When you hear the name Elizabeth Montgomery, it’s impossible not to think of the magical twinkle that accompanied her iconic nose twitch on the beloved TV show Bewitched. A true star of the 1960s, Elizabeth became a household name and charmed millions with her natural beauty and charismatic presence. Though her life was tragically cut short in 1995, her legacy continues to captivate fans around the world.

At Newsner, we’ve written about many remarkable women in Hollywood, but Elizabeth Montgomery always stood out to me. There was something truly special about her. Unlike many in the entertainment world who rely on makeup artists and stylists, Elizabeth had an effortless grace and beauty. She didn’t need any enhancement to shine on screen—her natural allure and talent did all the work. Watching her as Samantha Stephens on Bewitched was a pure delight, and like many others, I was instantly hooked.

So, what happened to Elizabeth Montgomery after her magical run as Samantha? If she were still with us today, she would have turned 91 in 2024. Let’s take a moment to look back at her life and illustrious career before her untimely passing in 1995.

Born on April 15, 1933, in Los Angeles, Elizabeth came from a family deeply rooted in show business. Her mother was a Broadway actress, and her father, Robert Montgomery, was a celebrated film star. It’s no surprise that from an early age, Elizabeth dreamed of becoming an actress. In a 1954 interview with the Los Angeles Times, she 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 did more than humor her—he helped her get her start. Elizabeth made her TV debut on his show Robert Montgomery Presents and appeared in several episodes. Reflecting on this, she once 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 loving father.”

After studying at schools in California and later in New York City at the Spence School, Elizabeth attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts for three years. Her Broadway debut came in 1953 with Late Love, and she soon transitioned to film with The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell in 1955. As her career progressed, Elizabeth also experienced a series of personal ups and downs in her love life.

She married Frederick Gallatin Cammann in 1954, but the marriage ended a year later. In 1956, she married actor Gig Young, but that relationship also ended in divorce by 1963. That same year, while working on the film Johnny Cool, she met director and producer William Asher. Their personal and professional chemistry led to marriage and three children.

Though Elizabeth appeared in a number of shows including Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Loretta Young Show, The Untouchables, and The Twilight Zone, it was her role as Samantha Stephens in Bewitched that truly catapulted her to stardom. The supernatural sitcom aired from 1964 to 1972 and made Elizabeth a TV icon. Viewers across America tried imitating Samantha’s signature nose twitch, and Elizabeth found herself at the center of pop culture.

In a 1965 interview, she admitted, “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.” Despite any doubts, she thrived in the role and received five Primetime Emmy nominations and four Golden Globe nominations during her time on the show.

After Bewitched ended and her marriage to Asher dissolved, Elizabeth took on a variety of roles in made-for-TV movies. She purposefully selected roles that contrasted sharply with her image as the sweet, magical housewife. Her credits included 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). It was during the filming of Mrs. Sundance that she met Robert Foxworth, with whom she shared a loving relationship until her death. They married in 1993 after being together for many years.

Herbie J Pilato, author of two books on Elizabeth Montgomery, once remarked, “Before Jane Seymour, before Lindsay Wagner and before Valerie Bertinelli, Elizabeth was the first Queen of the TV movies… it was no longer a struggle to break away from Bewitched.”

Sadly, Elizabeth’s life ended far too soon. On May 18, 1995, she passed away in her sleep at her Beverly Hills home after a battle with colon cancer. Though her family reported she was 57, many sources listed her birth year as 1933, which would have made her 62. She believed she had beaten the disease, but while filming her final project, she fell ill. By the time doctors diagnosed her, the cancer had spread to her liver, and it was too late.

A memorial service was held a month later, with Herbie Hancock performing and writer Dominick Dunne recalling their long friendship. Elizabeth was cremated at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Reflecting on her diverse roles, Elizabeth once said, “They all have different kinds of ‘feels’ to them… and that’s probably one of the reasons why I’ve done them.” Her unpredictability as an actress is what fans cherished most.

Elizabeth Montgomery’s charm, grace, and talent continue to inspire. Share this if she remains one of your favorite actresses of all time.