If you grew up watching Samantha Stephens twitch her nose to fix the living room or deal with a grumpy Endora, you definitely remember the arrival of baby Tabitha. She was the "witchlet" who brought a whole new level of chaos to the Stephens household. But if you look closely at those old reruns, you might notice something slightly off. Sometimes Tabitha’s face looks a bit rounder. Sometimes her hair seems a different shade of blonde. Honestly, there’s a good reason for that.
The question of who played Tabitha on Bewitched isn't as simple as naming one person. It’s actually a bit of a Hollywood puzzle involving several infants, a set of fraternal twins, and some very creative rule-bending by the show's producers.
The Early Days: The Babies You Don't Remember
Most fans immediately think of Erin Murphy when they picture Tabitha. That makes sense—she was there for the long haul. But before Erin became the face of the character, a handful of other infants actually held the role.
Tabitha first appeared in Season 2, specifically in the episode "And Then There Were Three," which aired in early 1966. For that initial appearance, the show used a baby named Cynthia Black. She didn’t stick around long, though. Because child labor laws in California were (and still are) incredibly strict regarding how many hours an infant can spend on a loud, hot television set, the production quickly moved to using twins.
Next up were Heidi and Laura Gentry. They filled the role for a few episodes before being replaced by Tamar and Julie Young.
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Why the constant swapping? Basically, it came down to growth and temperament. In the 1960s, if a baby grew too fast or wouldn't stop crying when the cameras rolled, the producers just moved on to the next set of twins. It sounds a little harsh, but that was the "magic" of television production back then.
The Erin and Diane Murphy Era
By the time Season 3 rolled around, the producers found their permanent Tabithas: Erin and Diane Murphy.
They were fraternal twins, not identical. This is a detail that most people gloss over, but it’s actually the key to why the casting eventually changed. When they were two years old, they looked enough alike that they could swap in and out to satisfy the legal work-hour requirements.
Erin was the more outgoing of the two. Diane, on the other hand, reportedly didn't love the bright lights and the bustling energy of a TV set. She would often get upset or cry when it was her turn to perform.
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The Great Twin Swap Trick
Erin Murphy has shared some pretty wild stories about how they handled the labor laws. The director, William Asher, would sometimes literally walk Erin off the set, announce to the crew, "Okay, let's bring Diane in now!"—and then just walk Erin right back onto the stage.
Because the twins weren't identical, the differences became impossible to hide as they grew older. Erin’s face narrowed out and she took on a look that many felt resembled Elizabeth Montgomery. Diane’s features developed differently. By the middle of the fifth season, the "swap" was no longer working. People were noticing.
Eventually, the production gave up the twin act. Erin Murphy became the sole actress playing Tabitha from that point forward, appearing in a total of 103 episodes until the show ended in 1972.
The "Other" Tabitha: What Happened in the Spin-off?
A lot of people forget that there was actually a short-lived spin-off called Tabitha that aired in 1977. This show followed an adult version of the character working at a television station in Los Angeles.
Erin Murphy did not return for this role. Instead, the part went to Lisa Hartman.
It was a weird show. It ignored a lot of the original series' continuity—like making Adam the older brother instead of the younger one—and it only lasted for one season. For die-hard fans of the original 1960s classic, Lisa Hartman is the "other" Tabitha that feels a bit like a fever dream.
Life After the Nose Twitch
So, what happened to the girl who spent her childhood in a suburban house with a witch and a mortal?
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Erin Murphy didn't go down the typical "troubled child star" path. She’s been incredibly open about how much she enjoyed her time on the show. After Bewitched wrapped, she did some modeling and appeared in over a hundred commercials, but she eventually stepped away from full-time acting to live a more "normal" life.
She’s had a fascinating career path since then:
- Stunt Double: She actually worked as a stunt double for Virginia Madsen.
- Business Owner: She started a company called Slim Chillers that makes frozen vodka martini pops.
- Advocacy: She’s a huge advocate for autism awareness, inspired by her own son's diagnosis.
- Reality TV: You might have spotted her on shows like Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling or RuPaul's Drag U.
She still attends fan conventions and stays in touch with the legacy of the show. Diane Murphy, her twin, left the industry entirely by the time she was thirteen and went on to have a successful career in the business world, completely away from the Hollywood spotlight.
Common Misconceptions About the Casting
There are two big rumors that always seem to pop up when people talk about who played Tabitha on Bewitched.
- "She was played by a boy": Nope. Total myth. While many sitcoms of that era did use boys to play girls (and vice versa) for convenience, Tabitha was always played by girls.
- "Jodie Foster or Helen Hunt were Tabitha": This is a "what if" that got twisted over time. Both actresses were reportedly considered for the role or auditioned at various points for child roles in the Bewitched universe, but neither ever actually played the part.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're a fan of the show or a trivia buff looking to dive deeper into the history of Bewitched, here are a few things you can actually do:
- Watch the "Mumps" Episode: Look for the Season 5 episode "Samantha Fights City Hall." Erin Murphy actually had the mumps during filming, so Diane Murphy had to step in and play the entire part. It's the one time you can clearly see the difference if you're looking for it.
- Check the Credits: If you watch the later seasons, you'll notice only Erin's name. In the early Season 3 episodes, you might see "Erin and Diane Murphy" credited together.
- Follow Erin Murphy on Social Media: She is very active on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). She often shares behind-the-scenes photos that have never been published in books, giving a real look at what it was like to grow up on that set.
- Look for the Halloween Crossover: In the 1969 episode "To Trick-or-Treat or Not to Trick-or-Treat," Diane actually makes a cameo as a trick-or-treater alongside Erin. It's a rare moment where both twins are on screen at the same time.
Knowing who played Tabitha on Bewitched gives you a much deeper appreciation for the technical hurdles of 1960s television. It wasn't just about the acting; it was about navigating laws, managing twin growth spurts, and keeping the "magic" alive even when the kids weren't cooperating.