Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery American film and television actress Date of Birth: 15.04.1933 Country: USA

Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery - Biography of an American Actress

Elizabeth Victoria Montgomery, a renowned American film and television actress, had a career that spanned five decades. She was born on April 15, 1933, in Los Angeles, California, to actor Robert Montgomery and Broadway actress Elizabeth Bryan Allen. Sadly, her older sister Martha Bryan passed away in infancy, while her brother Robert Montgomery Jr. was born in 1936.

Montgomery attended The Spence School and later studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She made her television debut in her father's dramatic series "Robert Montgomery Presents" and her big screen debut in the 1955 war drama "The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell" alongside Gary Cooper. During the early stages of her career, Elizabeth received favorable roles, partly due to her father's influence, including appearances in series such as "The Twilight Zone" and "Studio One," which garnered her both admiration and resentment.

In 1960, Montgomery received an Emmy nomination for her role as a prostitute named Rusty Heller in an episode of "The Untouchables." She later starred in the ABC sitcom "Bewitched" as Samantha Stephens, a lovable witch, alongside Dick York and later Dick Sargent. The show became immensely popular and aired from 1964 to 1972. After eight successful seasons, Montgomery decided to focus on her film career, leading to the end of her role as the magical housewife.

Despite the show being heavily censored in the Soviet Union and having scenes edited with pro-communist and socialist dialogues added in its translation, "Bewitched" gained significant popularity. In Japan, viewers eagerly watched the show to see Montgomery in commercials for the "Lotte" chocolate cookie corporation.

Montgomery predominantly played dramatic roles in the United States, portraying a rape victim in the film "A Case of Rape" and a resilient woman facing challenges in 1820s Ohio in the miniseries "The Awakening Land." In 1977, she portrayed police detective Vikki Eaton in the crime drama "A Killing Affair" alongside O.J. Simpson. In 1985, Montgomery played the cold-hearted villainous nurse Daisy Daws, who terrorized characters portrayed by Kirk Douglas and Dorothy McGuire.

Elizabeth Montgomery had four marriages throughout her life. Her first marriage was to New York socialite Frederick Gallatin Cammann in 1954, which ended in divorce the following year. From 1956 to 1963, she was married to actor Gig Young, and from 1963 to 1973, she was married to director and producer William Asher. Montgomery's third husband collaborated with her in creating the sitcom "Bewitched," and the script was specially modified to accommodate her pregnancies with their son William Asher Jr. and daughter Rebecca Asher. Montgomery's fourth and final husband was actor Robert Foxworth, whom she married on January 28, 1993, until her death.

Elizabeth Montgomery was known for her liberal views and activism. She participated in a gay pride parade in Los Angeles alongside her friend Dick Sargent, advocating for the rights of sexual minorities. In 1993, she became the chairperson of "RFB&D," a non-profit organization that aids individuals with disabilities by producing specialized equipment for them.

Sadly, Montgomery passed away on May 18, 1995, at her home in Beverly Hills, California, surrounded by her loved ones and friends, after battling colorectal cancer. She was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 4, 2008. Additionally, a memorial featuring Montgomery seated on a broomstick against a backdrop of the moon was unveiled in Salem in 2005. Moreover, a biopic about Montgomery, to be portrayed by Christina Applegate, is currently being directed by William Clift.