Erin Murphy The actress who played Tabitha, the cute little nose-twitching witch on “Bewitched,” shares memories and the joy of the journey Story and photos by David Laurell
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rom 1966 to 1972, Erin Murphy played the wee witch Tabitha, the first-born child of the mortal Darrin Stephens and his bewitching wife, Samantha, on the popular television series “Bewitched.” Today, while the actors who played Dennis the Menace, Eddie Munster, Beaver Cleaver and so many other roles in classic television shows from the 1960s and ‘70s are now adults, it is more than a bit disconcerting for those who grew up watching Murphy that she is no longer that adorable little nosetwitcher, but rather a poised businesswoman, the mother of six and (get ready to hold on to something) a grandmother! “It really does surprise people when they hear I have six children and a four-year-old granddaughter,” laughs Murphy.
THE BEWITCHING BACKSTORY Well-received since it debuted in 1964, the Emmy Award-winning “Bewitched” was ranked number two in the ratings for its first two years and went on to be ABC’s biggest success of the mid-1960s. Tabitha, who arrived on the January 13, 1966 episode, was first played by infant twin sisters, Heidi and Laura Gentry, and later by Tamar and Julie
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Young. In the fall of 1966, as Tabitha transitioned into a toddler (things move quickly in television time), Erin and her twin sister, Diane, who had done some commercial work, assumed the role when they were two-years-old. Erin, the real-life daughter of a mother who was a teacher and a father who owned a North Hollywood business college, doesn’t have any recollection of working on the very early episodes, although she later learned that after their first appearance, the producers realized she and Diane didn’t really look identical. “They only used her for wide shots and reverse-angle shots,” Murphy explains. “And then Diane left the show completely after the second season.” While she may not recall the very early days, Murphy does has vivid recollections that go back to when she was very young. “Everyone remembers things from when they were eight, but not much from when they were two,” she says. “I do have clear memories of being very young and watching the technicians set up the lights and prepare the special effects. I always loved to see how the magic was done. But I played Tabitha until I was eight, so I do have a lot of great memories. In fact, if I watch an episode today, I will, many times, have a memory
of doing that particular show. I especially liked the episodes when they brought in wild animals, like elephants and monkeys. And I loved any show that had other kids, because it was an all-adult cast.” As the only child incloved with the production, Murphy had studio tutors, but also attended regular school. “My classmates never treated me like a celebrity,” she recalls. “I was just a normal kid. Well, except for when the studio would have me picked up in a limo and the whole class would come out to see me off.”
CONJURING UP MEMORIES Amongst her fondest memories of doing “Bewitched” are those of Murphy’s co-stars, Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York, Dick Sargent and Agnes Moorehead. “Liz was great!” says Murphy. “We did so many things away from the set. Her three kids were right around my age, so we did a lot of things together – trick-or-treating, going to the movies. One Christmas, we even all got together at my parents’ cabin in Lake Arrowhead.” Murphy says that as she has gotten older, many people have told her she reminds them of Montgomery. “I’ve also been told that I act like