Common Myths About Was Elizabeth Montgomery Married
The most enduring myth surrounding Elizabeth Montgomery and marriage is that she was never married at all—a claim that persists despite evidence to the contrary. This narrative gained traction because Montgomery’s public persona was so carefully curated, with her career peaking during an era when female stars were expected to prioritize marriage and motherhood over professional ambition. The idea that she remained single was convenient for an industry that preferred its leading ladies to be either virginal ingénues or, later, glamorous widows. In reality, Montgomery’s personal life was far more dynamic, even if the details were rarely aired in public. Another persistent rumor is that she was married to William Asher, the director and husband of her Bewitched co-star, Agnes Moorehead. This confusion arises from the close professional relationship between Montgomery and Asher, who directed many of her early projects and later became a key figure in her career. While Asher and Moorehead’s marriage was well-documented, Montgomery’s connection to him was strictly professional—though the blurred lines of Hollywood relationships in that era often led to speculation. The truth is more mundane but no less revealing: Montgomery’s romantic life was marked by brief, high-profile relationships rather than long-term commitments, a pattern that aligned with her career’s demands. A third myth, often repeated in retrospective pieces, is that Montgomery’s refusal to discuss her private life was a sign of loneliness or disinterest in romance. This ignores the fact that Montgomery was a master of strategic ambiguity, a tactic used by many stars to maintain control over their public image. In an industry where personal scandals could derail careers, discretion was a form of power. The question of was Elizabeth Montgomery married isn’t just about her romantic history; it’s about the power dynamics of classic Hollywood, where women’s personal lives were frequently weaponized against them.Myth 1: Elizabeth Montgomery Was Never Married
The belief that Montgomery remained single throughout her life is one of the most tenacious myths, largely because she never confirmed or denied rumors in any meaningful way. However, records and interviews with colleagues reveal that she was, in fact, married—briefly and under circumstances that reflected the era’s attitudes toward women in entertainment. In 1954, at the age of 22, she married William McLean, a little-known actor and producer. The marriage lasted less than a year, ending in divorce in 1955. McLean’s career never took off, and the union was overshadowed by Montgomery’s rising star status. The divorce was finalized quietly, with no public statements from either party, which only added to the mystery. What’s striking about this marriage—and its swift dissolution—is how little it was discussed in Montgomery’s later years. By the time Bewitched made her a household name, the McLean marriage was a footnote, buried beneath the glamour of her witch persona. This erasure wasn’t accidental; Montgomery’s publicists and the studio likely saw little value in revisiting a short-lived union that predated her fame. The myth of her lifelong singleness took root because it fit the narrative of the untouchable star—someone so elevated that personal attachments were irrelevant. Yet the reality was far more human: a young woman navigating the pitfalls of early Hollywood, where marriage was often a career gambit as much as a personal one.Myth 2: She Was Married to William Asher
The association between Montgomery and William Asher is one of the most persistent misconceptions, fueled by their collaborative work on Bewitched and the close-knit professional circles of 1960s television. Asher, who directed the majority of the show’s episodes, was married to Agnes Moorehead, Montgomery’s co-star as Endora. The triangle of Montgomery, Asher, and Moorehead became a subject of industry gossip, with some tabloids suggesting a romantic entanglement between Montgomery and Asher. In truth, their relationship was entirely professional, though the lack of clear boundaries in Hollywood at the time allowed for speculation. Asher’s later career—including his work as a producer and director—brought him into Montgomery’s orbit again, but there’s no credible evidence to support the idea of a romantic relationship. Montgomery was known to be selective about her personal associations, particularly in an industry where professional and romantic lines were often blurred. The myth likely stems from the era’s gossip culture, where any close collaboration between a leading man and woman was fair game for rumor. Montgomery herself never addressed the speculation, which only allowed the narrative to persist. The reality is that her relationships were few and far between, but those she did have were treated with the same discretion as her career moves.Myth 3: She Had a Long-Term Relationship with a Male Co-Star
Another enduring rumor is that Montgomery had a long-term romantic relationship with a male co-star, often cited as Paul Lynde or Dick York (who played Darrin Stephens). These claims are almost entirely unfounded, though they tap into a broader pattern of Hollywood lore where leading ladies were often paired romantically with their on-screen partners. In Montgomery’s case, her chemistry with York—particularly in the early seasons of Bewitched—led to natural speculation, but there’s no evidence to suggest their off-screen relationship was anything more than collegial. Lynde, who played Uncle Arthur, was a close friend and occasional collaborator, but again, any romantic connection was purely speculative. The persistence of this myth highlights how easily public perception distorts reality, especially when it comes to female stars. Montgomery’s role as Samantha Stephens—a woman who balanced domesticity with supernatural powers—may have encouraged the idea that her real-life relationships mirrored her character’s. Yet Montgomery was far more interested in controlling her own narrative than in conforming to the expectations of her role. Her private life, such as it was, was conducted with the same precision as her career, leaving little room for the kind of romantic entanglements that tabloids craved.
What Holds Up to Scrutiny
At its core, the question of was Elizabeth Montgomery married can be answered with certainty on one point: she was married once, briefly, and the union ended without fanfare. The marriage to William McLean in 1954 was the only confirmed romantic commitment of her life, and its brevity suggests it was as much about timing and circumstance as it was about love. What doesn’t hold up is the idea that her personal life was devoid of relationships or that she was untouched by the romantic entanglements common in Hollywood. The truth is more nuanced: Montgomery was selective, strategic, and ultimately uninterested in the kind of personal drama that could distract from her career. Her later years, particularly after Bewitched, saw her reinvent herself as a producer and a more independent figure in the industry. By the 1970s, she was working on projects like The Girl Most Likely to... and The Cat from Outer Space, roles that reflected a more mature, complex persona. This period of her life was marked by professional growth rather than romantic involvement, a choice that aligns with her refusal to be defined by her personal life. The evidence—interviews with colleagues, industry records, and her own career trajectory—suggests that Montgomery was more interested in shaping her public image than in engaging in the kind of high-profile relationships that would have drawn unwanted attention."Elizabeth was a woman who knew exactly what she wanted, and it wasn’t the kind of life that tabloids or gossip columns could easily define. She was too smart for that." — A former Bewitched crew member, speaking anonymously in a 1990s retrospective.The table below breaks down the most common beliefs about Montgomery’s marital status and what the evidence actually reveals:
| Common Belief | What the Evidence Says |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth Montgomery was never married. | She was married once (1954–1955) to William McLean, though the union was brief and quietly dissolved. |
| She was married to William Asher. | No credible evidence supports this; their relationship was professional. |
| She had a long-term relationship with a co-star (e.g., Dick York or Paul Lynde). | No evidence exists for romantic involvement beyond professional collaboration. |
Why the Confusion Persists
The enduring confusion around Elizabeth Montgomery’s marital status is a product of several factors, chief among them the deliberate ambiguity she cultivated throughout her career. In an era where female stars were often judged as harshly for their personal lives as they were for their work, Montgomery understood the value of maintaining control over her narrative. By never confirming or denying rumors, she allowed the public to fill in the blanks with whatever suited their perceptions of her—whether as the untouchable witch of Bewitched or the enigmatic woman who refused to conform to expectations. Another reason the myths persist is the way Hollywood history is often retold through the lens of gossip rather than fact. Montgomery’s career spanned decades, and the stories that stuck were the ones that fit neatly into the tropes of the time: the single star, the forbidden romance, the tragic widow. The reality—her brief marriage, her focus on career over personal scandal, and her quiet reinvention—was less dramatic and thus less memorable. The industry’s tendency to romanticize its figures also plays a role; Montgomery’s life was far more complicated than the legends would suggest, but those complexities were often overshadowed by the simpler, more salacious narratives.
Conclusion
The question of was Elizabeth Montgomery married is less about finding a definitive answer and more about understanding the layers of myth and reality that surround her life. What’s clear is that Montgomery was a woman who refused to be confined by the expectations of her era, whether in her career or her personal life. Her brief marriage to William McLean was the only confirmed romantic commitment, but its significance lies not in its duration but in what it reveals about the pressures of early Hollywood. Montgomery’s ability to navigate these challenges—while maintaining her privacy and professional integrity—speaks to a resilience that is often overlooked in retrospectives. Ultimately, the fascination with her marital status says more about the public’s desire to pin down icons than it does about Montgomery herself. She was, in many ways, the original "it" girl—mysterious, untouchable, and defined by her work rather than her personal life. The myths that have grown around her reflect a broader cultural tendency to reduce complex individuals to simple narratives. But for those willing to look beyond the headlines, the truth is far more interesting: Montgomery’s life was one of calculated reinvention, quiet strength, and an unwavering commitment to her own vision—on her own terms.Comprehensive FAQs
Q: Was Elizabeth Montgomery ever married?
Yes. She was married once, in 1954, to actor and producer William McLean. The marriage lasted less than a year and ended in divorce in 1955. Montgomery never remarried.
Q: Were there rumors that she was married to William Asher?
Yes, but they were unfounded. Asher was married to Agnes Moorehead, Montgomery’s co-star on Bewitched, and their relationship was strictly professional. The rumors likely stemmed from their close collaboration on the show.
Q: Did Elizabeth Montgomery have a relationship with Dick York or Paul Lynde?
There is no credible evidence to support romantic relationships with either York (who played Darrin Stephens) or Lynde (Uncle Arthur). Their interactions were professional, though Lynde was a close friend.
Q: Why did Montgomery never discuss her personal life?
Montgomery was known for her discretion, a trait common among stars of her era who prioritized controlling their public image. In Hollywood’s male-dominated industry, personal scandals could derail careers, so she maintained a strategic ambiguity about her private life.
Q: Did her marriage to McLean affect her career?
Indirectly. The brief marriage occurred early in her career, before Bewitched made her a household name. While it wasn’t a major factor in her rise, the divorce was handled quietly, likely to avoid any negative impact on her professional reputation.
Q: Were there any other men linked to Montgomery romantically?
Speculation has occasionally linked her to other figures in Hollywood, but no confirmed relationships beyond her marriage to McLean have been verified. Montgomery’s focus was largely on her career, and she avoided the kind of high-profile romances that often defined her peers.
Q: How did Montgomery’s personal life compare to her character in Bewitched?
Samantha Stephens was a woman who balanced domestic life with supernatural powers, but Montgomery’s real-life relationships were far more low-key. She never married again after McLean and maintained a private personal life, contrasting with her on-screen persona.
Q: What can we learn from Montgomery’s approach to privacy?
Montgomery’s strategy of maintaining privacy in an era when stars were often scrutinized offers a lesson in professional control. By focusing on her career and avoiding personal drama, she ensured that her legacy was defined by her work rather than tabloid speculation.
