Yvonne Craig, US actress, in costume, in a studio portrait, against a yellow background, issued as publicity for the US television series, 'Batman', circa 1967. The series, featuring DC Comics characters, starred Craig as ''Barbara Gordon/Batgirl'. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
Yvonne Joyce Craig was born in Taylorville, Illinois, on May 16, 1937. She spent most of her adolescence living in Columbus, Ohio, but in 1951 moved to Dallas Texas with her family.
During this time Craig became very interested in ballet. She applied and was accepted to Ballet Russe De Monte Carlo as its youngest corps de ballet member. At age 20, Craig left the ballet company over creative differences and moved to Los Angeles to continue her career in dance.
Upon arriving in Los Angeles, instead of being employed as a dancer, Craig found herself pursuing acting roles in both movies and in television. Her earliest roles on television included an episode of Perry Masonand Mr. Lucky. She also appeared on Many Loves Of Dobie Gillis (she would appear on this show 5 times between 1959 and 1962, as a different character each time). She also starred in the movie Gidget during this time.
“When you are doing a show, it can get really dull. You are sitting so long while they set up the lights, then you say a couple of lines, then they tear down the lights again. At least stunts are something that uses your physical energy a great deal.”
– Yvonne Craig
In 1960 Craig married Jimmy Boyd, famous for singing the song “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”. Two years later they divorced. Her 2 biggest roles during this time were High Time opposite Bing Crosby, and Seven Women From Hell with future Batman co-star Cesar Romero.
After her divorce, Craig began dating Elvis Presley. Their relationship lasted for a year and a few months in 1962-1963. While dating, they starred in two movies together: Kissin’ Cousinsand It Happened At The World’s Fair. Many banana and peanut butter sandwiches were enjoyed during filming.
Craig was also cast in her most famous role, Batgirl, on Season 3 of Batman. This was a much larger, recurring part than her previous forays into television. Barbara Gordon aka Batgirl, was the daughter of Commissioner Gordon, and would dress up in order to help Batman and Robin fight crime.
William Shatner and Yvonne Craig on the set of “Star Trek” (1968).
“One of the reasons I did the Batman series was so people would attach a name to my face. Before that, I had done a lot of television, but all people would say was “Oh, that’s um, um, what IS her name?”
– Yvonne Craig
Yvonne also appeared as an Orion slave girl in an episode of Star Trek during the shows final season called “Whom Gods Destroy.”
“When we (the Batman tv series) were canceled by ABC, we wondered if we could get another network. When it looked like we couldn’t, they came with a bulldozer and bulldozed the whole set. Then two weeks later NBC said, “Listen, we would like to take a shot at Batman if you still have the sets.” They didn’t want to start from scratch and build them because the set cost $800,000. So it was too late, nothing came of it.”
– Yvonne Craig
Yvonne Craig as Batgirl (1968).
Eventually, Craig left the lights of Tinseltown to pursue a career in real estate. In 1988, she married Kenneth Aldrich. Craig died at age 78 at her home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California, on August 17, 2015, from breast cancer.
“I meet women today who tell me that they grew up viewing Batgirl as an important role model. If they choose to know me in that context, well, I’ll take it.”
– Yvonne Craig
Yvonne Craig in a publicity photo reading Detective Comics 359 featuring the first appearance of Batgirl.
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