Lynda Carter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lynda Carter
Carter in 2012
Born	Lynda Jean Cordova Carter (1951-07-24) July 24, 1951 (age 73) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
Occupation	Actress singer
Years active	1968–present
Known for	Miss World USA 1972 Wonder Woman (1975–1979) Maybelline commercials Lens Express commercials
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Ron Samuels ​ ​ (m. 1977; div. 1982)​ Robert A. Altman ​ ​ (m. 1984; died 2021)​
Children	2
Awards	Hollywood Walk of Fame

Lynda Jean Cordova Carter (born July 24, 1951) is an American actress, singer, and former beauty queen. She is most famous for playing the superhero Wonder Woman in the TV series from 1975 to 1979. Before becoming an actress, Lynda won the title of Miss World USA 1972. She also finished in the top 15 at the Miss World 1972 pageant.

Early Life and Music

Lynda Carter was born in Phoenix, Arizona. Her mom, Juanita, had Mexican, Spanish, and French family roots. Her dad, Colby, had English and Scots-Irish family roots. Lynda has a brother named Vincent and a sister named Pamela.

Lynda first appeared on TV at age 5 on Lew King's Talent Show. In high school, she sang in a band called Just Us. They played instruments like the marimba and conga drum. When she was 15, Lynda sang at a local pizza place to earn money. At 16, she joined another band called The Relatives with her cousins. The band's drummer was actor Gary Burghoff. This group performed in Las Vegas for three months. Because Lynda was under 21, she had to enter the hotel through the kitchen!

Lynda went to Arizona State University. But she left college to follow her dream of becoming a singer. In 1970, she toured with a band called The Garfin Gathering. They played shows in many casino lounges in Nevada. In 1972, Lynda decided to leave the band to try acting. She moved back to Arizona.

Becoming a Star

Left to right: Carter as Miss World USA 1972, Priscilla Barnes, Betty Jo Grove, with Bob Hope at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD.

In 1972, Lynda won a local beauty contest in Arizona. Then she won Miss World USA 1972, representing Arizona. She then competed in the international Miss World 1972 pageant and made it to the Top 15.

After the pageants, Lynda took acting classes in New York. She started getting small roles on TV shows like Nakia, Starsky and Hutch, and Cos. She also appeared in a few smaller movies.

Playing Wonder Woman

Carter as Wonder Woman in 1976

Lynda's acting career really took off when she got the main role in the TV series Wonder Woman in 1975. She played both the superhero Wonder Woman and her secret identity, Diana Prince.

The character of Wonder Woman was created by William Moulton Marston and artist Harry G. Peter in 1941 for DC Comics. She was made to be different from male superheroes like Superman. Wonder Woman quickly became a very popular female superhero.

Lynda has said that on the day she got the part, she only had $25 left in her bank account. She was about to go back to Arizona when her manager told her she got the role. Lynda's strong performance made her very popular with fans and critics. Even today, many people think of Lynda Carter when they hear "Wonder Woman."

The Wonder Woman TV series ran for three seasons, from 1975 to 1979. It first aired on ABC and then on CBS. Lynda's portrayal of Wonder Woman was seen as perfect. She showed the character's kindness, wore a costume just like the comics, and the show had a catchy theme song.

In 2017, Lynda shared her thoughts on playing Wonder Woman. She said she got the role because she looked like the character. A producer warned her that women might be jealous. But Lynda said, "Not a chance. They won't be, because I am not playing her that way. I want women to want to be me, or be my best friend!" She felt that playing Wonder Woman made her feel like she could fly.

In 1985, DC Comics honored Lynda Carter in their 50th-anniversary book, Fifty Who Made DC Great. This was for her amazing work on the Wonder Woman series.

Lynda also made a special appearance in the movie Wonder Woman 1984. She played Asteria, a legendary Amazon warrior. Lynda feels very connected to the character of Wonder Woman. She believes the character is much bigger than just her.

Music and Other Work

While she was starring in Wonder Woman, Lynda was also very popular for other work. In 1978, she was named "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World" by a British organization. She also signed a modeling contract with Maybelline cosmetics in 1977. She even appeared in a Diet 7Up commercial with comedian Don Rickles.

Lynda Carter was the first woman to do a voiceover for a movie trailer. This was for the 1975 film The Drowning Pool.

Lynda continued to follow her passion for music. In the late 1970s, she recorded an album called Portrait. She also co-wrote songs and sang on many TV shows. She even sang two of her own songs in a Wonder Woman episode called "Amazon Hot Wax."

Lynda was originally cast in the movie Apocalypse Now (1979). But filming was delayed by a storm. By the time they were ready to shoot again, Lynda had to go back to Wonder Woman because of her contract.

Life After Wonder Woman

Carter greeting President Ronald Reagan in 1981

Carter at Larry King's birthday party in 1993

Carter greeting President Bill Clinton at a movie screening outside the Family Theatre of the White House in 2000

After Wonder Woman ended, Lynda had many opportunities in music, movies, and TV. In 1980, she was a guest on The Muppet Show. In the episode, Kermit the Frog kept reminding the other Muppets that their guest was Lynda Carter, not Wonder Woman!

She also had her own musical TV specials, like Lynda Carter's Special (1980) and Celebration (1981). She played actress Rita Hayworth in a movie about her life called Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess (1983).

Lynda's next big TV role was in the crime drama Partners in Crime in 1984. She also appeared in many TV movies throughout the 1990s. She was in commercials for Lens Express. Around this time, Lynda started her own production company, Potomac Productions.

New Millennium and Beyond

In the 2000s, Lynda continued to work in many areas. Because Wonder Woman was shown again on cable TV, Lynda chatted with fans online. In 2004, she won an award for being the "Superest Superhero" at the Second Annual TV Land Awards. She even did her famous spinning transformation again after 25 years!

Lynda appeared in several movies in the 2000s. She was in the comedy Super Troopers (2001) as the Governor of Vermont. She also played Principal Powers, the headmistress of a superhero school, in Disney's Sky High (2005). In this movie, she even made a joke about her famous role, saying, "I can't do anything more to help you. I'm not Wonder Woman, y'know."

Lynda also did voice work for video games. She voiced characters in The Elder Scrolls series, including The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. She also played a singer in the game Fallout 4 (2015).

From 2005 to 2007, Lynda performed in the musical Chicago in London. She also started touring the U.S. with her own musical show, An Evening with Lynda Carter. She released several albums, including At Last (2009) and Crazy Little Things (2011). In 2015, she wrote and recorded five original songs for the video game Fallout 4. Her album Red, Rock n' Blues (2018) featured songs with her daughter, Jessica Altman. Lynda continues to perform concerts today.

On June 16, 2017, Dr. Carla Hayden and Carter at the Library of Awesome event, where a discussion of the United Nations, the 2017 Wonder Woman film, and feminism was held.

In 2016, Lynda Carter, along with actress Gal Gadot (who plays Wonder Woman in recent movies), spoke at the United Nations. This was to celebrate Wonder Woman's 75th anniversary. The character was named an "Honorary Ambassador for the Empowerment of Women and Girls." This was to help raise awareness for gender equality.

In 2017, Lynda joined the TV series Supergirl on The CW. She played President Olivia Marsdin.

Personal Life

Carter as the Grand Marshal at Gay Pride in Washington, D.C. in 2013

Lynda Carter has been married twice. Her first marriage was to Ron Samuels from 1977 to 1982. In 1984, she married Robert A. Altman, a lawyer. She moved to Washington, D.C. in 1985. Lynda and Robert had two children: James (born 1988) and Jessica (born 1990). They lived in a home they built in Potomac, Maryland. Robert Altman passed away in 2021.

Lynda is a big fan of ice hockey, especially the Washington Capitals team.

She is also a member of the Democratic Party and has supported political candidates like Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden.

Lynda is a strong supporter of causes like Susan G. Komen for the Cure (for breast cancer awareness) and legal equality for LGBT people. She has been the Grand Marshal for several Pride Parades, including in Phoenix, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Awards and Recognition

• In 1985, DC Comics honored Lynda Carter in their book Fifty Who Made DC Great for her work as Wonder Woman.
• In 2014, Lynda received a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars in California.
• In 2016, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Gracie Awards. These awards celebrate women in media.
• On April 3, 2018, Lynda Carter received her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This is a very special honor for people in entertainment.
• In 2022, the National Museum of Mexican Art honored Lynda with the Sor Juana Legacy Award for her contributions to the arts.
• Also in 2022, Lynda was inducted into the California Hall of Fame.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

See also

In Spanish: Lynda Carter para niños