3. Darrin - Bewitched
Darrin is probably the most well-known example of a major recasting on a hit television show. Dick York originated the role of Darrin on Bewitched, the befuddled mortal husband of Elizabeth Montgomery's witchy woman. He could normally be spotted flailing his arms around like Kermit in distress, and being consistently overwhelmed by the supernatural hijinks his wife Samantha managed to get into on a weekly basis. York did the show for about five years, until severe pain from a back injury forced him to bow out of the production. They recast him with the slightly more dignified Dick Sargent, who took over the role for the rest of the show's run, which would be another three years. But as it turns out, Sargent was actually the original choice for Darrin. He was offered the role, but at the time had already committed to another television series, Broadside (which ended up only running one season), so the producers went with Dick York instead. By the time York had to quit the show, Sargent was available again.