Elizabeth Montgomery: Death, Bewitched Exit & Personal Life

For millions of TV viewers, Elizabeth Montgomery will always be the charming witch Samantha Stephens, twitching her nose on Bewitched. This article separates the verified facts from the fan speculation about her death, her career, and her private life.

Born: April 15, 1933 · Died: May 18, 1995 · Cause of Death: Colorectal cancer · Most Famous Role: Samantha Stephens on Bewitched · Emmy Nominations: 5 · Years Active: 1953–1995

Eight key facts about Elizabeth Montgomery show the full arc of her life.

What did Elizabeth Montgomery pass away from?

The cause of Elizabeth Montgomery’s death is one of the few entirely clear facts. She died from colorectal cancer at her home in Beverly Hills on May 18, 1995, at the age of 62 (The New York Times (leading U.S. newspaper)). The New York Times obituary noted she had undergone surgery to remove a small malignant tumor not long before her death.

How old was Elizabeth Montgomery when she died?

• She was 62 years old at the time of her death, born April 15, 1933 (The New York Times (leading U.S. newspaper)).
• Multiple sources confirm the age and date (Television Academy (industry organization)).

What were the circumstances of her death?

A 2012 Cancer Today feature reveals that Montgomery learned in March 1995 that she had stage IV colorectal cancer. Less than two months passed between that diagnosis and her death (Cancer Today (American Association for Cancer Research publication)). She died at her Beverly Hills home with her husband, Robert Foxworth, and her three children by her side (Television Academy (industry organization)).

The implication: While the cause is well established, the exact timeline of her diagnosis and the speed of the disease highlight how aggressive her cancer was.

Why did Elizabeth Montgomery quit Bewitched?

A persistent rumor claims Montgomery walked away from Bewitched early. The reality is simpler: the show ran its course after eight seasons and was cancelled in 1972 (The New York Times (leading U.S. newspaper)).

Was Bewitched cancelled or did she leave?

• The series ended after season 8 in 1972 due to declining ratings (The New York Times (leading U.S. newspaper)).
• Montgomery had expressed a desire to move on to other projects, but she did not force an early exit (Television Academy (industry organization)).

What did she do after Bewitched?

She continued acting steadily in television movies and stage productions throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Notable credits include A Killing at the Gate and the Edna Buchanan mystery series, which she finished filming in late March 1995, just weeks before her death (Television Academy (industry organization)).

What this means: The “quit” narrative is a myth; Montgomery’s career was active and varied long after Bewitched ended.

Was Elizabeth Montgomery a nice person in real life?

Colleagues uniformly described Montgomery as professional, kind, and warm. Co‑star Agnes Moorehead called her “a consummate professional with a wonderful sense of humor” (Television Academy (industry organization)).

How did colleagues describe her?

• Directors and cast members noted her generosity on set and lack of diva behavior (Television Academy (industry organization)).
• She was known for discreetly supporting gay rights and AIDS activism long before it was mainstream (Television Academy (industry organization)).

Was she involved in philanthropy?

Yes. Biographers note she privately donated to LGBTQ+ causes and volunteered with AIDS service organizations, though she rarely sought public credit for it (Television Academy (industry organization)).

The pattern: Montgomery’s niceness was not a PR invention; those who worked with her paint a consistent picture of warmth and integrity.

Was Elizabeth Montgomery a heavy drinker?

Reports indicate that Montgomery struggled with alcohol, particularly later in life. She reportedly sought treatment but continued drinking. Because these accounts often rely on unnamed sources, the exact severity remains unclear.

Did she struggle with alcoholism?

• Biographies and anecdotal accounts claim she battled alcohol addiction.
• No official medical records or public statements from her family confirm the duration or treatment.

How did it affect her career?

Despite personal struggles, Montgomery maintained a professional image and continued working steadily. Cast members reported she was never visibly intoxicated on set (Television Academy (industry organization)).

The catch: Alcohol use is often cited in celebrity retrospectives, but without corroborating evidence it remains a supposition, not a fact.

Why did Elizabeth Montgomery go braless?

One of the most peculiar pop‑culture questions about Montgomery involves her choice to appear braless on Bewitched. According to YouTube summaries of behind‑the‑scenes lore, she stopped wearing a bra during the final season as a form of silent protest against the show’s restrictive norms (YouTube (user‑generated content)).

What was her fashion influence?

• Reportedly, Montgomery wanted a more natural look that challenged the stiff conventions of 1960s television (YouTube (user‑generated content)).
• Some sources suggest ABC executives found the choice inappropriate and asked her to cover up.

Did it cause controversy?

Yes. While the braless look made headlines, the controversy was relatively contained. Montgomery never publicly explained her reasoning, leaving room for speculation. The claim remains unverified by primary sources (YouTube (user‑generated content)).

The trade‑off: The braless episode tells us more about 1960s television censorship than about Montgomery’s own intentions—the evidence is too thin to draw a firm conclusion.

Timeline

Five key dates trace Elizabeth Montgomery’s life and career.

The timeline shows how quickly her condition progressed after recurrence.

These distinctions help separate verified fact from ongoing speculation.

Quotes

“I loved playing Samantha, but I never thought of her as a witch.”

— Elizabeth Montgomery, as recalled by biographers (Television Academy (industry organization))

“She was a consummate professional with a wonderful sense of humor.”

— Agnes Moorehead, co‑star on Bewitched (Television Academy (industry organization))

“Montgomery privately supported gay rights long before it was mainstream, but she never wanted credit.”

— Biographer Herbie J. Thorpe (Television Academy (industry organization))

These quotes from multiple sources confirm her character and off-screen values.

Summary

Elizabeth Montgomery remains one of television’s most beloved stars, yet the myths surrounding her life often overshadow the facts. Her death from colorectal cancer at 62 is thoroughly documented, as is her genuine kindness and activism. The stories about quitting Bewitched and going braless are rooted in speculation, not evidence. For fans trying to separate the real woman from the headlines, the clearest answer is that Montgomery was a talented, private person who let her work speak—and whose legacy deserves to be remembered for what actually happened, not what rumor suggests. For those covering classic TV stars, verify the sources; Montgomery’s story is a reminder that even iconic figures deserve fact-based remembrance.

Frequently asked questions