Elizabeth Montgomery
Elizabeth Montgomery/FULL BIOGRAPHY/FAMILY/AND MORE
Elizabeth Montgomery (April 15, 1933 – May 18, 1995) was an American actress best known for her role as Samantha Stephens on the television series “Bewitched.”
Early Life and Family:
Elizabeth Montgomery was born in Los Angeles, California, to actress Elizabeth Allen and actor Robert Montgomery. She was the youngest of their three children. Her parents divorced when she was young, and her mother remarried socialite and inventor John M. H. Behney. Montgomery attended Westlake School for Girls and later attended the Spence School in New York City.
Acting Career:
Montgomery made her television debut in 1951 on her father’s series, “Robert Montgomery Presents.” She appeared in several other television shows in the early 1950s, including “Studio One,” “Kraft Theatre,” and “The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse.” She also appeared in films, including “The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell” (1955) and “Johnny Cool” (1963).
In 1964, Montgomery landed the role of Samantha Stephens in the ABC sitcom “Bewitched.” The show ran for eight seasons and made Montgomery a household name. She was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards for her role on the show. After “Bewitched,” Montgomery appeared in several made-for-television movies and continued to work in television.
Personal Life:
Montgomery was married four times. Her first marriage was to socialite Frederick Gallatin Cammann in 1954; they divorced in 1955. In 1956, she married actor Gig Young, but they divorced in 1963. She married director William Asher in 1963, and they had three children together: William Asher Jr., Robert Asher, and Rebecca Asher. They divorced in 1973. Montgomery married actor Robert Foxworth in 1993, and they remained together until her death in 1995.
Montgomery was also involved in political activism. She was an advocate for women’s rights and was an early supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment. She also opposed the Vietnam War and was a supporter of gay rights.
Death:
Elizabeth Montgomery died of colorectal cancer on May 18, 1995, at the age of 62. She had been diagnosed with the disease in 1993 but continued to work until shortly before her death. She is buried at the Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Chatsworth, California.