A raw, revealing sit‑down with Billy Corgan — childhood fame, family truths, and the real magic behind TV’s most iconic witchling
It’s another week, and that means another deep‑dive conversation on The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan. This time, the Smashing Pumpkins frontman welcomes actress and multi‑hyphenate Erin Murphy — forever beloved as Tabitha Stephens, the tiny witchling who charmed over 30 million viewers a week during Bewitched’s peak .
What unfolds is a warm, candid, and surprisingly intimate conversation about growing up inside one of television’s most enduring phenomena — and the parts of her story she’s never told before.
Erin Murphy brings Tabitha memories into Billy Corgan’s strange little interview universe
From Bewitched childhood magic to behind-the-scenes Hollywood memory, Erin’s sit-down feels like classic-TV nostalgia filtered through Billy Corgan’s outsider-artist curiosity.
Discovered in a Stroller… But Not for ‘Bewitched’
Murphy clears up one of the longest‑running myths: She was discovered in a stroller — but not for Bewitched.
She explains that her parents were constantly stopped by strangers marveling at the “little blonde twins,” which led to early commercials. By the time Bewitched came calling, she already had an agent and auditioned properly .
The Truth About Her Acting Parents — And How They Protected Both Twins
For the first time, Murphy shares how her parents navigated the industry:
- They alternated being on set, but stayed out of her eyeline so she could focus on the director and cast
- They compensated heavily for her twin sister Diane, ensuring she had equally joyful experiences — carnivals, outings, special days just for her
- Producers skirted child labor laws by pretending to “switch twins,” but secretly bringing Erin right back on set because she was the one who loved performing
It’s a rare, honest look at what supportive showbiz parenting actually looked like in the 60s.
Dreamy Memories: Baby Elephants, Chimpanzees & Agnes Moorehead’s Earrings
Murphy’s childhood memories are vivid and sensory — not from watching the show, but from living it.
She recalls:
- Touching a baby elephant on set at age two
- Sitting beside a chimpanzee and playing with it
- Navigating studio floors covered in wires since she could walk
- And her deep, grandmother‑like bond with Agnes Moorehead, who drew her little cartoons she still keeps today
These are the kinds of stories fans have never heard — the real texture of a 1960s Hollywood set through a child’s eyes.
The Show That Never Ended — Literally
Murphy reveals a staggering fact: Bewitched has never been off the air since the day it premiered. It still runs in over 100 countries, and all eight seasons now stream on Hulu and Amazon Prime .
It’s one of the only shows from the era with uninterrupted global syndication.
The Sudden End: No Goodbyes, No Final Day, Just a Telegram
One of the most emotional revelations:
The cast never filmed a final episode. They went on hiatus expecting to return — until telegrams arrived announcing the show was over due to Elizabeth Montgomery and Bill Asher’s divorce.
There were no goodbyes, no wrap party, no closure. Murphy simply went to Girl Scout camp and started living a normal childhood again .
A Life of Many Careers — And Zero Ego
Corgan is stunned by her résumé: casting, makeup, styling, teaching, acting, motivational speaking, stunt work.
Murphy explains:
- She became a stunt double because she could drive stick when Virginia Madsen couldn’t
- She taught makeup artistry at an accredited school
- She worked sales, taught acting, and embraced every job with curiosity rather than entitlement
Her philosophy is simple:
“Fame isn’t a goal. Fame is a byproduct of something else.”
Her Son Parker, Autism, and the Advocacy She Never Brags About
Murphy shares the emotional story of her son Parker:
- He developed normally, then suddenly lost all language after a seizure
- Music brought him back — he sang Beatles songs start to finish before he could speak again
- She immersed herself in autism‑related charities, therapeutic riding programs, and hands‑on support systems
She refuses the label “activist,” but her work speaks for itself.
A Perspective on Fame That’s Shockingly Healthy
Murphy never experienced the bitterness or collapse many child stars face.
She explains:
- She was never bullied
- She always felt loved
- She sees fame as neutral — not a right, not a burden
- She leads with kindness because people have always been kind to her
Corgan is visibly moved, telling her he wishes he could bottle her optimism.
