It’s impossible to hear Elizabeth Montgomery without hearing the tiny sparkle that preceded her character’s nose twitch on Bewitched. Sadly, the lovely actress passed away unexpectedly in 1995. She rose to fame in the 1960s and became a global phenomenon. Elizabeth didn’t require hair and makeup artists, unlike many actors and actresses in movies and TV shows. She was a natural beauty and that’s what made watching her in Bewitched so enjoyable.
After playing Samantha Stephens in the 1960s sitcom, what happened to Elizabeth Montgomery? Let’s take a look back at the outstanding actress’s career in film and television before her untimely death in 1995. She would have turned 90 in 2023.
A Star is Born
Acting was in Elizabeth Montgomery’s blood. She was born in Los Angeles on April 15, 1933, to a Broadway performer and a movie star. Her father, Robert Montgomery, was a very popular and acclaimed actor. Growing up, Elizabeth always knew she wanted to be an actress. In a 1954 interview with the Los Angeles Times, she shared, “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.”
Rise to Stardom
Before moving to New York City, Elizabeth attended the Spence School in California. After graduating, she spent three years studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She made her television debut as a teenager on her father’s program, Robert Montgomery Presents. Throughout her career, she appeared on various TV shows, including Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Loretta Young Show, The Untouchables, and The Twilight Zone.
Elizabeth made her Broadway debut in 1953, starring in the play Late Love. Two years later, in 1955, she made her film debut in The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell. She then returned to Broadway before eventually landing the role that would make her a household name.
Bewitched: Her Most Iconic Performance
Elizabeth Montgomery’s most well-known role was that of Samantha Stephens on Bewitched. The spooky comedy series ran for eight seasons from 1964 to 1972 and catapulted her into stardom. The character of Samantha, with her nose twitch and magical powers, captivated audiences around the world. People even started copying her signature nose twitch.
Reflecting on her experience, Elizabeth said, “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.”
Life Beyond Bewitched
After Bewitched ended and her marriage to William Asher dissolved, Elizabeth Montgomery continued her acting career. She starred in several made-for-television films that showcased her versatility as an actress. Some notable roles include Lizzie Borden in The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975), A Case of Rape (1974), Mrs. Sundance (1973), Black Widow Murders (1993), The Body Had a Familiar Face (1994), and Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan (1994).
Amidst her busy career, Elizabeth also prioritized love and family. She married Robert Foxworth in 1993, and they remained together until her passing in 1995. She was a beloved mother to their three children.
Remembering a Legend
Elizabeth Montgomery’s talent and beauty made her an icon of the small screen. She paved the way for future actresses in the TV movie genre. “Before Jane Seymour, before Lindsay Wagner, and before Valerie Bertinelli, Elizabeth was the first Queen of the TV movies,” said Herbie J Pilato, author of two books on Elizabeth Montgomery. But her career was tragically cut short when she passed away on May 18, 1995, following a protracted battle with colon cancer. She may have left us too soon, but her legacy lives on.
In a 1992 interview, Elizabeth reflected on her diverse roles and the unpredictability of her career, saying, “They all have different kinds of ‘feels’ to them and that’s probably one of the reasons why I’ve done them. I get letters from people saying one of the things they like best about what I’ve done since ‘Bewitched’ is that they never know what I’m going to do next.”
Elizabeth Montgomery will always be remembered as a talented actress, a natural beauty, and the beloved Samantha Stephens from Bewitched. Share this post on Facebook if she was one of your favorite actresses.
