6 December 1900 – 30 April 1974
Agnes Moorehead was an American actress who has worked on stage and screen. She is best known for playing Endora on TV series Bewitched. She also was known for Charlotte’s Web (1973), Hush Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964), Pollyanna (1961), Jane Eyre (1944) and Citizen Kane (1941).
Moorehead was born in Clinton, Massachusetts, US, her mother Mary was aged 17 when she gave birth to her. Her mother was a singer, and her father was a clergyman who had his own church. Growing up she became invested in singing and acting, and also gained a degree in biology at College, Ohio in 1923.
In 1962, she gained the role of Endora, Samantha’s mother on Bewitched. She negotiated to appear in only 8 of every 12 episodes, because she wanted the extra time to pursue other projects. She didn’t expect Bewitched to succeed and felt that the writing for the show was below standard. Moorehead was unhappy that she was mainly recognised for her work in Betwitched. She remained with the program until its end in 1972. She got along well with her co-star Elizabeth Montgomery but Dick Sargent (who played Darrin), had a more difficult relationship with her, and described her as a ‘tough old bird.’ Moorehead had a strong interest in religion and would arrive on set holding her Bible.
She was married twice and fostered a son Sean Lee in 1952. Rumours spread that Moorehead was gay, however those close to her said this was not true and it was started by her ex-husband during their divorce.
Moorehead’s health declined during the 1970s and died in 1974. Moorehead suffered from cancer after being exposed to radioactive from atomic bomb tests whilst filming The Conqueror (1956) with John Wayne in Iron City, Utah. 91 of the cast and crew developed cancer due to filming at that location. Moorehead died in Rochester, Minnesota from uterine cancer, aged 73. After her death, her mother gained her clothing and jewellery and finances. She stopped fostering her son Sean when he turned 18 and her will stated that she had no children, natural or adopted.
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