Elizabeth Montgomery: Early Life & Movies

Between 1964 and 1972, Elizabeth Montgomery captivated audiences as Samantha on the hit television series Bewitched.

Synopsis

Elizabeth Montgomery was born on April 15, 1933, to the actress Elizabeth Allen and the actor Robert Montgomery, who was a big film star in the 1930s and 1940s. Elizabeth Montgomery’s mother was Elizabeth Allen, and her father was Robert Montgomery. In 1951, she made her debut on television by appearing on a program her father hosted. After that, she appeared in some films and television shows, but her breakthrough came in 1964 with the sitcom Bewitched, which remained at the top of the ratings for the next eight years. In 1995, Montgomery passed away as a result of his disease.

Early Life

On April 15, 1933, actress Elizabeth Montgomery was born to her mother, Elizabeth Allen, an actress, and her father, actor-director Robert Montgomery. She received her education in New York at the Westlake School for Girls and the Spencer School. After she graduated from Spencer, she pursued a degree in acting at the Academy of Dramatic Arts.

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She is most known for her performance as Samantha in the hit television series Bewitched, which ran from 1964 to 1972. Samantha was a beautiful witch who performed charms by twitching her nose.

Acting Career

Montgomery had her first appearance on television in 1951, when she appeared on the show that her father hosted, Robert Montgomery Presents. Late Love, her Broadway debut, garnered her the Theater World Award. Her first nomination for an Emmy Award came in 1959 for her work in the television production of The Untouchables. In addition, he had roles on the television shows Studio One, Kraft Theater, G. E. Theater, Alcoa Theater, the Twilight Zone, Thriller, 77 Sunset Strip, Rawhide, and Wagon Train, which were among his career highlights.

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Her first role in a movie was in 1955’s The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell, which starred Gary Cooper. She then went on to appear in Johnny Cool (1963), which starred Sammy Davis Jr., and Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed (1963), which starred Dean Martin.

‘Bewitched’

Montgomery had already appeared in some parts, but she had not yet played the entrancing character for which she would become most famous. In 1964, she was given a recurring role on the popular television show Bewitched.

In the television sitcom Bewitched, Montgomery played the role of Samantha Stephens, a witch who was married to Darrin, a mortal initially played by Dick York and then by Dick Sargent. York departed the series owing to sickness, and Sargent took over the role after York’s departure. Darrin’s life was turned upside down by the mischievous antics of the well-intentioned Samantha and her eccentric relatives. Darrin did his best to hide the unusual goings-on from his curious neighbors and stuffy boss. Bewitched was the highest-rated sitcom for four of its eight seasons, and Montgomery was nominated for an Emmy Award five times for her performance as Samantha. During those years, Bewitched also had the highest number of total viewers.

Later Roles

After her time on Bewitched, Elizabeth Montgomery appeared in some television movies, some of which include: 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 (1996). (1995). The Panama Deception, for which she provided the narration, was honored with an Academy Award in 1993.

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Personal Life

Her first spouse, a businessman named Frederick Gallatin Cammann, who she was married to from 1954 to 1955, was her first of four husbands. Her second spouse, the actor Gig Young, stayed by her side from 1956 to 1963. In 1963, she tied the knot with William Asher, the producer, and director of the television show Bewitched. In 1973, the couple parted ways in a civilized manner. Willy, Robert, and Rebecca Elizabeth were their children, all born to them. In 1975, she moved in with her fourth husband, Robert Foxworth, and she remained with him until her passing in 1995.

Death

In March 1995, Montgomery was given a diagnosis with colon cancer. She passed away on May 18, 1995, barely eight weeks later, at 62. AmFAR, which stands for the American Foundation for AIDS Research, was one of Montgomery’s particular crusades, and she was a consistent supporter of liberal causes. In 1998, Montgomery’s daughters and husband sent their mother’s wardrobe to a charity auction to generate funds for AIDS-related organizations.

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