The Truth About '60s TV Stars Barbara Eden & Elizabeth Montgomery's Rumored Feud

Famous women being pitted against each other is a tale as old as time, so it's no surprise that back in the '60s, when Barbara Eden and Elizabeth Montgomery both headlined their own magic-themed ABC sitcoms (which also happened to be filmed on the same lot), rumors of a feud between them began to brew. However, according to Eden herself, there was no truth to the rumblings. 

It's not exactly clear where the rumors of tension between the two leading ladies began, but Eden herself acknowledged them in a 2013 interview with The Sydney Morning Herald. As seen in an excerpt from that interview included in the "Bewitched 60th: Anniversary Special," Eden rubbished the claims, telling the outlet, "Elizabeth [Montgomery] and I were on the same lot. I'd see her every morning. We were both pregnant together, both had our babies around the same time. We chatted a lot. If there was any perceived rivalry, it was the producers' invention." 

The actor would go on to dispel the claims of tensions on at least two more occasions, though despite her initial comments about chatting a lot, it seems those chats were limited for logistical reasons. Speaking to Fox News Digital in 2025, she explained, "We did not have a lot of time to talk or be girlfriends. Remember, we would be in the makeup department in the morning, getting ready for our scenes. We had to get to work. But she was always pleasant." Speaking to People a few days later, Eden reiterated that. "The only time we saw each other was at 6:00 in the morning. So we were not really Chatty Cathy at that time of the morning, at least I'm not. It was hello, goodbye. It's good to see you. Things like that," she said. 

Sadly, Elizabeth Montgomery passed away in 1995, and she never got a chance to debunk any of the feud claims herself. However, a year after her death, a star from yet another mystical ABC sitcom filmed on the same lot spoke about her experience with both actors. Sally Field, who played the titular character on "The Flying Nun," recounted in an appearance on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" that she had her makeup done in the same room as Montgomery and Barbara Eden (via the "Bewitched 60th: Anniversary Special"). And, despite Eden's comments about not being "Chatty Cathy," Field joked that she wasn't exactly silent. 

"Barbara Eden would be endlessly singing," Field recalled. She went on to recall Montgomery complaining, "She doesn't shut up." However, after O'Donnell quipped that they'd just got a scoop and that "Bewitched was angry at Jeannie," Field no doubt realized that things could be easily taken out of context, and a fresh round of feud rumors might well start doing the rounds. "No, they were very close," Field said. 

Eden didn't comment on the claims of Montgomery's irritation, but it is worth noting that she wasn't offended by Field's comments on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" or later statements that Field had been frustrated by the singing herself. In fact, in her 2011 memoir, "Jeannie Out of the Bottle," Eden explained that she'd been preparing for her Las Vegas act at the time and wrote, "Sorry, Sally! If only I'd known, I'd have practiced in the shower instead." TBH, we're a little sad all three ABC queens never got to do a magical crossover (and maybe if they had, the feud rumors wouldn't exist). Both Field and the almost-centenarian Eden are keen to keep working today, though, so we can always dream.