There are television stars.
And then there are performers whose characters become cultural shorthand.
When people think of a witch twitching her nose, they still picture Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens in Bewitched.
But reducing Elizabeth Montgomery to one magical sitcom doesn’t do her career justice. She worked in film. She led dramatic television movies. She pushed against the limits of typecasting. And she quietly built one of the most recognizable TV legacies of the 1960s and 70s.
If you’re searching for Elizabeth Montgomery movies and TV shows, her spouse, children, net worth, and cause of death, here’s the full story — told as a life, not just a list.
Early Career: Before Bewitched
Elizabeth Montgomery was born in 1933 into an entertainment family. Her father, Robert Montgomery, was a well-known actor and television host. Hollywood wasn’t unfamiliar territory.
But she didn’t simply inherit a career.
In the 1950s, Montgomery appeared in live television dramas — the kind that required precision and stage-like discipline. These early performances sharpened her timing and camera awareness.
She also appeared in feature films, including roles in crime dramas and romantic projects. While none became defining cinematic landmarks, they positioned her as a serious actress capable of more than glamour.
By the early 1960s, she had worked steadily across television anthologies and supporting film roles.
Then came the role that changed everything.
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Elizabeth Montgomery Movies and TV Shows: The Bewitched Phenomenon
In 1964, Bewitched premiered on ABC.
Montgomery played Samantha Stephens, a witch who marries a mortal man and attempts to live a normal suburban life — without using magic.
It sounds light. And it was comedic.
But the show carried subtext about conformity, gender roles, and domestic expectation. Samantha was powerful. She chose to suppress that power to fit societal norms. The tension between her identity and her environment drove the humor.
Montgomery’s performance made it work.
She wasn’t cartoonish. She wasn’t overly theatrical. She played Samantha as intelligent and restrained, often letting the absurdity unfold around her.
The nose twitch became iconic.
Bewitched ran for eight seasons, cementing her place in television history.
When people search “Elizabeth Montgomery movies and TV shows,” this is the show that dominates results — and for good reason.
Beyond Samantha: Fighting Typecasting
The success of Bewitched was a blessing and a limitation.
Once audiences associate you with one role so strongly, breaking away becomes difficult.
After the show ended in 1972, Montgomery actively pursued dramatic television movies to shift perception.
She starred in projects based on real-life crime stories and complex female leads. These roles were darker, heavier, and emotionally demanding — nothing like Samantha Stephens.
She wanted to be seen as an actress, not just a sitcom figure.
Some of those television films earned critical praise, though none eclipsed the cultural footprint of Bewitched.
Still, they demonstrated range.
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Elizabeth Montgomery Spouse and Personal Life
Elizabeth Montgomery married four times during her life.
Her third marriage, to producer William Asher, was the most professionally intertwined. Asher produced Bewitched, making their partnership both personal and creative.
The marriage eventually ended, but their collaboration shaped television history.
Later, she married actor Robert Foxworth, and the two remained together until her death.
Her personal life never became tabloid spectacle in the modern sense. She maintained a degree of privacy unusual for someone so recognizable.
Elizabeth Montgomery Children
Elizabeth Montgomery had three children, all from her marriage to William Asher.
She balanced motherhood with a demanding television schedule during the height of Bewitched.
Colleagues often described her as grounded despite fame. Her home life mattered.
For many viewers, Samantha Stephens felt warm and maternal on screen — that sense of authenticity wasn’t entirely fictional.
Elizabeth Montgomery Movies: Film Appearances
Although primarily remembered for television, Montgomery did appear in films.
Her earlier movie roles included parts in courtroom dramas and romantic stories in the 1950s and 60s. However, she never fully transitioned into major film stardom in the way some contemporaries did.
That wasn’t necessarily a failure. Television in the 1960s was becoming powerful cultural territory.
Her lasting impact came from weekly presence in American living rooms, not from theatrical box office dominance.
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Elizabeth Montgomery Net Worth
At the time of her death in 1995, Elizabeth Montgomery’s estimated net worth was around $20 million.
That wealth reflected:
- Eight seasons of network television success
- Syndication royalties from Bewitched
- Television film appearances
- Decades of steady acting work
Syndication played a major role. Bewitched remained popular in reruns long after its original run ended.
Her financial legacy mirrored her cultural one — sustained and durable.
Elizabeth Montgomery Cause of Death
Elizabeth Montgomery died on May 18, 1995.
Her cause of death was colorectal cancer.
She was 62 years old.
Her illness was not widely publicized before her passing, which made the news feel sudden to many fans.
Tributes poured in from across the television industry. Co-stars, producers, and networks acknowledged the mark she left.
When people search “Elizabeth Montgomery died” or “Elizabeth Montgomery cause of death,” they’re often discovering how unexpectedly her life ended.
Why Elizabeth Montgomery Still Matters
It’s easy to see Bewitched as nostalgic entertainment.
But Samantha Stephens was quietly subversive.
She was powerful in a domestic setting.
She was smarter than most characters around her.
She chose when to conform and when to assert herself.
In the context of 1960s television, that mattered.
Elizabeth Montgomery’s portrayal balanced warmth with intelligence. She wasn’t playing a caricature. She was playing a woman navigating constraints.
That nuance is why the show still airs decades later.
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Final Thoughts
Elizabeth Montgomery’s career can’t be reduced to a nose twitch.
She built a body of work that included live television, feature films, and dramatic roles beyond comedy.
She married. She had children. She maintained privacy. She fought typecasting. She built wealth through longevity rather than flash.
She died in 1995, but Samantha Stephens remains one of television’s most recognizable characters.
And behind that character was an actress who understood restraint, timing, and subtle rebellion.
That’s the legacy.
FAQ
What is Elizabeth Montgomery best known for?
She is best known for playing Samantha Stephens in Bewitched.
How many children did Elizabeth Montgomery have?
She had three children.
Who was Elizabeth Montgomery’s spouse?
She was married four times, including to producer William Asher and later actor Robert Foxworth.
What was Elizabeth Montgomery’s net worth?
Her estimated net worth at the time of her death was around $20 million.
How did Elizabeth Montgomery die?
She died from colorectal cancer in 1995 at age 62.