a vehicle for Broadway star Tammy Grimes as the lovely witch Samantha. She had recently scored in the Broadway musical comedy "High Spirits," based on the Noel Coward play "Blithe Spirit," in which she played the deceased Elvira who comes back to haunt her former husband. Dick Sargent was chosen to play her mortal mate Darrin Stephens. When Grimes passed on the series, Elizabeth Montgomery was cast in the role. By that time, Sargent had other acting commitments and was forced to bow out of the pilot. York came into the picture after Richard Crenna of "The Real McCoys" fame turned the role down. Of course, Sargent wound up replacing York as Darrin in 1969 after York suffered a seizure on the set and was rushed to the hospital. He never returned to the show and the "second Darrin Stephens" never explained.
Was enrolled in The Jack and Jill Players, a children's acting school, in Chicago. This training led to his first professional break with a two-year stretch as "That Brewster Boy" on radio during WWII while a teenager. "That Brewster Boy" was inspired by the success of "The Aldrich Family". He then went on to join the radio series "Jack Armstrong, All-American Boy" playing Billy Fairchild, Jack's friend, for six years (until 1951).
Was first influenced to become an actor when he saw the Cecil B. DeMille film The Crusades (1935).
Was left impoverished in 1976 after a real estate investment failed, and was on welfare for a time.
Was nominated for Best Actor in a Comedy Series during the fourth season of "Bewitched" (1964). Lost to "Get Smart's Don Adams.
York first injured his back while working on the 1959 film They Came to Cordura (1959).