Lynda Carter has dazzled television viewers for half a century with her star-making turns Wonder Woman.
After its success, led by Adam West Batman In the 1960s, ABC set its sights on fellow DC Comics superhero Wonder Woman, aka Diana Prince, an Amazon princess aided by the Lasso of Truth, bulletproof bracelets, and an invisible plane. After a 1974 pilot starring Kathie Lee Crosby failed to go ahead, the network tried again, this time with a script by Stanley Ralph Ross for The new original Wonder Woman.
future Charlie’s Angels Stars Farrah Fawcett and Jaclyn Smith were considered for the lead until Carter, who won Miss World USA in 1972 and had only a few small roles to her name, got the role. Co-starring Lyle Wagner as pilot Steve Trevor, the project is set amidst World War II as Wonder Woman struggles to keep America safe.
After the pilot debuted to strong ratings, ABC added two one-hour specials, the first of which aired on April 21, 1976. While the first season remained popular, ABC declined to renew due to its huge budget as a period piece.
The show moved to CBS for two seasons set in the present, introducing a roster of new characters along with Wagoner, who is now the son of his former character Steve Trevor. “Hollywood Reporter”A review of the second season noted that the show “largely succeeds” and praised Carter’s performance.
“I feel very lucky that I got the two episodes that I did,” says Ed Begley Jr., who was introduced as Harold Farnum in Season 2. THR. “Like everyone else – join the class – I was in love with Lynda Carter long before I met her. And then certainly after I met her, she was one of the nicest people with the most beautiful voice. A wonderful actress – just a wonderful person.”
It was Carter’s idea for her character to spin when she transforms into her costume, and this became a signature move for the hero. Carter praised her character for inspiring young women: “Wonder Woman is so much bigger than the character she played. She lives within us.”
This story appeared in the April 8 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.
