She Achieved Household Fame and Global Stardom, but Her Sudden Death Shocked the World

A storyline featuring a magical creature like a witch marrying an ordinary man and trying to lead a normal life as a housewife sounds like it would make for fascinating TV. Fortunately, the classic series *Bewitched*, which aired for eight seasons from 1964 to 1972, brings this exact premise to life. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s definitely worth checking out.

In the show, the enchanting Samantha Stephens, known for her iconic nose twitch, was brought to life by the stunning Elizabeth Montgomery. Rising to fame in the 1960s, Montgomery’s career was tragically cut short, but her memorable performances continue to captivate audiences.

Elizabeth Montgomery was born in Los Angeles on April 15, 1933, to a Broadway actress and film star, with her father being the acclaimed actor Robert Montgomery. She followed in his footsteps into the acting world.

In a 1954 interview with the *Los Angeles Times*, Montgomery recalled, “Dad tells me I often climbed on his lap after dinner and remarked, ‘I’m going to be an actress when I grow up.’ I don’t know whether he encouraged me or not, but he told me he would humor me and would tell me to wait and see what happened when I grew up.” She added, “I’ll be real honest and say that Daddy did help me get a break in TV, and I’m really grateful for his assistance and guidance. He’s my most severe critic, but also a true friend as well as a loving father.”

Montgomery made her television debut as a teenager on her father’s show, *Robert Montgomery Presents*, and continued to make several appearances throughout her early career.

At 20 years old, Elizabeth Montgomery made her Broadway debut in *Late Love*. Two years later, she transitioned to film with a role in her debut movie, *The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell*.

Montgomery’s career continued to flourish, and she became a household name with numerous film and television appearances. Notable films include *Mrs. Sundance* (1973), *A Case of Rape* (1974), *The Legend of Lizzie Borden* (1975), *Black Widow Murders* (1993), *The Corpse Had a Familiar Face* (1994), and *Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan* (1995). However, her role in *Bewitched* remains one of her most iconic performances. In a 1965 interview with AP, Montgomery shared, “I’d never thought much about a series because I liked the idea of picking a script I liked with a character I thought I could sustain for an hour. In a series, you live with one character day in and day out – and you only hope it will be one that will not drive you crazy.”

Elizabeth Montgomery was married four times throughout her life. Her first marriage was to Frederick Gallatin Cammann, which ended in divorce. She then married award-winning actor Gig Young, but they parted ways in 1963. Montgomery’s third husband was William Asher, whom she met while filming *Johnny Cool* and with whom she had three children. Her fourth and final marriage was to Robert Foxworth, with whom she remained until her death.

Herbie J. Pilato, author of two books on Elizabeth Montgomery, praised her by saying, “Before Jane Seymour, before Lindsay Wagner, and before Valerie Bertinelli, Elizabeth was the first Queen of the TV movies; she went from queen of the witches to queen of the TV movie, and it was no longer a struggle to break away from *Bewitched*.”

Elizabeth Montgomery passed away in 1995 from colon cancer, which she had initially believed was in remission. By the time it was discovered, the cancer had already spread to her liver. She died peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by her husband and daughters. Her remains were cremated and interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Elizabeth Montgomery was a remarkable actress whose presence is still dearly missed.

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