Yvonne Craig facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Yvonne Craig
Craig, c. 1967
Born	Yvonne Joyce Craig (1937-05-16)May 16, 1937 Taylorville, Illinois, U.S.
Died	August 17, 2015(2015-08-17) (aged 78) Pacific Palisades, California, U.S.
Education	W.H. Adamson High School Sunset High School
Alma mater	Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo
Occupation	Actress ballerina
Years active	1957–2011
Known for	Batman Star Trek

Yvonne Joyce Craig (born May 16, 1937 – died August 17, 2015) was an American actress and ballet dancer. She was best known for playing Barbara Gordon/Batgirl in the 1960s TV show Batman.

She also had other famous roles. She played Dorothy Johnson in the 1963 movie It Happened at the World's Fair. In 1964, she was Azalea Tatum in Kissin' Cousins. She also appeared as Marta, a green-skinned alien, in the Star Trek episode "Whom Gods Destroy" (1969).

Some people called her "a pioneer of female superheroes" for television.

Early Life and Education

Yvonne Craig was born in Taylorville, Illinois. She grew up in Columbus, Ohio. In 1951, her family moved to Dallas, Texas. There, she went to W. H. Adamson High School and then Sunset High School. She did not finish high school because she was missing one physical education credit.

A Career in Entertainment

Starting with Ballet Dancing

Yvonne Craig was discovered by Alexandra Danilova, a famous ballet dancer and teacher. Craig then joined the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She was the youngest member of the corps de ballet, which means she was part of the main group of dancers. This ballet training later helped her do stunts when she acted as Batgirl.

In 1957, she left the ballet company. She moved to Los Angeles hoping to keep dancing. Instead, she started getting roles in movies.

Acting on Screen

Yvonne Craig in 1960

One of her first TV roles was in Perry Mason in 1958. She acted alongside Neil Hamilton. He played her stepfather in that show. Later, Hamilton would play Police Commissioner James Gordon, Batgirl's father, in Batman.

Soon after, Craig appeared in three movies in 1959: The Young Land, The Gene Krupa Story, and Gidget. She also guest-starred in the TV show Mr. Lucky.

In 1960, she was in High Time with Bing Crosby. In 1961, she appeared in Seven Women from Hell with Cesar Romero. She also guest-starred in the Western show Laramie in 1962.

Yvonne Craig acted with music legend Elvis Presley in two movies: It Happened at the World's Fair (1963) and Kissin' Cousins (1964). She also starred in the science fiction movie Mars Needs Women (1966). In 1967, she played a Russian ballet dancer in In Like Flint with James Coburn.

During the 1960s, Craig was often seen in TV shows. She appeared five times on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. Each time, she played a different girlfriend for the main character. She also appeared in shows like Man with a Camera (1960) and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964). In 1965, she was in The Big Valley and Kentucky Jones.

She played a Navy nurse in McHale's Navy and was in another episode of The Big Valley. In 1965, she also appeared in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. The next year, she was in a movie version of that show, One Spy Too Many. In 1966, she played an assassin in The Wild Wild West. In 1968, she was a bride in The Ghost & Mrs. Muir.

Becoming Batgirl

Yvonne Craig as Batgirl in 1967

From September 1967 to March 1968, Yvonne Craig played her most famous role. She was Batgirl/Barbara Gordon in the third and final season of the 1960s TV show Batman.

As Batgirl, she wore a cool purple and yellow costume. She rode a "purple motorcycle with white lace trim." Her secret identity, Barbara Gordon, was a librarian and the daughter of Commissioner Gordon. Many people praised her for bringing a "girl-power" feeling to the fun and campy TV series.

While on Batman, Craig also appeared as a contestant on The Dating Game in 1967.

She even played Batgirl again in 1974 for a public service announcement (PSA). This PSA was about equal pay for women. In it, Batman and Robin were tied up, but Batgirl refused to free them. She said she was paid less than Robin, which was against the law.

Craig felt a special connection to the Batgirl character. She was sad when Barbara Gordon was hurt by the Joker in a comic book called Batman: The Killing Joke (1988).

After Batman

After Batman, Craig continued to act in movies and TV shows sometimes. She had guest roles in It Takes a Thief, The Mod Squad, Mannix, and Emergency!.

She also appeared on Star Trek as Marta. Marta was a green-skinned alien slave girl in the episode "Whom Gods Destroy" (1969). From 1969 to 1972, she was in four episodes of the comedy show Love, American Style. In 1970, she played a character in Land of the Giants. In 1973, she was in an episode of Kojak. In 1977, she guest-starred in The Six Million Dollar Man.

Later Life and Interests

After her acting career slowed down, Yvonne Craig started new businesses. She briefly helped produce industrial shows. Then, she became a real estate broker.

From 2009 to 2011, she used her voice to play Grandma in the animated children's TV series Olivia. Craig also wrote a book about her life called From Ballet to the Batcave and Beyond (2000). She appeared in a documentary film called Ballets Russes (2005).

She was also a kind person who supported good causes. She helped with workers unions, free mammograms (breast health checks), and equal pay for women.

Death

Yvonne Craig passed away at her home in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California, on August 17, 2015. She was 78 years old. She died from breast cancer that had spread to her liver.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Appearances

See also

In Spanish: Yvonne Craig para niños