When you hear the name Elizabeth Montgomery, it is impossible not to remember the little twinkle that accompanied her character’s famous nose twitch on the classic television show Bewitched.
Her charm and talent captured the hearts of millions and made her one of the most beloved actresses of her generation. Elizabeth Montgomery became a household name in the 1960s, when her portrayal of Samantha Stephens, the magical and mischievous witch, turned her into a global phenomenon.
However, her life was cut short when she died unexpectedly in 1995, leaving fans around the world mourning her loss. At Newsner, we have written about many remarkable and talented women, but Elizabeth Montgomery always stood out.
From the moment I saw her on Bewitched, she captured my youthful admiration and became an enduring favorite.
Unlike many actors who rely heavily on makeup and stylists to maintain their appearance, Elizabeth possessed a natural beauty that shone effortlessly on screen. Watching her perform in Bewitched was a joy that required no embellishment.
Elizabeth Montgomery was born on April 15, 1933, in Los Angeles, California, to a family steeped in show business. Her mother was a Broadway actress, and her father, Robert Montgomery, was a well-known and highly respected film actor.
Acting was in her blood from the very beginning. In a 1954 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Elizabeth 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.”
Her father played a significant role in her early career. Elizabeth said, “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.” Elizabeth attended school in California before moving to New York City, where she studied at the Spence School.
She later attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts for three years, further developing her acting skills.
While still a teenager, she made her television debut on her father’s show, Robert Montgomery Presents, and appeared in several episodes, gaining early experience and exposure in the industry.
In 1953, she made her Broadway debut in the play Late Love. Two years later, she appeared in her first film, The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell, before returning to Broadway to continue honing her craft.
Elizabeth’s personal life saw both love and heartbreak. In 1954, she married Frederick Gallatin Cammann, but their marriage ended in divorce just a year later.
She then married award-winning actor Gig Young in 1956, though this marriage also ended in divorce in 1963. While filming Johnny Cool, Elizabeth met William Asher, a director and television producer.
Their professional collaboration soon blossomed into romance, and they married in 1963, eventually having three children together.
While Elizabeth appeared in television programs such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Loretta Young Show, The Untouchables, and The Twilight Zone, she is best remembered as Samantha Stephens in Bewitched.
The show aired for eight seasons from 1964 to 1972 and quickly made Elizabeth a household name. Her signature nose twitch became iconic, with fans everywhere imitating the gesture.
Reflecting on her experience, Elizabeth told the Associated Press in 1965, “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.” During her time on Bewitched, she earned five Primetime Emmy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations.
After Bewitched ended and her marriage with William Asher concluded, Elizabeth turned to television movies, which allowed her to explore darker and more complex roles.
She starred in films such as 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). During the filming of Mrs. Sundance, she met Robert Foxworth, who became her partner until her death, though they only married in 1993.
Author Herbie J. Pilato, who has written extensively about Elizabeth, said, “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’s life was tragically cut short by cancer. Though she had believed herself to be free of the disease, she became ill while filming Deadline for Murder.
By the time she was diagnosed in March 1995, the cancer had already spread to her liver. She passed away peacefully in her sleep at her Beverly Hills home, surrounded by her husband and three children.
A memorial was held a month later at the Canon Theatre in Beverly Hills, with famous jazz musician Herbie Hancock performing and author Dominick Dunne speaking about his lifelong friendship with Elizabeth.
She was cremated at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. Throughout her career, Elizabeth relished playing a variety of characters.
In a 1992 interview, she explained, “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.”
Looking back at her work, especially on Bewitched, we are reminded of a simpler, more innocent era of television. Elizabeth Montgomery’s playful charm, natural beauty, and iconic nose twitch continue to bring joy to fans old and new.
Her legacy shines as a testament to the golden age of TV, and she remains one of the most cherished figures in entertainment history.
Herbie J. Pilato summarized her essence perfectly: “Elizabeth was the least arrogant star I’ve ever met. She channeled that down-to-earth quality into Samantha, and we all loved her.”
