Elizabeth Montgomery was born into a family deeply rooted in the entertainment industry. Her parents, Robert Montgomery, a renowned screen actor, and Elizabeth Allen, a talented Broadway actress, set the stage for her future success. Montgomery's educational background included attending the prestigious Spence School in New York City and the Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, where she underwent intensive training for three years.
Montgomery made her television debut in her father's 1950s playhouse series, Robert Montgomery Presents, and went on to appear in over 200 live programs throughout the next decade. She jokingly referred to herself as a "TV baby," acknowledging her early start in the industry.
Montgomery's early film roles included notable performances in The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955) and Johnny Cool (1963). However, it was her iconic leading role as Samantha, the lovable witch, in the top-rated ABC sitcom Bewitched (1964) that cemented her place in television history. The show followed the adventures of Samantha, her family, and her husband, Darrin, as they navigated everyday life with Samantha's supernatural abilities often getting in the way.
The show's memorable cast included Montgomery's mother, Endora, played by Agnes Moorehead, and her look-alike cousin, Serena, who shared Montgomery's striking features. Montgomery's on-screen chemistry with her co-stars, particularly her husband Darrin, played by Dick York and later Dick Sargent, added to the show's enduring popularity.
After Bewitched ended its successful run, Montgomery transitioned to made-for-TV movies, earning critical acclaim for many of her performances. Some of her notable films include A Case of Rape (1974),The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975),and Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story (1993).
Montgomery's talents extended beyond acting, as she narrated the documentary film The Panama Deception (1992),which won an Academy Award in 1993. Montgomery's personal life remained private, but her family later revealed that she was 57 years old when she passed away, contradicting earlier reports that she was 62. The type of cancer that caused her death was never disclosed.
