'Bewitched' Star Elizabeth Montgomery Was Upset in 1963: Real Father Chose Not to Play Her TV Dad

Bewitched star Elizabeth Montgomery, make-up artist Rolf Miller (far left), hair stylist Peanuts (middle), and Robert Montgomery (far right)Photo byPinterest.com

[Note: Unless otherwise indicated, the quotes and commentary that appear in this article are from the author's direct interview with Elizabeth Montgomery.]

Overview

The Bewitched TV sitcom was a hit during its original run on ABC from 1964 to 1972 and remains so in syndication.

With one of the largest casts in television history, Bewitched features Elizabeth Montgomery as Samantha - the witch with a twitch - Stephens, Dick York, and Dick Sargent sharing the role of her mortal husband Darrin; Agnes Moorehead as Samantha's feisty mother Endora, David White as Darrin's advertising boss Larry Tate, and among many others, Maurice Evans as Samantha's warlock father Maurice.

However, before Evans was cast in the role, two other actors were asked to play the part: Ceasar Romero and Elizabeth Montgomery's father, Robert Montgomery.

The elder Montgomery had been a film star of the 1930s and '40s, and hosted his own 1950s TV anthology series, Robert Montgomery Presents (on which his daughter made her small-screen debut).

However, in November of 1963, when Elizabeth asked her real-life talented dad to play Samantha's supernatural father in the pilot episode of Bewitched being filmed at the time, the senior Montgomery rejected the request. The actress also asked the stately actor to narrate the pilot episode, "I, Darrin, Take This Witch, Samantha," and he declined that request as well.

"I was hurt," Elizabeth said in a later interview from 1989. "But I got over it, and I understood why he decided not to play the part."

Conclusion

By the time Elizabeth Montgomery came to play Samantha on Bewitched, Robert Montgomery's career was on the decline. The daughter had become a bigger star than the father, and he may have been intimated by her success.

Also, too, there were other daddy-daughter issues including their vast political differences. She was a liberal Democrat and he was a conservative Republican.

Fortunately, both Elizabeth and Robert Montgomery cared a great deal for one another. "He knew how much I adored him," she said. "And I know he loved me, too."