Yvonne Craig, the actress best known for originating the role of Batgirl on TV’s “Batman,” has died. She was 78.
“Yvonne Craig passed away at her home in Pacific Palisades, surrounded by her immediate family and comforted by Hospice yesterday night. She died from complications brought about from breast cancer that had metastasized to her liver,” a statement on her website read.
She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Aldrich, her sister Meridel Carson and nephews Christopher and Todd Carson.
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Christopher shared a poignant tribute to Craig on Facebook, calling his aunt “one of the most important and influential people in my life” and “one of the most beautiful women I have ever known.”
“‘Beautiful’ not simply in physical appearance, although she was always an attractive lady and quite stunning in her younger years, she was a kind and giving human being with a generous heart,” he wrote. “She was one of the smartest and strongest women I hve ever known and also one of the funniest. Behind those lovely green eyes was a witty sarcastic sense of humor. To many people around the world she was one of the first female superheroes on television. To others she was a sexy green alien. To me she was my aunt and one of my best friends. Goodnight Batgirl. Goodbye sweet friend. I love you so much and I support you on your new journey. May the Universe open its arms to you, embrace you and reveal to you its greatest secrets and mysteries.”
After getting her start in The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and then landing a role in the 1959 western “The Young Land,” the actress got a slew of roles including two movies with Elvis Presley, “It Happened at the World’s Fair” and “Kissin’ Cousins.”
The actress also had a memorable guest role on TV’s “Star Trek” as the green Orion Slave Girl who wanted to kill Captain Kirk.
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During her career, Craig starred on “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,” “The Six Million Dollar Man, Land of the Giants,” “Mod Squad,” “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,” “Love American Style,” “Emergency,” and “Courtship of Eddie’s Father.”
— Jesse Spero
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