Yvonne Craig, best known for playing Batgirl in the 1960s’ Batman television series, passed away Monday at her home in California after a long battle with cancer. Reportedly, Craig had been suffering from breast cancer, which had recently spread to her liver. She was 78.
Craig joined the cast of Batman, which premiered in 1966, in its third season, portraying the character of Batgirl (and her alter ego, librarian Barbara Gordon) in all 26 episodes of Season 3. In the series, Craig’s Barbara never knew Batman and Robin’s true identities, and hers also remained unknown to them, with Alfred being the only aware that Barbara was actually Batgirl.
In addition to her iconic role on Batman, Craig’s other television credits include notable guest appearances on Love, American Style, Star Trek, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Many Lives of Dobie Gillis, The Mod Squad, Starksy and Hutch, and Fantasy Island. Most recently, from 2009-2011, she was a member of the cast on the animated Nick Jr. series Olivia, voicing the character of Grandma.
Before she became more well-known for her role on Batman, Craig also appeared in many films, making her debut in 1957’s Eighteen and Anxious. She followed that up with roles in Gidget, The Young Land, and The Gene Krupa Story and starred in other notable films, such as 1963’s It Happened at the World’s Fair and 1964’s Kissin’ Cousins, alongside Elvis Presley, and 1967’s In Like Flint with James Coburn.
Craig is survived by her husband, Kenneth Aldrich. The two of them married in 1988.
[Photo via 20th Century FOX Television]
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