Yvonne Craig, who played the sexy, crime-fighting Batgirl in the 1960s iconic television series Batman, has died at the age of 78.
According to her family, Yvonne Craig died Monday at her Los Angeles home from complications from breast cancer.
Craig began her career as the youngest ballet dancer of The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, with which she toured for three years.
Venturing to Hollywood, she appeared in a 1958 episode of Perry Mason, followed by a role in the 1959 feature The Young Land.
Yvonne Craig, TV's original Batgirl, has died at age 78. http://t.co/MEVK1HTDfE via @WSJSpeakeasy pic.twitter.com/rbso6tD58b
— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) August 19, 2015
Craig became a familiar face to television, taking on a variety of television roles as well as co-starring in two 1960s Elvis Presley films, It Happened at the World’s Fair and Kissin’ Cousins.
But it was Craig’s portrayal of Batgirl, and her alter ego Barbara Gordon, Commissioner Gordon’s daughter, that has defied time. What may come as a surprise to some old school Batman aficionados is that she only appeared in the 1967-68 season of the ABC hit.
#RIP: Yvonne Craig, the actress who originated the role of Batgirl, died Monday at age 78. http://t.co/zocfWWtkue pic.twitter.com/bBDIh4ru5N
— NBCWashington (@nbcwashington) August 19, 2015
She also appeared in an episode of the original Star Trek series, in which she played the green Orion Slave Girl who wanted to kill Captain Kirk.
Her many other TV appearances included Dobie Gillis, ’77 Sunset Strip, Dr. Kildare, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Mod Squad, Love, American Style, Kojak and The Six Million Dollar Man.
We're saddened to hear of the passing of Yvonne Craig, TV's Batgirl: http://t.co/pwgUQSncR7 pic.twitter.com/aO1f9xiqiE
— DC Comics (@DCComics) August 19, 2015
Yvonne Craig’s most recent gig was lending her voice to the role of Grandma in the recent Nickelodeon cartoon series Olivia.