Maurice Evans' spectacular character on ‘Bewitched’

Maurice Evans was an English actor who was born in Dorchester, Dorset, United Kingdom. He was best known for portraying Samantha's father, Maurice on the television series Bewitched. He was an urbane thespian, and the only warlock in the House of Lords. Most of the time Maurice made dramatic and exaggerated, entrances and exits by quoting Shakespearean verse. He was the estranged husband of Samantha’s mother Endora and the two had a unique yet humorous dynamic between them. There were threats of divorce but it never took place.

Maurice did not like the fact that his daughter married a mortal but in time came to tolerate Darrin. There were a few occasions where he sided with his son-in-law against Endora also is a respected member of the Warlock's Club in London. He once took Larry Tate’s son Jonathan to meet the club members because he mistakenly believed the child was his grandson. Maurice was humiliated when the baby showed no signs of having supernatural powers. He was later elated when he did become a grandfather and doted on Samantha’s daughter Tabitha and her son Adam.

Maurice Herbert Evans was born on June 3, 1901, and passed away on March 12, 1989. In addition to Bewitched, his best-known screen role was portraying Dr. Zaius in the 1968 movie Planet of the Apes. The actor portrayed Richard II, in a Shakespearian production and the unexpected success became the surprise hit during the 1937 theatre season. This led to Evans playing Hamlet in 1938, on stage in New York. In 1939 he was Falstaff in Henry IV, Part 1 and portrayed Macbeth in 1941, Evans was Malvolio in Twelfth Night in 1942.

The first appearance of Maurice in Bewitched was in season 1, episode 10 titled One Happy Family in November of 1964. Maurice was active in season 1-4 and also appeared irregularly in the other years of the series. Evans made a total of 12 appearances on the series and his final one was season 8, episode 14H. It aired on December 8, 1971, and was titled Adam, Warlock or Washout. Maurice was a doting grandfather who was on hand to witness the first use of power by both of his grandchildren. He was elated to find out that Adam and Tabatha were going to be a warlock and a witch and not totally mortal.

Maurice was often shown with a drink in hand and he loved to be the center of attention. He was always headed to or returning from some great event in the far corners of the world. Sam's dad was also seen in the company of younger women many times, both witches and mortals. His dynamic with his wife was not made clear during the run of the television show, but he obviously was not faithful to Endora. In one episode, however, the couple reminisced about spending romantic time on the Milky Way and they decided to go there again.

The couple had two things in common during the run of the television series. They both were fiercely protective of their daughter and they both called Darrin other names such as Durwood, Durwin, or Dumbo. There were a few ironies regarding Samantha's father and his portrayer that viewers may not have been aware of. Maurice Evans pronounced his name as "Morris" while the television character was adamant that he be referred to as "Maw-Reese." There is also the fact that Endora's estranged spouse loved Shakespear yet claimed to have no use for mortals. You can catch Bewitched at this current time on the Roku streaming channel.