Elizabeth Montgomery facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery
Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery circa 1967
Born	Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery (1933-04-15)April 15, 1933 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died	May 18, 1995(1995-05-18) (aged 62) Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
Alma mater	American Academy of Dramatic Arts
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1951–1995
Known for	Samantha Stephens on Bewitched
Spouse(s)	Frederick Gallatin Cammann ​ ​ (m. 1954; div. 1955)​ Gig Young ​ ​ (m. 1956; div. 1963)​ William Asher ​ ​ (m. 1963; div. 1973)​ Robert Foxworth ​ (m. 1993)​
Children	3
Parents	Robert Montgomery (father) Elizabeth Bryan Allen (mother)
Relatives	Martha-Bryan Allen (aunt)

Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery (April 15, 1933 – May 18, 1995) was an American actress. She had a long career in movies, on stage, and on television. She is best known for playing the friendly witch Samantha Stephens in the TV show Bewitched.

Elizabeth was the daughter of famous actor and director Robert Montgomery. She started acting in the 1950s on her father's TV show, Robert Montgomery Presents. In 1956, she won an award for her first play on Broadway. In the 1960s, she became very popular as Samantha Stephens in the ABC comedy series Bewitched. Her work on Bewitched earned her many awards and nominations. After Bewitched ended in 1972, Elizabeth continued acting in many TV movies.

Throughout her life, Elizabeth Montgomery was also very active in helping others. She supported many good causes and charities.

Early Life and Education

Elizabeth Montgomery was born on April 15, 1933. Her birthplace was Los Angeles, California. Her mother, Elizabeth Bryan Allen, was a Broadway actress. Her father, Robert Montgomery, was a well-known film star.

Elizabeth had an older sister who passed away as a baby. She also had a younger brother. Elizabeth's family had Irish and Scottish roots. She went to the Westlake School for Girls in California. Later, she graduated from the Spence School in New York City. She then studied acting for three years at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan.

Acting Career Highlights

Early Roles (1951–1963)

Elizabeth Montgomery first appeared on television in her father's show, Robert Montgomery Presents. She also acted in his summer theater group. In 1953, she made her debut on Broadway in a play called Late Love. She won an award for her performance.

Her first movie role was in The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955). Elizabeth also acted in many live TV dramas. These included popular shows like Studio One and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. She was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1960. This was for her role as Rusty Heller in an episode of The Untouchables. She also appeared in the western series Rawhide.

In 1963, she starred in the movie Johnny Cool. She also appeared in the comedy Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? with Dean Martin and Carol Burnett.

Starring in Bewitched (1964–1972)

Bewitched co-stars Dick York, Agnes Moorehead, and Montgomery

In 1964, Elizabeth Montgomery took on her most famous role. She played Samantha Stephens in the ABC situation comedy Bewitched. Samantha was a kind witch married to a mortal man. Elizabeth also played Samantha's playful cousin, Serena. For Serena, she used the fun name Pandora Spocks.

Bewitched quickly became a huge hit. It was one of the most popular shows on TV at the time. The series ran for eight seasons, from 1964 to 1972. Elizabeth received many Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her role. The show was very successful, but due to changes in her personal life, Elizabeth decided not to continue for a ninth season.

During this time, she also made a fun appearance as a witch in the movie How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965). She also voiced Samantha for an episode of The Flintstones.

Later Career (1973–1995)

After Bewitched, Elizabeth Montgomery took on different kinds of roles. She wanted to show her range as an actress. She starred in TV movies like A Case of ... (1974) and The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975). These roles also earned her Emmy nominations.

She was a frequent guest on the game show Password. The show's host even called her the "Queen of Password." In 1978, she played a brave pioneer woman in the miniseries The Awakening Land. This role brought her another Emmy nomination.

In 1989, Elizabeth returned to Broadway in the play Love Letters. One of her last roles was a voice part in Batman: The Animated Series. Her final TV series was the detective series based on Edna Buchanan's books. The last film in this series aired just nine days before she passed away.

Personal Life

Elizabeth Montgomery was married four times. In 1954, she married Frederick Gallatin Cammann. They divorced less than a year later. From 1956 to 1963, she was married to actor Gig Young. She then married director-producer William Asher in 1963. They had three children: William, Robert, and Rebecca. Her last two pregnancies were written into the Bewitched storyline. In 1993, she married actor Robert Foxworth. They were together for nearly 20 years before marrying. They remained married until her death in 1995.

Elizabeth spent her childhood summers in Patterson, New York. The town was often mentioned in Bewitched. Her mother later lived in the family farmhouse there.

Helping Others

Elizabeth Montgomery cared deeply about many important causes. She used her fame to support women's rights, AIDS awareness, and gay rights. She also spoke out against the Vietnam War. Later in life, she actively supported AIDS research. She also worked to help people with disabilities.

She narrated two documentaries that discussed important world issues. These were Cover Up: Behind the Iran Contra Affair (1988) and The Panama Deception (1992). In 1992, she was a grand marshal at the Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade with her Bewitched co-star and friend, Dick Sargent.

In her last year, Elizabeth volunteered for Learning Ally. This group records educational books for people with disabilities. She recorded several public service announcements for them. She also recorded a children's poetry book by A. A. Milne. After her death, Learning Ally dedicated a special recording event to her memory.

Illness and Passing

Elizabeth Montgomery had been battling cancer for several months. She had ignored symptoms while filming her last TV movie. By the time doctors found the cancer, it had spread. It was too late for treatment.

She chose to return to her home in Beverly Hills to be with her husband, Robert Foxworth. Elizabeth Montgomery passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 18, 1995. She was 62 years old.

A memorial service was held for her in Beverly Hills. Many friends and family members shared memories. Her body was cremated. Her parents' home in Patterson, New York, later became part of Wonder Lake State Park.

Legacy and Recognition

Bronze statue of Montgomery as Samantha Stevens (Salem, Massachusetts)

• In 1998, Elizabeth's family held an auction of her clothing. The money raised went to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
• In June 2005, a bronze statue of Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens was put up in Salem, Massachusetts.
• On January 4, 2008, Elizabeth received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This honored her work in television. Her star is located at 6533 Hollywood Blvd.

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage Credits

Narration Work

• The Panama Deception (1992)
• Craven Street: Ben Franklin in London, a five-part radio drama (1993)
• Beauty's Punishment (1994)
• Beauty's Release (1994)

Television Documentaries

• In 1998, the A&E Television Network made a documentary about Elizabeth Montgomery's life. It was part of their Biography series. It first aired on February 15, 1999.
• In 1999, the E! cable channel created a documentary. It was for their E! The True Hollywood Story series. This show was called "Bewitched: The E! True Hollywood Story." It first aired on August 22, 1999.

Images for kids

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  Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery circa 1967

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  Bewitched co-stars Dick York, Agnes Moorehead, and Montgomery

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  Montgomery (right) and Katherine Helmond as Emma and Lizzie Borden, February 1975

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  Bronze statue of Montgomery as Samantha Stevens (Salem, Massachusetts)

See also

In Spanish: Elizabeth Montgomery para niños