'Bewitched' actor Bernard Fox dead at 89

Credit: ABC Photo Archives / ABC via Getty Images

Credit: ABC Photo Archives / ABC via Getty Images

Bernard Fox, a character actor most famous for his role as Dr. Bombay on "Bewitched," died Wednesday at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, California, according to publicist Harlan Boll. He was 89.

Fox’s famous role on "Bewitched" was inspired by someone with whom he served in the Royal Navy during World War II. The writers on "Bewitched" loved it, and he played the role for 19 episodes during the show’s 1966-1972 run. Fox brought back the role in 1977 for the "Tabitha" sequel, in 1989 for an episode of "Pee-wee's Playhouse" and in 1999 for the soap opera "Passions."

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Fox lent his talents to a variety of television and film roles in the last 50 years. He played roles in another sitcom from the 1960s, "Hogan's Heroes," as well as Malcolm Merriweather on "The Andy Griffith Show." Fox was also a prominent television guest star, appearing on "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Perry Mason," "McHale’s Navy," "F Troop," "Columbo," "Knight Rider," "M*A*S*H" and "Murder, She Wrote."

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Fox played roles in two films about the Titanic, 40 years apart: "A Night to Remember" (1958) and "Titanic" (1997). He also played bit parts in "Herbie goes to Monte Carlo" (1977), "The Private Eyes" (1980) and "Yellowbeard" (1983).

He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; his daughter, Amanda; and two grandchildren.

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