Yvonne Craig, best known for her role as Batgirl in the iconic TV show “Batman,” died of cancer Monday at age 78.
She was also known as the green alien woman, Marta, an Orion inmate or slave during an episode of the original “Star Trek” TV show.
Craig died at her home in Pacific Palisades from breast cancer that had metastasized to her liver.
“Fight as she did; however, over the past two plus years, she still lost her battle with metastasized breast cancer that had gone to her liver. Her operation right before Christmas, removed portions of her liver and some tumors as well as her gallbladder (not infected but in the way) and honestly she never totally recovered from that and more malignancies showed up again much to our dismay,” her family said on Craig’s personal website.
“She had been in chemo almost continuously for the past two plus years since being diagnosed and that had weakened her immune system as well as her body. This didn’t dampen her sense of humor or her spirit, she intended to fight and win this battle. In the end, her mind still wanted to fight but her body had given up.”
Adam West, who played Batman in the TV show, told fans on his Facebook page: “I was deeply saddened for us to lose Yvonne. It was too soon. She always brought humor and a fine attitude to our stage. She was a joy to work with. A good person. My heartfelt condolences to Yvonne’s family. We will miss her.”
Before she became an actress, Craig was a ballerina at the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, according to her official obituary, also on her site. In the course of her acting career, she appeared in many TV shows, including “The Six Million Dollar Man,” “Love American Style” and the “Courtship of Eddie’s Father.”
Nickelodeon fans may recognize her voice as Grandma in the “Olivia” cartoon series.
Craig is survived by her husband, Kenneth Aldrich, her sister Meridel Carson and nephews Christopher and Todd Carson.
A private service is being planned. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Angeles Clinic Foundation at www.theangelsclinicfoundation.org.
To read the full obituary, click here.
• Maria Stainer can be reached at mstainer@washingtontimes.com.
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