With its clever writing, endearing characters, and a hint of otherworldly mayhem, the beloved TV sitcom Bewitched captivated audiences for eight incredible seasons. The show, which ran from 1964 to 1972, followed Samantha Stephens, a witch who marries a regular man named Darrin and tries to lead a typical suburban existence. However, when spells, broomsticks, and oddball magical relatives are involved, this is much more difficult to do.
Samantha and Darrin welcome a daughter, Tabitha Stephens, halfway through the series, and she quickly reveals that she has inherited her mother’s magical skills. With just a slight wiggle of her finger or twitch of her nose, young Tabitha stole the show and won over the hearts of the audience.
The charming little Tabitha, however, was played by Diane and Erin Murphy, identical twins, rather than a single child actress.
In television and films, twins are frequently cast for child roles, particularly when the character is very young. Due to labour restrictions that limit the number of hours a child actor can work, having twins enables the production to double the amount of time available for filming. Erin Murphy and Diane Murphy were cast as baby Tabitha when they were just a few months old, having been born in June 1964.
When the character was first presented in Season 2, they started taking turns playing the part, while some infant sequences apparently also included other babies before the twins were cast in the part. By the fourth season, producers decided that Erin Murphy would play the role full-time because of her greater resemblance to Elizabeth Montgomery (Samantha). On set and in front of the camera, Erin also appeared more at ease.
Erin Murphy had a lot of positive recollections of her time on Bewitched, even though she was quite young. In interviews, she has talked about the welcoming, familial atmosphere on set. Particularly, Elizabeth Montgomery was renowned for being protective, kind, and sympathetic to the young actress both on and off film.
Erin has frequently stated that she never felt like she was working on Bewitched. She cherished the opportunity to play on set, be among the actors and staff, and experience something genuinely magical, both physically and figuratively. The episodes when Tabitha first experiments with her magical abilities are also recalled by many fans, and they have endearing and humorous moments that are still cherished today.
Erin had just been eight years old when Bewitched ended in 1972. She briefly resumed her acting career, making over 100 appearances in commercials, guest spots, and modelling. However, she made the decision to completely give up acting when she was thirteen.
In subsequent interviews, Erin stated that all she wanted was a typical upbringing, complete with friends, school, and a private life. Erin’s transition into everyday life was seamless, in contrast to many child stars of her day. In her adult life, she pursued a range of professions after attending public school.
Erin Murphy is a mother, businesswoman, TV host, and public speaker today. She’s had jobs in fashion, had an alpaca business, and even done stunt double work and cosmetics. She has also appeared as a guest on talk shows and documentaries, hosting infomercials and offering her thoughts on Bewitched and vintage television.
She is still incredibly grateful for her time on the program and continues to love the part that made her famous. In order to engage with devoted series fans and share behind-the-scenes anecdotes, Erin frequently attends conventions and fan events with a Bewitched theme.
And Diane, her sister? After Bewitched, Diane decided to live a completely secret life and is rarely seen in public, even briefly playing the part of Tabitha in her early years.
In the history of sitcoms, Tabitha is still one of the most recognisable TV kids. Particularly in later seasons when the show’s emphasis occasionally veered more towards family issues than witchcraft, her naive use of magic, wide-eyed inquiry, and charming nature made her a highlight on Bewitched.
Because of her popularity, Tabitha even had a brief spin-off series in the late 1970s, albeit Erin Murphy did not return. The show only ran for one season, but it showed an adult Tabitha working at a TV station.
Reruns, DVDs, and streaming services all carry on Samantha and Tabitha’s enchantment decades after Bewitched concluded. Erin Murphy, a genuine television classic, will always be the face of magical mischief and youthful joy for viewers.
