Elizabeth Montgomery
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Elizabeth Montgomery | |
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![]() Elizabeth Montgomery, c. 1967 | |
Born | Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery April 15, 1933 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Died | May 18, 1995 | (aged 62)
Cause of death | Colorectal cancer |
Resting place | Cremated |
Nationality | American |
Other names | Pandora Spocks |
Education | Westlake School For Girls Spence School |
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.1954–1955) Gig Young (m.1956–1963) William Asher (1963–1973) Robert Foxworth (m.1993–1995, her death) |
Children | 3 |
Parent(s) | Robert Montgomery Elizabeth Bryan Allen |
Relatives | Martha-Bryan Allen (aunt) |
Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery (April 15, 1933 – May 18, 1995)[1] was an American film and television actress whose career spanned five decades. She is best remembered as the star of the TV series Bewitched.
The daughter of Robert Montgomery, she began her career in the 1950s with a role on her father's television series Robert Montgomery Presents. In the 1960s, she rose to fame as Samantha Stephens on the ABC sitcom Bewitched. Her work on the series earned her five Primetime Emmy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations. After Bewitched ended its run in 1972, Montgomery continued her career with roles in numerous television films. In 1974, she portrayed Ellen Harrod in A Case of Rape and Lizzie Borden in the 1975 television film The Legend of Lizzie Borden. Both roles earned her additional Emmy Award nominations.
Montgomery was married four times, most notably to actor producer/director William Asher with whom she had three children. Her final marriage was to actor Robert Foxworth, with whom she lived for twenty years before marrying in 1993. Montgomery died of colorectal cancer in May 1995, eight weeks after being diagnosed with the disease.
Early life
Elizabeth Montgomery was born on April 15, 1933 in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of actor Robert Montgomery and his wife, Broadway actress Elizabeth Daniel Bryan Montgomery (née Allen). She had an older sister, Martha Bryan Montgomery, who died as an infant (named after her aunt Martha-Bryan Allen) and a brother, Robert Montgomery, Jr. (1936 - 2000).[2] She attended Westlake School for Girls (now Harvard-Westlake School in Holmby Hills).[3] After graduating from Spence School, she attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts for three years.[4]
Career
Early years
Montgomery made her television debut in her father's series Robert Montgomery Presents (later appearing on occasion as a member of his "summer stock" company of performers), and her film debut in 1955 in The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell.
Her early career consisted of starring vehicles and appearances in live television dramas and series, such as Studio One, Kraft Television Theater, Johnny Staccato, Burke's Law, The Twilight Zone, The Eleventh Hour, Boris Karloff's Thriller and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. In 1960 Montgomery was nominated for an Emmy Award for her portrayal of southern prostitute Rusty Heller in an episode of The Untouchables, playing opposite David White who later portrayed Darrin's boss Larry Tate in Bewitched.[5]
In 1963, she played the part of Rose Cornelius in the episode "Incident at El Crucero" on CBS's Rawhide.
She was featured in a role as a socialite who falls for a gangster (Henry Silva) in Johnny Cool. The same year, with Dean Martin and Carol Burnett, she appeared in the film comedy Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?, directed by Daniel Mann. Alfred Hitchcock had her in mind to play the sister-in-law of Sean Connery, who sees herself as a rival to the troubled heroine in the movie Marnie, but Montgomery was unavailable.
Bewitched
Montgomery played the central role of lovable witch Samantha Stephens with Dick York (and later with Dick Sargent) as her husband in the ABC situation comedy Bewitched. Starting in the second season of the series, she also played the role of Samantha's mischievous cousin, Serena, under the pseudonym Pandora Spocks.
Bewitched became a ratings success (it was, at the time, the highest-rated series ever for the network).[6] The series aired for eight seasons, from 1964 to 1972, and remains popular through syndication and DVD releases. The show had been renewed for a ninth season to run from 1972 to 1973. Montgomery, however, had fallen in love with director Richard Michaels and moved in with him, ending any possibility of another season.
In a parody of her Samantha Stephens role, she made a cameo appearance as a witch at the end of the beach party film How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965). This was directed by William Asher, her husband at the time. That same year she also provided the voice of Samantha for an episode of the animated series The Flintstones.
Montgomery received five Emmy[7] and four Golden Globe nominations for her role on Bewitched.[8]
The show added to the increasing popularity of the name Samantha. It was first recorded in 18th century New England of unknown etymology, and, while relatively rare until 1958, has remained consistently popular since 1965 due chiefly to Montgomery's character.[9]
After Bewitched
Montgomery returned to Samantha-like twitching of her nose and on-screen magic in a series of Japanese television commercials (1980–83) for "Mother" chocolate biscuits and cookies by confectionery conglomerate Lotte Corp. These Japanese commercials provided a substantial salary for Montgomery while she remained out of sight of non-Japanese fans and the Hollywood industry.
In the United States, Montgomery spent much of her later career pursuing dramatic roles that took her as far away from the good-natured Samantha as possible. Among her later roles were performances that brought her Emmy Award nominations: a rape victim in A Case of Rape (1974); the accused (but later acquitted) murderess Lizzie Borden in William Bast's The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975); and a pioneer woman facing hardship in 1820s Ohio in the mini-series The Awakening Land (1978).
Elizabeth Montgomery and Lizzie Borden were sixth cousins once removed, both descending from 17th-century Massachusetts resident John Luther. Rhonda McClure, the genealogist who documented the Montgomery-Borden connection after Montgomery's death, said "I wonder how Elizabeth would have felt if she knew she was playing her own cousin."[10]
In 1977, Montgomery played a police detective having an affair with her married partner, played by O.J. Simpson, in A Killing Affair. She played a rare villainous role in the 1985 television movie Amos, as a vicious nurse in a home for senior citizens who abuses her wards, played by, among others, Kirk Douglas and Dorothy McGuire. One of her last roles was in an episode of Batman: The Animated Series entitled "Showdown," in which she played a barmaid; this was also her final work to be screened, since the episode aired posthumously. Her last television television series was the highly rated Edna Buchanan detective series - the second and final film of the series received its first airing on May 9, 1995,[11] only nine days before her death.
Password
Montgomery made many appearances on the game show Password. Allen Ludden, the show's longtime host, called her "the Queen of Password."[12]
Personal life
Montgomery's first marriage was to New York socialite Frederick Gallatin Cammann in 1954; the couple divorced less than a year later. She was married to actor Gig Young from 1956 to 1963, and then to director-producer William Asher from 1963 until their 1973 divorce. They had three children: William Asher Jr (July 24, 1964), Robert Asher (October 5, 1965) and Rebecca Asher (June 17, 1969). The last two pregnancies were incorporated into Bewitched as Samantha's pregnancies with Tabitha (primarily Erin Murphy, with twin Diane) and Adam Stephens.[13]
On January 28, 1993, she married for a fourth time to actor Robert Foxworth, after living with him for nearly twenty years. She remained married to Foxworth until her death.[14]
Political activism
During Bewitched's run, she was a vocal critic of the Vietnam War. In the late 1980s and early 1990s she narrated a series of political documentaries, including Coverup: Behind the Iran Contra Affair (1988) and the Academy Award winning The Panama Deception (1992).
In June 1992, Montgomery and her former Bewitched co-star Dick Sargent, who had remained good friends, were Grand Marshals at the Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade.[7] Montgomery had progressive political views, being an outspoken champion of women's rights, gay rights and was pro-choice throughout her life.
Charity work
Throughout the last year of her life, Montgomery was a volunteer for the Los Angeles Unit of Learning Ally, a non-profit organization which records educational books on specially formatted CDs and in downloadable formats for disabled people. In 1994, Montgomery produced several radio and television public service announcements for the organization's Los Angeles Unit. In January 1995, she recorded the 1952 edition of the best-selling book of poetry titled When We Were Very Young for Learning Ally.
After her death, the Los Angeles Unit of Learning Ally dedicated the 1995 Record-A-Thon to Montgomery and secured 21 celebrities to assist in the reading of the book titled Chicken Soup for the Soul, which was also dedicated to her memory.
Illness and death
In the spring of 1995, Montgomery was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. She had ignored the flu-like symptoms during the filming of Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan, which she finished filming in late March 1995. By the time the cancer was diagnosed, it was too late for medical intervention. With no hope of recovery and unwilling to die in a hospital, she chose to return to the Beverly Hills home that she shared with Foxworth. Early on the morning of May 18, 1995, Montgomery died at home eight weeks after her diagnosis.[7] She was 62.
On June 18, 1995, a memorial service was held at the Canon Theatre in Beverly Hills. Herbie Hancock provided the music, and Dominick Dunne spoke about their early days as friends in New York City. Other speakers included her husband, Robert Foxworth, who read sympathy cards from fans, her nurse, her brother, her daughter, and her stepson. Her remains were cremated and inurned at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.
Elizabeth Montgomery had a summer home in Patterson, New York, in Putnam County. Following her death, the 800-acre (320 ha) estate was sold to New York State and became Wonder Lake State Park.
Legacy
- On April 19, 1998, an auction and sale of Montgomery's clothing was held by her family to benefit the AIDS Healthcare Foundation of Los Angeles. Erin Murphy, who played Tabitha on the series, modeled the clothing that was auctioned.[15]
- In June 2005, a bronze statue of Montgomery as Samantha Stephens was erected in Salem, Massachusetts.[16]
- A star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame was presented in honor of Montgomery's work in television on January 4, 2008.[17] The location of the star is 6533 Hollywood Blvd.
- In 1998, Wonder Lake State Park in New York, the site of her summer residence, was created.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1955 | The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell | Margaret Lansdowne | |
1958 | Bitter Heritage | Mary Brecker | Television movie |
1960 | Bells Are Ringing | Girl reading book | Uncredited |
1961 | The Spiral Staircase | Helen Warren | Television movie |
1963 | Boston Terrier | Millie Curtain | Television movie |
1963 | Johnny Cool | Darien "Dare" Guinness | |
1963 | Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? | Mellisa Morris | |
1964 | Bikini Beach | Lady Bug (Voice) | Uncredited |
1965 | How to Stuff a Wild Bikini | Bwana's Daughter, The Witches Witch | Uncredited |
1972 | The Victim | Kate Wainwright | Television movie |
1973 | Mrs. Sundance | Etta Place | Television movie |
1974 | A Case of Rape | Ellen Harrod | Television movie Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Drama Series |
1975 | The Legend of Lizzie Borden | Lizzie Borden | Television movie Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy |
1976 | Dark Victory | Katherine Merrill | Television movie |
1977 | A Killing Affair | Vikki Eaton | Television movie |
1978 | The Awakening Land | Sayward Luckett Wheeler | Miniseries Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series |
1979 | Jennifer: A Woman's Story | Jennifer Prince | Television movie |
1979 | Act of Violence | Catherine McSweeney | Television movie |
1980 | Belle Starr | Belle Starr | Television movie |
1981 | When the Circus Came to Town | Mary Flynn | Television movie |
1982 | The Rules of Marriage | Joan Hagen | Television movie |
1983 | Missing Pieces | Sara Scott | Television movie |
1984 | Second Sight: A Love Story | Alaxandra McKay | Television movie |
1985 | Amos | Daisy Daws | Television movie |
1985 | Between the Darkness and the Dawn | Abigail Foster | Television movie |
1988 | Coverup: Behind the Iran Contra Affair | Narrator | Documentary film |
1990 | Face to Face | Dr. Diana Firestone | Television movie |
1991 | Sins of the Mother | Ruth Coe | Television movie |
1992 | With Murder in Mind | Gayle Wolfer | Television movie |
1992 | The Panama Deception | Narrator | Documentary film |
1993 | The Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story | Blanche Taylor Moore | Television movie |
1994 | The Corpse Had a Familiar Face | Edna Buchanan | Television movie |
1995 | Deadline for Murder: From the Files of Edna Buchanan | Edna Buchanan | Television movie |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1951–1956 | Robert Montgomery Presents | Various roles | 30 episodes |
1953–1954 | Armstrong Circle Theatre | Ellen Craig | 2 episodes |
1954–1957 | Kraft Television Theatre | Various roles | 7 episodes |
1955–1956 | Appointment with Adventure | 2 episodes | |
1955–1958 | Studio One | Various roles | 3 episodes |
1956 | Warner Bros. Presents | Laura Woodruff | Episode: "Siege" |
1956 | Climax! | Betsy | Episode: "The Shadow of Evil" |
1958 | Playhouse 90 | Mary Brecker | Episode: "Bitter Heritage" |
1958 | Suspicion | Ellen | Episode: "The Velvet Vault" |
1958 | DuPont Show of the Month | Miss Kelly | Episode: "Harvey" |
1958 | Cimmarron City | Ellen Wilson | Episode: "Hired Hand" |
1958 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Karen | Episode: "Man with a Problem" |
1959 | The Loretta Young Show | Millie | Episode: "Marriage Crisis" |
1959 | The Third Man | Lorraine | Episode: "A Man Take a Trip" |
1959 | Riverboat | Abigail Carruthers | Episode: "The Barrier" |
1959 | Johnny Staccato | Fay Linn | Episode: "Tempted" |
1959 | Wagon Train | Julie Crail | Episode: "The Vittorio Bottecelli Story" |
1960 | The Tab Hunter Show | Hilary Fairfield | Episode: "For Money or Love" |
1960 | One Step Beyond | Lillie Clarke | Episode: "The Death Waltz" |
1960 | The Untouchables | Rusty Heller | Episode: "The Rusty Heller Story" Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role |
1961 | The Twilight Zone | The Woman | Episode: "Two" |
1961 | Thriller | Rosamond "Ros" Denham | Episode: "Masquerade" |
1961 | Frontier Circus | Karina Andrews | Episode: "Karina" |
1962 | Checkmate | Vicki Page | Episode: "The Star System" |
1962 | Alcoa Premiere | Iris Hecate | Episode: "Mr. Lucifer" |
1963 | Saints and Sinners | Eadie Donelli | Episode: "The Homecoming Bit" |
1963 | Rawhide | Rose Cornelius | Episode: "Incident at El Crucero" |
1963 | 77 Sunset Strip | Charlotte Delaville | Episode: "White Lie" |
1963 | The Eleventh Hour | Polly Saunders | Episode: "The Bronze Locust" |
1963–1964 | Burke's Law | Various roles | 2 episodes |
1964–1972 | Bewitched | Samantha Stephens | 254 episodes Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Comedy Series (1966-1970) Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best TV Star (Female) (1965, 1967, 1969) |
1965 | The Flintstones | Samantha Stephens (Voice) | Episode: "Samantha" |
1995 | Batman: The Animated Series | Barmaid (Voice) | Episode: "Showdown" |
Awards and honors
Year | Award | Category | Title of work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1961 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role | The Untouchables | Nominated |
1966 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series | Bewitched | Nominated |
1967 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series | Bewitched | Nominated |
1968 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series | Bewitched | Nominated |
1969 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series | Bewitched | Nominated |
1970 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress - Comedy Series | Bewitched | Nominated |
1974 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress - Drama Series | A Case of Rape | Nominated |
1975 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Special Program - Drama or Comedy | The Legend of Lizzie Borden | Nominated |
1978 | Emmy Award | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series | The Awakening Land | Nominated |
1965 | Golden Globe Award | Best TV Star (Female) | Bewitched | Nominated |
1967 | Golden Globe Award | Best TV Star (Female) | Bewitched | Nominated |
1969 | Golden Globe Award | Best TV Star (Female) | Bewitched | Nominated |
1995 | Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Award | Lucy Award | In recognition of her excellence and innovation in her creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television.[18] | Recipient posthumously |
Audio
- Craven Street: Ben Franklin in London, a five-part radio drama (1993, narrator)
- Beauty's Punishment (1994, narrator)
- Beauty's Release (1994, narrator)
- Two audio books in which Montgomery narrates the work of Anne Rice (writing as A.N. Roquelaure) are available as of 2005[update].
In popular culture
- In 1998, the A&E Television Network produced a documentary for its Biography television series about the life and career of Elizabeth Montgomery. The documentary first aired on A&E on February 15, 1999.
- In 1999 the E! cable channel produced a documentary for its E! The True Hollywood Story series entitled "Bewitched: The E! True Hollywood Story." The documentary first aired on E! on August 22, 1999.
- On November 5, 2012, a biography of Elizabeth Montgomery entitled Twitch Upon a Star: The Bewitched Life & Career of Elizabeth Montgomery by Herbie J. Pilato was published in hardcover. The paperback edition of Twitch Upon a Star was published on October 6, 2014.
- On October 31, 2013, Herbie J. Pilato published an encyclopedia of Elizabeth Montgomery's works entitled The Essential Elizabeth Montgomery: A Guide to Her Magical Performances.
References
- ^ "NY Times Obituary – May 18, 1995". The New York Times.
- ^ Pylant, James. "The Bewitching Family Tree of Elizabeth Montgomery". genealogymagazine.com. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
- ^ Pilato, Herbie J. (2012). Twitch Upon a Star: The Bewitched Life and Career of Elizabeth Montgomery. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 49. ISBN 1-589-79749-3.
- ^ "Elizabeth Montgomery Biography". thebiographychannel.co.uk. Retrieved November 27, 2009.
- ^ R.E. Lee. "The Rusty Heller Story". Bob's Bewitching Daughter. Retrieved 2010-07-29.
- ^ Mansour, David (2005). From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 38. ISBN 0-7407-5118-2.
- ^ a b c Gliatto, Tom (1995-06-05). "That Magic Feeling". People. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
- ^ Larkin, Mike (December 15, 2011). "A Bewitching property: Elizabeth Montgomery's spellbinding California house is put on the market for $1.2million". London: dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-12-15.
- ^ Withycombe, E. G. (1977). The Concise Dictionary of English Christian Names. Oxford University Press.
- ^ Pylant, James (2004). "The Bewitching Family Tree of Elizabeth Montgomery". Genealogy Magazine.
"Rhonda R. McClure. Finding Your Famous (& Infamous) Ancestors. (Cincinnati: Betterway Books: 2003), pp. 14-16.
- ^ Cotter, Bill (1997). The Wonderful Words of Disney Television: A Complete History. Hyperion. p. 18. ISBN 0-7868-6359-5.
- ^ Herbie J. Pilato (October 7, 2013). The Essential Elizabeth Montgomery: A Guide to Her Magical Performances. Taylor Trade Publishing. p. 95. ISBN 978-1-58979-825-0.
- ^ Rochman Sue, "A Touch of Magic", Cancer Today magazine, Summer 2012
- ^ R. E. Lee. "Elizabeth Montgomery Biography". Retrieved 2007-07-18. There were many references to Patterson, New York made on "Bewitched" throughout the run of the series. The Putnam County, New York town was the site of the Montgomery homestead and it was also where Elizabeth spent her childhood summers. In later years, her mother lived in the family farmhouse on Cushman Road where Elizabeth visited her on frequent trips East.
- ^ Dulin, Dann. "Witchful Thinking". aumag.org.
- ^ "A Pictorial Tale of the 'Bewitched' statue of Salem, Massachusetts". palachi.com. 2005.
- ^ "Hollywood star is unveiled posthumously for TV's 'Bewitched' star Elizabeth Montgomery". Associated Press. 2008-01-05. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
- ^ http://wif.org/past-recipients
External links
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- 20th-century American actresses
- American Academy of Dramatic Arts alumni
- American film actresses
- American women's rights activists
- American television actresses
- American voice actresses
- Actresses from Los Angeles, California
- Cancer deaths in California
- Deaths from colorectal cancer
- LGBT rights activists from the United States
- 1933 births
- 1995 deaths
- People from Patterson, New York