The Bewitched Cast: Where Are They Now?

When Bewitched premiered on September 17, 1964, nobody expected a show about a witch married to an ordinary advertising executive to become one of the defining comedies of the decade. But that’s exactly what happened. The premise was simple — Samantha Stephens, a beautiful witch, falls in love with Darrin Stephens, a mortal, and agrees to give up her powers to live a normal suburban life. Her meddling mother Endora had other plans.

The show blended fantasy with domestic comedy in a way that hadn’t been done before on network television. Nose twitches, disappearing relatives, and spells gone wrong became weekly staples for millions of viewers. Over eight seasons on ABC, Bewitched earned multiple Emmy nominations and turned its cast into household names. But what happened to those actors after the final episode aired in 1972? For most of them, the story took unexpected — and sometimes heartbreaking — turns.

Elizabeth Montgomery — Samantha Stephens

Elizabeth Montgomery was born on April 15, 1933, in Los Angeles, the daughter of Hollywood leading man Robert Montgomery. Acting was in her blood. Before Bewitched, she’d already built a solid career with appearances on stage and in TV anthologies, earning her first Emmy nomination in 1961.

As Samantha Stephens, Montgomery became America’s favorite witch. Her signature nose twitch — actually done by moving her upper lip — became one of the most imitated gestures in TV history. She played the role with a warmth and comic timing that made Samantha feel genuinely human despite her supernatural abilities.

After Bewitched ended, Montgomery deliberately moved away from comedy. She took on a string of dramatic TV movies throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including A Case of Rape (1974) and The Legend of Lizzie Borden (1975), both of which earned her critical praise. She wanted to prove she was more than Samantha, and she did.

Sadly, Montgomery was diagnosed with colon cancer in March 1995. She died just eight weeks later on May 18, 1995, at the age of 62. Her passing shocked fans who had no idea she was ill — she’d kept her diagnosis private. A statue of Samantha Stephens was erected in Salem, Massachusetts, in 2005, a lasting tribute to the character she made iconic.

Dick York — Darrin Stephens (1964–1969)

Dick York was born on September 4, 1928, and brought an everyman charm to the role of Darrin Stephens that made the character’s constant bewilderment genuinely funny. His exasperated reactions to Samantha’s magic — and Endora’s interference — gave the show much of its comedic energy in those early seasons.

Behind the scenes, though, York was in serious trouble. He’d injured his back badly during the filming of the 1959 movie They Came to Cordura, and the pain never fully went away. By the mid-1960s, he was relying on painkillers and sedatives to get through each shooting day. The situation got worse as the seasons went on, and in 1969, York collapsed on set. He left the show and was replaced — a decision that wasn’t entirely his choice.

After leaving Bewitched, York’s career essentially ended. His health continued to decline, and he spent years dealing with addiction and financial hardship. In his later years, he devoted himself to charitable work, organizing food and clothing drives for homeless families from his bed. Dick York died on February 20, 1992, at the age of 63. He was largely forgotten by Hollywood, but never by the fans who loved his Darrin.

Dick Sargent — Darrin Stephens (1969–1972)

Dick Sargent, born April 19, 1930, stepped into one of the most thankless jobs in television: replacing a beloved lead actor mid-series. He took over as Darrin Stephens in season six and played the role for the show’s final three seasons.

Sargent had actually been considered for the role originally back in 1964 but was unavailable due to another commitment. When he finally got the part in 1969, viewers noticed the difference immediately. He brought a calmer, more understated energy compared to York’s frantic style. Some fans accepted him; others never quite did. The “two Darrins” became one of TV’s longest-running inside jokes.

After Bewitched, Sargent continued working in television with guest spots on various shows throughout the 1970s and 1980s, though he never landed another signature role. In 1991, he publicly came out as gay — a courageous decision at a time when that wasn’t common in Hollywood. He became an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and participated in National Coming Out Day alongside his Bewitched co-star Erin Murphy.

Sargent was diagnosed with prostate cancer and died on July 8, 1994, at the age of 64 — less than a year before Elizabeth Montgomery’s own passing.

Agnes Moorehead — Endora

Agnes Moorehead was already a legend before she ever twitched a finger as Endora. Born on December 6, 1900, she was an acclaimed stage and radio actress who earned four Academy Award nominations over her career, including for her work in Citizen Kane (1941) and The Magnificent Ambersons (1942). She was a member of Orson Welles’s Mercury Theatre company and one of the most respected character actresses of her generation.

On Bewitched, Moorehead stole every scene she was in. Endora — Samantha’s imperious, Darrin-despising mother — gave Moorehead a chance to be gloriously theatrical. Her withering looks, her refusal to ever call Darrin by his correct name (it was always “Derwood” or “Darwin” or “Donald”), and her dramatic entrances made Endora the show’s secret weapon. She earned six Emmy nominations for the role.

Moorehead died on April 30, 1974, just two years after Bewitched ended, at the age of 73. She had been battling uterine cancer. Her death marked the first major loss from the show’s core cast.

Erin Murphy — Tabitha Stephens

Erin Murphy was born on June 17, 1964, and began playing Tabitha Stephens — Sam and Darrin’s daughter — when she was just two years old. She originally shared the role with her fraternal twin sister Diane, as was common with child actors at the time, but Erin eventually took over the part exclusively.

As the daughter of a witch, little Tabitha provided some of the show’s most charming moments, especially as she began developing her own magical powers. Murphy appeared on Bewitched from 1966 until the series ended in 1972.

After the show, Murphy stepped away from acting as a child. She grew up largely out of the spotlight, which was a deliberate choice by her family. As an adult, she’s worked in various areas of the entertainment industry, including stunt work, fashion, and lifestyle media. She’s been a regular presence at fan conventions and nostalgia events, and she’s spoken warmly about her time on the show and her memories of the cast — even though she was very young during filming.

As of 2026, Erin Murphy is 61 years old and remains the most prominent surviving cast member from Bewitched’s main ensemble.

David White — Larry Tate

David White, born April 4, 1916, played Larry Tate, Darrin’s opportunistic boss at the McMann & Tate advertising agency. Larry was the quintessential yes-man — always ready to change his opinion the moment a client changed theirs. White played the role with a slick, fast-talking energy that made Larry one of the show’s most reliable comic presences across all eight seasons.

After Bewitched, White continued working in television and film in smaller roles throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He largely stayed out of the public eye in his later years.

White died on November 27, 1990, at the age of 74. His death came during a particularly tragic period — his son Jonathan had been killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in December 1988.

The Show’s Legacy

Bewitched’s influence didn’t end with its final episode. A spinoff series, Tabitha, ran briefly in 1977–78, following a grown-up version of Samantha’s daughter working at a TV station. It didn’t last, but it showed the franchise still had pull. In 2005, a feature film starring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell attempted to reimagine the concept, though it received mixed reviews.

The show’s real legacy is cultural. Bewitched was one of the first network comedies to feature a powerful woman as its lead — even if the whole premise was about her trying to suppress that power. Scholars have written about the show as an allegory for feminism, for closeted identity, and for the tensions of 1960s suburban conformity. Whether the creators intended all of that is debatable. What’s not debatable is that people are still talking about it more than 50 years later.

And yes, the “two Darrins” joke is still going strong. It’s become shorthand in pop culture for any unexplained actor swap — referenced in everything from Seinfeld to The Simpsons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is anyone from the Bewitched cast still alive?

Yes. Erin Murphy, who played Tabitha Stephens, is still alive and active as of 2026. She’s 61 years old and continues to make appearances at fan events and in entertainment media.

Why were there two Darrins on Bewitched?

Dick York, the original Darrin, left the show in 1969 due to chronic back pain that had plagued him since a film injury in 1959. He was replaced by Dick Sargent, who played the role for the show’s final three seasons.

When did Elizabeth Montgomery die?

Elizabeth Montgomery died on May 18, 1995, at the age of 62, from colon cancer. She had been diagnosed just eight weeks before her death and kept her illness private.

How many episodes of Bewitched were there?

Bewitched ran for 254 episodes across eight seasons on ABC, from September 1964 to March 1972.