‘Bewitched’: What Happened to the Cast of the Iconic 60s Sitcom through the Years

From 1964 to 1972, “Bewitched” was a staple fantasy series on the screens of many Americans. Now that over 50 years have passed, take a trip down memory lane and discover what happened to the show’s iconic cast members.

“Bewitched” aired for a total of 8 seasons, and its main cast became well-loved by audiences from around the country thanks to their stellar acting and reliability. The story revolved around a witch who struggled to resist using magic to solve her day-to-day problems after marrying a mortal.

Now that it’s been 51 years since the show went off the air, the cast members have gone through a lot in life. Here’s what happened to its five main cast members after the show ended.

1. Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha Stephens

Elizabeth Montgomery | Source: Getty Images

Elizabeth Montgomery played the show’s leading lady, a beautiful witch named Samantha. She chose to marry a mortal and navigated her daily life with the help of magic.

At one point in the show, Montgomery also starred as the character Serena, Samantha’s look-alike cousin. She earned praise from the audience for her stellar portrayal of both.

Montgomery went on to star in several TV movies after the show ended in 1972, including “The Legend of Lizzie Borden,” “The Corpse Had a Familiar Face,” and “Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story.” However, not much was heard from Montgomery in her later life after she was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

The actress died in her home in 1995, surrounded by her husband and children. Her family released a warm statement following her death, which stated Montgomery was “a friend who has been in our living room thousands of times and has impacted our lives in many ways.”

2. Dick York as Darrin Stephens (Seasons 1-5)

Dick York | Source: Getty Images

Dick York played Darrin Stephens, the mortal married to the witch Samantha. He played the role for five seasons before being replaced by Dick Sargent for seasons six, seven and eight, with no explanation given.

Speculation regarding his exit swarmed the media, which included guesses like York clashing with his cast members, disagreeing with management, and even with the network. Years later, the real reason why he took a bow from “Bewitched” finally came to light.

It was revealed that while working on another project, “Condura,” York sustained a severe back injury. The actor admitted that this was the cause of his downfall.

York became addicted to prescription painkillers following his injury. While filming “Bewitched,” his injuries began to worsen, and it limited his physical abilities to the point that the show had a crew member stationed in front of his trailer in case he couldn’t open the door.

In 1969, the actor fainted on the set and was hospitalized. It was after that incident that he realized he was no longer going to play the part. The show’s producers was forced to recast the role of Darrin Stephens.

The only statement released during York’s exit was that he wanted to venture into other roles. Unfortunately for him, his career never recovered, and he relied on odd jobs to make ends meet.

By 1986, he and his family moved to Michigan, and he was suffering from emphysema from smoking three cigarette packs a day. He relied on an oxygen canister to breathe, and he ultimately died on February 20, 1992 at 63.

3. Erin Murphy as Tabitha Stephens

Erin Murphy | Source: Getty Images | Instagram.com/Erin Murphy

Erin Murphy played the adorable Tabitha for six seasons of “Bewitched.” She was Samantha and Darrin’s half-witch child. Having grown up in front of the show’s viewers, the actress recalls the show’s set being a “great place to grow up.”

After her stint on the show, she thwarted the child star curse and went on to be a successful actress. Her most recent role was in 2019 for a show titled “TV Therapy.”

Currently, Murphy is the only main star of “Bewitched” still alive, save for her fraternal twin sister Diane, who was used for long shots and cutaways of the TV series because of imposed child labor laws that restricted the total amount of time a child could work on a set.

4. Dick Sargent as Darrin Stephens (Seasons 6-8)

Dick Sargent | Source: Getty Images

After Dick York left “Bewitched,” Dick Sargent was cast to fill in the role of Darrin. Along with his replacement of York came changes in the way Darrin was depicted on screen.

While York’s Darrin was a magic-hating mortal, Sargent’s Darrin loved his wife for who she was. Even Montgomery noticed the change, claiming Darrin’s role became more of an “easygoing presence.”

Sargent’s role on “Bewitched” spanned a total of three seasons, and paved the way for a great acting career. He appeared on hits like “A Touch of Mink,” “Operation Petticoat,” and “Bernardine,” as well as over 300 TV shows, making him a well-loved TV figure.

Unfortunately, Sargent’s life was cut short when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He was 64 when he succumbed to his illness in 1994, just one year before his on-screen wife died of cancer.

5. Agnes Moorehead as Endora

Agnes Moorehead | Source: Getty Images

Agnes Moorehead played Samantha’s mother, Endora. She appeared on 254 episodes, where she was portrayed as a mortal-hating witch who liked giving Darrin a headache. She would show up in his home and cause trouble using magic, knowing how much her son-in-law disliked it. Despite this, she was quite a unique character that brought the show to life.

Her appearance on the show was thanks to Elizabeth Montgomery and “Bewtiched” director Bill Asher who discovered her while shopping at Bloomingdales. They came across Moorehead and knew then and there she’d be perfect for the role.

Aside from “Bewitched,” Moorehead had a successful career in TV, theater, film, and even radio. She began acting at the age of 10, and continued acting until shortly before she died in 1974 when she was 73. Moorehead’s cause of death remains unknown, but she was hospitalized for a month before her death.

With majority of its main cast already gone, fans are delighted to see Erin Murphy live the best life with her children. She is now a mother of 6, more than 50 years since she portrayed the darling half-witch-half-mortal baby Tabitha.

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