Erin Murphy says Elizabeth Montgomery never spoke to Dick York

erin murphy says Elizabeth Montgomery never spoke to Dick York after he left Bewitched. On Billy Corgan’s The Magnificent Others podcast, she also described Montgomery as “all business” off camera, a blunt correction to the softer version of the show’s off-screen history that has circulated online.

York left in 1969

Bewitched debuted in 1964 and ran for eight seasons until 1972, with Dick York appearing in five seasons before quitting in 1969 amid serious medical issues. Erin and Diane Murphy began playing Tabitha Stephens in 1966, which gave Erin Murphy a close view of the cast as the series moved through its middle years and later recasting.

Murphy said, “She never talked to Dick York after he left the set.” She added, “She did a job and left the job, and that was it.” Those comments matter because they cut against the sentimental story that has spread around Montgomery’s relationship with York after his exit.

Montgomery off camera

Murphy said, “I saw her side where she wasn't necessarily as soft and kind as Samantha.” She followed that with, “She was a businesswoman, and she was serious and definitely had that side.” That framing tracks with the way Murphy described Montgomery’s work habits: present, professional, and not especially interested in lingering behind the scenes once filming was done.

Murphy said she and other cast members stayed in touch through Christmas cards, and that she remained dear friends with Montgomery and Bill Asher’s children. She also said she was close to both of her Darrin dads, including York, who was “like a dad” to her on and off camera.

Dick Sargent and the cast

Murphy said, “Dick Sargent was a great guy, and we were in touch up until he passed away,” adding another layer to the cast’s off-screen network. York died in 1992, while Sargent died in 1994, leaving Murphy as one of the few voices able to describe how the show’s central family actually related once the cameras stopped rolling.

For readers who still think of Bewitched as a neatly bonded TV family, Murphy’s account is the cleaner read: Montgomery kept her distance from York after he left, and the real continuity came through children, cards, and later friendships rather than a sentimental reunion narrative.