6 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘Bewitched’ Star Agnes Moorehead
Agnes Moorehead, who died on April 30, 1974, at the age of 73, is best known for playing Endora, Samantha’s meddling mother, on the classic TV show Bewitched. Who can forget her daggers of disapproval aimed squarely at poor “Darwin,” her overly flamboyant style, and, of course, her whimsical witchcraft, which frequently resulted in comedic hijinks galore? Her portrayal of Endora earned Agnes six Emmy nominations during the show’s run (1964-72), proving that she was beloved by both TV audiences and critics alike.
But there was more to her than just sitcom magic. Here are six things you might not have known about this legendary performer.
1 She was a member of Orson Welles’ Mercury Theatre
Everett Collection
Before beginning her television career, Agnes was involved in the world of theatre and radio, most notably with Orson Welles (who she originally met when he was just a youngster). She was a member of his Mercury Theatre troupe, which led to her being involved in the infamous 1938 The War of the Worlds radio broadcast. Her collaboration with Welles extended to film, as well: Her screen debut was in his masterpiece, Citizen Kane, where she played Kane’s mother, Mary.
2 She was a big star on radio
During the golden age of radio, Agnes was a voice actor in demand. Her distinctive voice and dramatic flair made her a sought-after performer for numerous radio dramas. Perhaps most notably, she starred in the radio play Sorry, Wrong Number on the series Suspense, performing the lead role of a frantic, bedridden woman who overhears a murder plot — a role that has been hailed by radio historians as one of the greatest individual performances ever. It’s also worth noting that Agnes returned to radio during the ’70s for two of her final roles on CBS Radio Mystery Theater.
3 Four Oscar nominations, zero wins
Everett Collection
While she received immense recognition for Bewitched, Agnes was also a highly regarded dramatic actress in film, and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress on four separate occasions —in 1943 for The Magnificent Ambersons, 1945 for Mrs. Parkington, 1949 for Johnny Belinda (pictured above) and 1965 for Hush … Hush, Sweet Charlotte. Sadly, she never took home an Oscar, joining the ranks of many other unlucky actors who were frequently nominated but never won.
4 …But she won two Golden Globes
© 20th Century Fox Film Corp. Credit: Everett Collection.
While that gold Oscar statue may have remained elusive, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association honored Agnes with a Golden Globe Award twice. She won Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for a couple of the same films she received Oscar nominations for: Mrs. Parkington and Hush… Hush, Sweet Charlotte (pictured above).
5 She didn’t believe that Bewitched would be a success
Credit: Ron Thal / TV Guide / courtesy Everett Collection
When Agnes took the role of Endora, she truly thought that she was signing up for a very short-term gig; she believed that the show would not be successful. No one was more surprised than Agnes when Bewitched became a huge hit — but fortunately, her contract specified that she would only be required to appear in 75% of each season’s episodes, which allowed her time to pursue other roles and passions, which included spending time far away from the bright lights of Hollywood, on her cattle ranch in Ohio.
6 She was more than just Samantha’s mother
Everett Collection
After Bewitched ended, Agnes maintained her relationship with the show’s star, Elizabeth Montgomery; during their time working together, the two actresses had grown quite fond of each other, and she absolutely loved that Elizabeth had always viewed her as something of a mentor. She had become someone that Elizabeth could come to, not only when she had a work-related question, but when she encountered something that was particularly difficult in her personal life as well. When Agnes passed away in 1974, Elizabeth was affected deeply. While devastated by the loss, Elizabeth did not make any sort of public statement. Instead, she chose to mourn Agnes’s death privately.
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