One of the most famous child stars of the late 60s made a surprise appearance at a cabaret show before the Oscars ceremony begins this month in Hollywood.
Erin Murphy, who played the young Tabitha Stephens in the American sitcom Bewitched, died on April 9.
The 58-year-old was invited to an impromptu Q&A with Aspen and Emmy winner Carolyn Hennesy, best known for her long-running role as Diane Miller on the soap opera General Hospital.
On stage, she sang a duet with the legendary Aspen of Bewitched theme song, composed by Jack Keller and Howard Greenfield.
Murphy, best known for playing the magical daughter of a witch (Elizabeth Montgomery) and her mortal husband (Dick York, later replaced by Dick Sargent) in the ABC comedy, is now one of only two survivors original cast of Bewitched Witch. the other is her twin sister Diane, with whom she shared the role of Tabitha.
Erin Murphy, who played Tabitha Stephens in Bewitched (pictured with Elizabeth Montgomery and Dick York), made a surprise appearance at a Hollywood cabaret show earlier this month
Murphy (left, with Elizabeth Montgomery) joined former Sunrise host Nelson Aspen for his “Welcome Home” performance at the Gardenia Club in Los Angeles (right) on March 9.
The 58-year-old (centre) was invited to an impromptu Q&A with Aspen (left) and actress Carolyn Hennesy (right), best known for her role as Diane Miller in the soap opera General Hospital
She faded from the spotlight after the final episode of Bewitched aired in 1972, but thanks to reruns and syndication, she remained a familiar face to viewers.
Murphy, who was just two years old when she began playing Tabitha, graduated from El Toro High School in Lake Forest, California in 1981 and went on to work as a casting director, makeup artist, stylist, acting teacher and stunt double.
Later in life, the mother of six returned as a TV host for Fox Reality Channel and E! network and also ran several infomercials.
She continues to work in the entertainment industry as an actress and voice actor and co-owns an alcoholic popsicle brand, Slim Chillers.
Bewitched aired from 1964 to 1972 and starred Elizabeth Montgomery as a kind-hearted witch named Samantha who falls in love with and marries an ordinary man named Darrin.
Bewitched aired from 1964 to 1972 and starred Elizabeth Montgomery as a kind-hearted witch named Samantha who married an ordinary man named Darrin (Dick York). While Samantha honestly tries to live a normal life, her family of witches and wizards always interfere in her affairs, including her mother Endora, played by Agnes Moorehead (right).
Murphy (starring Montgomery) faded from the limelight after the final episode aired in 1972, but remained a familiar face to viewers thanks to reruns and syndication
Darrin wants to live a normal, non-magical life, and Samantha honestly tries to hide her powers from the outside world.
However, her family of witches and wizards constantly interfere in her affairs, including her mother Endora, played by Agnes Moorehead.
Dick York played against Darrin in the early seasons, but left in 1969 due to health problems related to a back injury and was replaced by Dick Sargent.
Murphy appeared on the show in 1966 as Darrin and Samantha’s daughter Tabitha and remained on the show until it ended in 1972.
She and her twin sister Diane were lumped together as Tabitha to comply with US child labor laws that limited the number of hours each girl could be employed.
But as Murphy told Studio 10 in March 2020, she and Diane were fraternal twins and “once they hired us, they realized we’re really not very alike.”
She explained: “They ended up showing my sister from behind or from a distance and after the first year I took over.”
Murphy (pictured in 2021) was just two years old when she started playing Tabitha and went on to work as a casting director, make-up artist, stylist, drama teacher and stunt double. Later in life, the mother of six returned as a TV host for Fox Reality Channel and E!
Murphy also said that Montgomery, who died of cancer in May 1995 aged 62, was “like a mother” to her, adding: “We were close on set and I loved her very much.”
However, her “Favorite” co-star was Moorehead, who “was very much like a grandmother to me and I just thought she was beautiful and colorful and fun.” And her favorite color was purple and everything in her dressing room was purple.’
Later in the 1970s, there was a short-lived spin-off series called Tabitha, in which the adult character was played by Lisa Hartman.
Nelson Aspen’s next cabaret shows are June 28 and 30 at 42 The Green Room in New York City, guest stars to be announced
Source: Daily Mail
Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
