If you grew up in the 60s and 70s, it’s very likely you’ve watched at least a few episodes of Bewitched. The enchantingly quirky sitcom was a huge success and went on to win several TV awards. One of the show’s classic characters was Tabitha, Daren and Samantha’s adorable little girl played by twin sisters Diane and Erin Murphy.[1]
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These two little actresses would pave the way for the Olsen twins generations later, who also played the same character.
So, what are Erin and Diane up to these days?
I have to admit, I’ve always found child actresses and actors very intriguing figures. Some say acting some more naturally to children than adults since they often live in make-believe worlds for fun anyway. However, acting is still very difficult to craft to master and can be incredibly hard on children.
However, a few very special children turned out to become true TV icons over the years. In that regard, it’s safe to say that Erin and Diane Murphy are amount two of the brightest stars of their generation.
Bewitched
As we know, the story of Bewitched involved a witch named Samantha, played by the legendary Elizabeth Montgomery, who married a mortal man named Darren Stephens, originally played by Dick York, later replaced by Dick Sargent.
Bewitched would debut on September 17, 1964, on ABC, during a very turbulent era in history, and bring a much-needed diversion into the lives of millions of fans.
Sol Saks, the show’s creator, explained that the script for the pilot episode was inspired by the movies “Bell, Book, and Candle” and “I Married a Witch.”
The show went on to earn a number of Emmy awards, with its actors often nominated for several Golden Globes. It also became one of the longest-running sitcoms in ABC network history.
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While fans were captivated by Montgomery’s amazing presence on the show, one character always managed to steal the spotlight whenever she was in a scene, Darren and Samantha’s daughter, Tabitha Stephens. Combined with her cuteness and adorable little superpowers, fans were in love with this little angel.
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In a 1967 interview, Elizabeth admitted that she came up with the idea to name the character Tabitha.
“I loved it, because it was so old-fashioned,” she said in an interview, according to the Bewitched: History Book – 50th Anniversary Edition.
“I got it from one of the daughters of Edward Andrews, the actor. The two Andrews girls are named Tabitha and Abigail. … But, somehow or other, her name came out ‘Tabatha’ on the credit roll, and that’s the way it’s been ever since. Honestly, I shudder every time I see it. It’s like a squeaky piece of chalk scratching on my nerves.”
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Meet Diane and Erin Murphy
Tabitha, the couple’s daughter, earned a special place in the hearts of Bewitched fans. But, little did they know that the same twin sisters played the character for the seasons two through four? And throughout the show’s run, the character was played by a total of three different sets of twin sisters!
And today, both sisters are all grown up!
Happy birthday to twins @Erin_Murphy and Diane Murphy!! Watch them play Tabitha Stephens on Bewitched, every day on #AntennaTV! What's your favorite #TabithaStephens memory? pic.twitter.com/Sh8sJ67pge
— Antenna TV (@AntennaTV) June 17, 2019
Erin and Diane Murphy were born on June 17, 1964, in Encino, California.
They are fraternal twin sisters, with Diane arriving five minutes ahead of her sister Erin. Since they were fraternal, Erin and Diane were not identical. However, when they were younger, people had trouble telling them apart.
Their mom Stepanie decided to quit her job as a school teacher to be with her newborn daughters as a full-time mom. Meanwhile, their dad, Dan Murphy, owned a local business college, Murphy’s College, in Los Angeles.
The Tale of Two Tabithas
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The twins soon gained lots of attention while living in North Hollywood, which led a talent agent to contact their parents about signing them.
Erin and Diane would land the role of Tabitha in Bewitched and made her debut soon after.
“Bewitched’ was doing this huge casting call,” Erin Murphy told Fox in 2017.
“They had previously shown it in black and white, so the big push of the third season was that the show was going to color and that they were going to focus more on the character of Tabitha. So they were looking for someone who looked like Elizabeth Montgomery and wasn’t afraid of the lights. I auditioned with my fraternal twin sister Diane and we got the part.”
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Erin Murphy – Tabitha Stephens
Erin would eventually take over the role in Season four since the children began to look less alike. Daine’s time on the show was over, but she said she has no regrets when speaking about her memories of her time there.
“I loved working on Bewitched, and it gave me some very unique and wonderful experiences, but eventually, I wanted to lead a more regular life. So I quit the entertainment business when I was thirteen years old.”
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For Erin, her time on the show meant spending lots of time with the other performers. She and Montgomery grew very close and remained in contact until May 1995, when the show’s matriarch passed away from colorectal cancer at age 62.
“A lot of people who knew Liz well and knew me told me how much I’m like her,” Murphy told ABC.
“And I think it’s because we spent 12 hours a day together growing up. I looked to her as a parent, and she would tell me what to do like a parent. In a lot of ways I’m so much like her than I am my own mom, which is hilarious.”
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Erin absolutely adored Anges Morehead, who played Samantha’s mother, Endora. She loved spending time in her dressing room. Sadly, the actress passed away in 1974 at age 73.
“She was probably my favorite person on the show in retrospect,” Murphy said.
“I loved her like a grandparent. I had grandparents who lived in other states I didn’t get to see and she didn’t have grandchildren, and we had a really great, loving relationship. She’d do little things like draw little cartoons for me in between scenes. She’d tell me stories. I loved going into her dressing room because everything was purple. I just thought she was the most colorful, most beautiful person.”
Tabitha All Grown Up
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Erin was in 102 episodes of Bewitched, spending a total of six seasons on the show. But, her sister did return to the show from time to time, playing minor roles as other characters.
So what became of Erin after the show?
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At first, Erin did a few commercials and a couple of modeling jobs. She also auditioned for other projects alongside other popular child actors like Helen Hunt and Jodie Foster.
In 1973, she landed a minor role in Lassie and continued landing roles in a few short films and TV series. In 2019, she returned to play once again the role of Tabitha Stephens in the comedy short TV Therapy.
As she grew older, Erin went on to become a successful correspondent and TV host. In recent years she’s also worked as a motivational speaker for several charitable organizations.
Life in California
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“I never really thought I would wind up in the alcohol business, but I have enjoyed a few good martinis in my life,” Murphy said in 2014.
Today, at age 57, she’s a mother of six boys aged 18-37, and she’s been married three times and still resides in the Los Angeles area. But, even today, people still approach her to express their undying love for her iconic character.
“Any moment that someone comes up to you just to say they liked you on a TV show, that’s flattering,” she told Fox.
“I think it’s very kind and I’m very open to posing for pictures, meeting fans and answering questions about ‘Bewitched.’ I’m thankful that people appreciate what I did. I think it’s awesome.”
Diane Murphy
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Meanwhile, her sister Diane is currently living in Santa Barbara, California. Before she left the entertainment business, Diane starred in a few commercials, including one with Henery Fonda.
Today the 57-year-old has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from the University of California and an M.B.A in management from Golden Gate University.
Diane currently serves as an associate executive director of Shelter Services for Women, an organization that provides shelter for women and their children who are victims of domestic violence.
She’s also a member of the Greater Santa Barbara Community Association board, which gives scholarships to gay and lesbian students in the community.
A Wonderful Legacy
When Erin was asked who she thought Tabitha would be today, she said:
“I think she would be a mom maybe living by the beach, with a laugh. I kind of feel like I have her life now. So definitely a mom, probably using her magic a little more than her mom did,” Erin Murphy says.
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You can also watch a video about Erin’s time as Tabitha below.
Thanks for reading. Please be so kind as to pass this story along to your friends and family?
Sources:
- “Little girl Tabitha from ‘Bewitched’ is all grown up – this is her today” Newsner. Rasmus Senator. October 6, 2020.
