Lynda Carter
Encyclopedia
Lynda Jean Carter is an American
actress and singer, best known for being Miss World USA and as the star of the 1970s television series The New Original Wonder Woman
(1975–77) and The New Adventures of Wonder Woman (1977-79).
, Arizona
. Her father, Colby Carter, is an art dealer of Irish
descent and her mother, Juana Córdova, is of Mexican
descent with roots in Chihuahua, Mexico
and previously worked in the telephone industry. Lynda speaks fluent Spanish.
Carter grew up an avid reader of the Wonder Woman
comic books. She went to Arcadia High School
in Phoenix and Kachina Elementary School.
During high school, Carter performed in a band called Just Us, consisting of a marimba, a conga drum, an acoustic guitar, and a stand-up bass played by another girl. When she was 17, Lynda joined two of her cousins in another band called The Relatives. Actor Gary Burghoff was the drummer. The group opened at the Sahara Hotel and Casino lounge in Las Vegas, Nevada
, for three months; and, because Lynda was under 21, she had to enter through the kitchen. She attended Arizona State University
and was a member of Alpha Xi Delta
. After being voted "Most Talented," she dropped out to pursue a career in music. In 1970, Carter sang with The Garfin Gathering with Lynda Carter. Their first performance was in a San Francisco hotel so new that it had no sidewalk entrance. Consequently, they played mostly to the janitors and hotel guests who parked their cars in the underground garage. She returned to Arizona in 1972.
and gained national attention in the United States by winning Miss World USA, representing Arizona; in the international 1972 Miss World
pageant, representing the U.S., she reached the semi-finals. After taking acting classes at several New York
acting schools, she began making appearances on such TV shows as Starsky and Hutch
, Cos
, and Nakia and in "B-movies," including her only nude appearance, in Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw
(1976).
as Wonder Woman and her alter ego Diana Prince. The savings her parents had set aside for her to pursue acting in Los Angeles was almost depleted, and she was close to returning to Arizona when her manager informed her that she had won the part. Her earnest performance endeared her to fans and critics, and the series lasted three seasons. Thirty years after first taking on the role, Carter continues to be closely identified with Wonder Woman.
As the program was winding down, Carter told US magazine:
She was referring to the feedback she had received for her poster as Wonder Woman.
Carter was also upset with some of the marketing of her image. Warner Bros.
worked out a deal with the toy company Mego
to create a Wonder Woman doll while the series was still on the air. In 1987, on The Late Show with Joan Rivers
, Carter commented:
In 1985, DC Comics named Carter as one of the honorees in the company's 50th anniversary publication Fifty Who Made DC Great
for her work on the Wonder Woman series. In 2007, toy company DC Direct
released a 13" full-figure statue of Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman, limited to 5,000 pieces; it was re-released in 2010. Also in 2010, DC Direct began selling a 5½-inch bust
of Carter's rendition of Wonder Woman to celebrate the character's 75th anniversary.
. Carter is credited as a co-writer on several songs, and she made numerous guest appearances on variety television programs at the time in a musical capacity. She also sang two of her songs in the 1979 Wonder Woman episode, "Amazon Hot Wax".
In 1977, Carter released a promotional poster through Pro Arts Inc.
at the suggestion of her then-husband and manager, Ron Samuels
. The poster was very successful despite Carter's dissatisfaction with it. In 1981, during an interview on the NBC
television special Women Who Rate a 10, she said:
In the early 1980s, Carter performed on the Las Vegas Strip
and in Atlantic City
, highlighting her musical talent.
Carter's other credits include the title role in a biopic of Rita Hayworth
, titled Rita Hayworth, Love Goddess (1983) and a variety of her own TV specials: Lynda Carter's Special (1980), Encore! (1980), Celebration (1981), Street Life (1982), and Body And Soul (1984). She starred in a few short-lived TV series, including Partners in Crime (1984) with Loni Anderson
and Hawkeye
(1994–95) with Lee Horsley
. During this time, she also became a celebrity promotional model for Maybelline
cosmetics commercials.
Throughout the 1990s, Carter appeared in a string of tv movie
s that resulted in a resurgence in television appearances. Also, because of the re-syndication of Wonder Woman on such cable networks as FX and SyFy
, Carter even participated in two scheduled on-line chat sessions with fans. It was around this time that Carter created her own production company, Potomac Productions. Throughout the 1990s, she has also appeared in commercials for Lens Express
(now 1-800 Contacts
).
In 2001, Carter was cast in the independent comedy feature Super Troopers
as Vermont Governor Jessman. The writers and stars of the film, the comedy troupe Broken Lizard
, with Jay Chandrasekhar
directing, had specifically sought Carter for the role. Inspired by the character detour from her usual roles, she agreed to play a washed-up former beauty queen in The Creature of the Sunny Side Up Trailer Park
(2004), directed by Christopher Coppola
. Carter made her first appearance in a major feature film in a number of years in the big-screen remake of The Dukes of Hazzard
(2005
), also directed by Chandrasekhar. She also appeared in the comedy Sky High
(2005) as "Principal Powers", the head of a school for superheroes. The script allowed Carter to poke fun at her most famous character when she states: "I can't do anything more to help you. I'm not Wonder Woman, y'know." In 2006, she guest-starred in the made-for-cable vampire film Slayer
. The following year, Lynda returned to the DC Comics
' television world in the Smallville
episode "Progeny" (2007) playing Chloe Sullivan
's Kryptonite
-empowered mother.
Carter has also done voiceover
s for video games, performing voices for the nord and orsimer (orc) females in three computer games of The Elder Scrolls
series, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
. These games were developed by Bethesda Softworks
; her husband, businessman Robert A. Altman
, is Chairman and CEO
of Bethesda's parent company, ZeniMax Media
.
From September to November 2005, Carter played Mama Morton in the West End London
production of Chicago
. In 2006, her rendition of "When You're Good to Mama" was officially released on the Chicago: 10th Anniversary Edition CD box set. In May 2007, Carter began touring the U.S. with her one-woman musical cabaret show, An Evening with Lynda Carter. She has played engagements at such venues as Feinstein's At Loews Regency in New York, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. In June 2009, her second album, "At Last", was released and reached #10 on Billboard
s Jazz Albums Chart..
In June of 2011, Carter released her third album, "Crazy Little Things", which she describes as delightful mix of standards, country, and pop tunes.
Ron Samuels
from 1977 to 1982. In January 1984, Carter married Washington, D.C.
, attorney
Robert A. Altman
, law partner of Clark Clifford
(and now CEO of ZeniMax Media). The Altmans have two children, James (born 1988) and Jessica (born 1990), and live in Potomac, Maryland
.
In 1992, after a lengthy and highly publicized jury
trial stemming from his involvement with the BCCI
, Carter's husband was acquitted
. Carter was seen on the TV news with her arm around him, shouting, "Not guilty! Not guilty!" to the gathered reporters.
In 2003 Lynda revealed that her mother had suffered with IBS
for over 30 years. Carter used her celebrity to spotlight the condition, touring the country as an advocate and spokesperson. Lynda is also a staunch advocate and supporter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
, Pro-Choice rights for women, and legal equality for LGBT people
.
In early June 2008, while rowing out of the Potomac Boat Club, Carter spotted a body floating in the Potomac River
. She called out to some fishermen and waited for the police to arrive. That same month, she admitted in an interview to People magazine that she had entered a rehabilitation clinic
for treatment of alcoholism
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actress and singer, best known for being Miss World USA and as the star of the 1970s television series The New Original Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman (TV series)
Wonder Woman is an American television series based on the DC Comics comic book superhero of the same name. Starring Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince and Lyle Waggoner as Steve Trevor, the show originally aired from 1975 to 1979....
(1975–77) and The New Adventures of Wonder Woman (1977-79).
Early life
Carter was born Lynda Jean Carter in PhoenixPhoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. Her father, Colby Carter, is an art dealer of Irish
Irish American
Irish Americans are citizens of the United States who can trace their ancestry to Ireland. A total of 36,278,332 Americans—estimated at 11.9% of the total population—reported Irish ancestry in the 2008 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau...
descent and her mother, Juana Córdova, is of Mexican
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
descent with roots in Chihuahua, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and previously worked in the telephone industry. Lynda speaks fluent Spanish.
Carter grew up an avid reader of the Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986....
comic books. She went to Arcadia High School
Arcadia High School (Arizona)
Arcadia High School is a public high school located in Phoenix, Arizona. The school enrolls 1,680 who primarily come from feeder schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District. Arcadia completed a significant renovation in the summer of 2008....
in Phoenix and Kachina Elementary School.
During high school, Carter performed in a band called Just Us, consisting of a marimba, a conga drum, an acoustic guitar, and a stand-up bass played by another girl. When she was 17, Lynda joined two of her cousins in another band called The Relatives. Actor Gary Burghoff was the drummer. The group opened at the Sahara Hotel and Casino lounge in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, for three months; and, because Lynda was under 21, she had to enter through the kitchen. She attended Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
and was a member of Alpha Xi Delta
Alpha Xi Delta
Alpha Xi Delta is a women's fraternity founded on April 17, 1893 at Lombard College, Galesburg, Illinois. Alpha Xi Delta is one of the oldest women's fraternities as well as one of the ten founding fraternities of the National Panhellenic Conference...
. After being voted "Most Talented," she dropped out to pursue a career in music. In 1970, Carter sang with The Garfin Gathering with Lynda Carter. Their first performance was in a San Francisco hotel so new that it had no sidewalk entrance. Consequently, they played mostly to the janitors and hotel guests who parked their cars in the underground garage. She returned to Arizona in 1972.
Career
In 1972, Carter entered a local beauty contestBeauty contest
A beauty pageant or beauty contest, is a competition that mainly focuses on the physical beauty of its contestants, although such contests often incorporate personality, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria...
and gained national attention in the United States by winning Miss World USA, representing Arizona; in the international 1972 Miss World
Miss World 1972
The 22nd Annual Miss World pageant was held at the Royal Albert Hall on 1 December 1972 on BBC. 53 delegates vied for the crown won by Belinda Green of Australia...
pageant, representing the U.S., she reached the semi-finals. After taking acting classes at several New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
acting schools, she began making appearances on such TV shows as Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch
Starsky and Hutch is a 1970s American cop thriller television series that consisted of a 90-minute pilot movie and 92 episodes of 60 minutes each; created by William Blinn, produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, and broadcast between April 30, 1975 and May 15, 1979 on the ABC...
, Cos
Cos (TV series)
Cos was an American sketch comedy/variety TV series that debuted on the ABC Network in September 1976. It was hosted by comedian Bill Cosby and featured an ensemble cast who would perform sketches each week...
, and Nakia and in "B-movies," including her only nude appearance, in Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw
Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw
Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw is a 1976 film directed by Mark L. Lester. It stars Marjoe Gortner and Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter....
(1976).
Wonder Woman
Carter's acting career took off when she landed the starring role in The New Adventures of Wonder WomanWonder Woman (TV series)
Wonder Woman is an American television series based on the DC Comics comic book superhero of the same name. Starring Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince and Lyle Waggoner as Steve Trevor, the show originally aired from 1975 to 1979....
as Wonder Woman and her alter ego Diana Prince. The savings her parents had set aside for her to pursue acting in Los Angeles was almost depleted, and she was close to returning to Arizona when her manager informed her that she had won the part. Her earnest performance endeared her to fans and critics, and the series lasted three seasons. Thirty years after first taking on the role, Carter continues to be closely identified with Wonder Woman.
As the program was winding down, Carter told US magazine:
"I never meant to be a sexual object for anyone but my husband. I never thought a picture of my body would be tacked up in men's bathrooms. I hate men looking at me and thinking what they think. And I know what they think. They write and tell me."
She was referring to the feedback she had received for her poster as Wonder Woman.
Carter was also upset with some of the marketing of her image. Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
worked out a deal with the toy company Mego
Mego Corporation
The Mego Corporation was a toy company that dominated the action figure toy market during most of the 1970s. The Mego Corporation was founded in the early 1950s by David Abrams and was mostly known prior to 1971 as a producer of dime store toys.-Golden age:...
to create a Wonder Woman doll while the series was still on the air. In 1987, on The Late Show with Joan Rivers
The Late Show (1986 TV series)
The Late Show is an American late-night talk show and the first series broadcast on the then-new Fox Network. Originally hosted by comic actress Joan Rivers, it first aired on October 9, 1986 under the title The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers...
, Carter commented:
"I think that you're probably familiar with a problem in Hollywood, and that is that they market you, and they use you. They did a mask of my face and put it on the doll, and they put my name on for the first run of it. And then they took my name off and said they didn't have to pay me anymore. So it's the kind of thing that you can be used so much in this industry. I make nothing. I don't even make anything from the reruns. Don't ever settle for net profits. It's called creative accountingHollywood accountingHollywood accounting refers to the opaque accounting methods used by the film, video and television industry to budget and record profits for film projects...
."
In 1985, DC Comics named Carter as one of the honorees in the company's 50th anniversary publication Fifty Who Made DC Great
Fifty Who Made DC Great
Fifty Who Made DC Great is a one shot published by DC Comics to commemorate the company's 50th anniversary in 1985. It was published in comic book format but contained text articles with photographs and background caricatures...
for her work on the Wonder Woman series. In 2007, toy company DC Direct
DC Direct
DC Direct is the collectibles division of DC Comics, the Time Warner subsidiary that publishes comic books and licenses characters such as Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, Batman, Batgirl and Hawkgirl. DC Direct produces statues, props, replicas and prints for the direct market, a...
released a 13" full-figure statue of Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman, limited to 5,000 pieces; it was re-released in 2010. Also in 2010, DC Direct began selling a 5½-inch bust
Bust (sculpture)
A bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, depicting a person's head and neck, as well as a variable portion of the chest and shoulders. The piece is normally supported by a plinth. These forms recreate the likeness of an individual...
of Carter's rendition of Wonder Woman to celebrate the character's 75th anniversary.
Other credits
During the late 1970s, she recorded an album, PortraitPortrait (Lynda Carter album)
Portrait is the first album by the American actress Lynda Carter. It was released in 1978 on vinyl LP, 8-track and cassette as well as a limited edition picture LP. Carter co-wrote three of the songs: "Want to Get Beside You," "Fantasy Man" and "Toto "...
. Carter is credited as a co-writer on several songs, and she made numerous guest appearances on variety television programs at the time in a musical capacity. She also sang two of her songs in the 1979 Wonder Woman episode, "Amazon Hot Wax".
In 1977, Carter released a promotional poster through Pro Arts Inc.
Pro Arts Inc.
Pro Arts Inc was a poster company founded in Ohio, USA that would create the top selling poster in the world, the Farrah Fawcett swimsuit poster. The poster sold over 12 million copies but the company couldn't survive and in a controversial series of events the company filed for Chapter 11...
at the suggestion of her then-husband and manager, Ron Samuels
Ron Samuels
Ron Samuels is a film producer. His credits include Iron Eagle , Aces: Iron Eagle III , and Ravenhawk .Samuels was married to actress Lynda Carter from May 28, 1977 to 1982. Currently, he is married to actress and former Ms. Olympia Rachel McLish...
. The poster was very successful despite Carter's dissatisfaction with it. In 1981, during an interview on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television special Women Who Rate a 10, she said:
"It's uncomfortable because I just simply took a photograph. That's all my participation was in my poster that sold over a million copies was that I took a photograph that I thought was a dumb photograph. My husband said, 'Oh, try this thing tied up here, it'll look beautiful'. And the photographer said 'the back-lighting is really terrific'. So dealing with someone having that picture up in their... bedroom or their... living room or whatever I think would be hard for anyone to deal with."
In the early 1980s, Carter performed on the Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
and in Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
, highlighting her musical talent.
Carter's other credits include the title role in a biopic of Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth
Rita Hayworth was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars...
, titled Rita Hayworth, Love Goddess (1983) and a variety of her own TV specials: Lynda Carter's Special (1980), Encore! (1980), Celebration (1981), Street Life (1982), and Body And Soul (1984). She starred in a few short-lived TV series, including Partners in Crime (1984) with Loni Anderson
Loni Anderson
Loni Kaye Anderson is an American actress who played the role of Jennifer Marlowe on the television sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati.- Early life :...
and Hawkeye
Hawkeye (TV series)
Hawkeye is a television series, airing in syndication for one season during 1994-1995, and produced by Stephen J. Cannell. The series was filmed in North Vancouver and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada....
(1994–95) with Lee Horsley
Lee Horsley
Lee Arthur Horsley is an American film, television, and theater actor known for starring roles in the television series, Nero Wolfe , Matt Houston , and Paradise . He starred in the 1982 cult film, The Sword and the Sorcerer, and recorded the audiobook edition of Lonesome Dove...
. During this time, she also became a celebrity promotional model for Maybelline
Maybelline
Maybelline is an American makeup brand sold worldwide and owned by L'Oréal. Their motto is Maybe she's born with it. Maybe it's Maybelline.-History:...
cosmetics commercials.
Throughout the 1990s, Carter appeared in a string of tv movie
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
s that resulted in a resurgence in television appearances. Also, because of the re-syndication of Wonder Woman on such cable networks as FX and SyFy
Syfy
Syfy , formerly known as the Sci-Fi Channel and SCI FI, is an American cable television channel featuring science fiction, supernatural, fantasy, reality, paranormal, wrestling, and horror programming. Launched on September 24, 1992, it is part of the entertainment conglomerate NBCUniversal, a...
, Carter even participated in two scheduled on-line chat sessions with fans. It was around this time that Carter created her own production company, Potomac Productions. Throughout the 1990s, she has also appeared in commercials for Lens Express
Lens Express
Lens Express was a direct-to-order company that sold contact lenses that were available over-the-phone, and also offered a free catalog. The company was well known for Lynda Carter appearing in its ads, including her famous trademark sayings such as "I wouldn't trust these baby blues to just...
(now 1-800 Contacts
1-800 Contacts
1-800 CONTACTS is a privately held company based in Draper, Utah that sells various brands of contact lenses, including Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Ciba Vision, Bausch & Lomb and CooperVision...
).
In 2001, Carter was cast in the independent comedy feature Super Troopers
Super Troopers
Super Troopers is a 2001 crime-comedy film directed by Jay Chandrasekhar, written by and starring the Broken Lizard comedy group . Marisa Coughlan, Daniel von Bargen and Brian Cox co-star while Lynda Carter has a cameo appearance...
as Vermont Governor Jessman. The writers and stars of the film, the comedy troupe Broken Lizard
Broken Lizard
Broken Lizard is an American comedy troupe, consisting of five friends, best known for its films, including Super Troopers and Beerfest. Its five members are Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, and Erik Stolhanske. They collaborate on the screen-writing, acting and...
, with Jay Chandrasekhar
Jay Chandrasekhar
Jayanth Jambulingam "Jay" Chandrasekhar is a Tamil American actor, comedian, writer, and film director with the comedy team Broken Lizard.-Life and career:...
directing, had specifically sought Carter for the role. Inspired by the character detour from her usual roles, she agreed to play a washed-up former beauty queen in The Creature of the Sunny Side Up Trailer Park
The Creature of the Sunny Side Up Trailer Park
The Creature of the Sunny Side Up Trailer Park, originally titled Bloodhead, is a 2004 comedic horror film directed by Christopher Coppola, about two very different men, Donnie, played by Andre Ware, and Doug, played by Steve Hedden who must join forces to battle a gory killer in a small, desert town...
(2004), directed by Christopher Coppola
Christopher Coppola
-Personal life:Coppola was born in Los Angeles County, California. His father, the late August Coppola, was a professor of literature, while his mother, Joy Vogelsang, is a dancer and choreographer; the two divorced in 1976. His mother suffered from chronic depression...
. Carter made her first appearance in a major feature film in a number of years in the big-screen remake of The Dukes of Hazzard
The Dukes of Hazzard (film)
The Dukes of Hazzard is a 2005 comedy film based on the American television series of the same name. The film was directed by Jay Chandrasekhar and released on August 5, 2005 by Warner Bros. Pictures...
(2005
2005 in film
- Highest-grossing films :Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top-grossing films that were first released in the United States in 2005...
), also directed by Chandrasekhar. She also appeared in the comedy Sky High
Sky High (2005 film)
Sky High is a 2005 American comedic superhero family film about an airborne school for teenage superheroes. It was directed by Mike Mitchell and written by Paul Hernandez, Robert Schooley, and Mark McCorkle...
(2005) as "Principal Powers", the head of a school for superheroes. The script allowed Carter to poke fun at her most famous character when she states: "I can't do anything more to help you. I'm not Wonder Woman, y'know." In 2006, she guest-starred in the made-for-cable vampire film Slayer
Slayer (film)
Slayer, also known as Mexferatu Mexico, is a 2006 vampire themed television movie by Sci Fi Channel, directed and written by Kevin VanHook, starring Casper Van Dien and Kevin Grevioux, about an elite commando squad in South American rain forest, dealing against a deadly and bloodthirsty vampire...
. The following year, Lynda returned to the DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
' television world in the Smallville
Smallville
Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross...
episode "Progeny" (2007) playing Chloe Sullivan
Chloe Sullivan
Chloe Sullivan is a fictional character from the television series Smallville. Series regular Allison Mack has portrayed the character since the pilot episode; two other actresses performed the role of Chloe Sullivan as a child. The character was created exclusively for Smallville, by series...
's Kryptonite
Kryptonite
Kryptonite is a fictional material from the Superman mythos —the ore form of a radioactive element from Superman's home planet of Krypton. It is famous for being the ultimate physical weakness of Superman, and the word kryptonite has since become synonymous with an Achilles' heel —the one weakness...
-empowered mother.
Carter has also done voiceover
VoiceOver
VoiceOver is a screen reader built into Apple Inc.'s Mac OS X, iOS and iPod operating systems. By using VoiceOver, the user can access their Macintosh or iOS device based on spoken descriptions and, in the case of the Mac, the keyboard. The feature is designed to increase accessibility for blind...
s for video games, performing voices for the nord and orsimer (orc) females in three computer games of The Elder Scrolls
The Elder Scrolls
The Elder Scrolls is a role-playing video game series developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks.-History:...
series, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, often simply referred to as Morrowind, is a single-player computer role-playing game developed by Bethesda Game Studios, and published by Bethesda Softworks and Ubisoft. It is the third installment in The Elder Scrolls series of games, following The Elder Scrolls...
, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a single-player action role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks and the Take-Two Interactive subsidiary 2K Games...
and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a role-playing video game developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the fifth installment in The Elder Scrolls action role-playing video game series, following The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion...
. These games were developed by Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks, LLC, is an American video game company. A subsidiary of ZeniMax Media, the company was originally based in Bethesda, Maryland and eventually moved to their current location in Rockville, Maryland...
; her husband, businessman Robert A. Altman
Robert A. Altman
Robert A. Altman is the current chairman and CEO of ZeniMax Media, parent company of Bethesda Softworks, LLC.-Career:Altman is a lawyer. He became part of the company BCCI. During his time there he was accused of helping the business buy an American bank and lying to US regulators about it. In...
, is Chairman and CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Bethesda's parent company, ZeniMax Media
ZeniMax Media
ZeniMax Media Inc. is an American media company that develops and publishes computer and video games through its subsidiaries. ZeniMax is known as the owner of id Software , Bethesda Softworks , Arkane Studios , Tango Gameworks and...
.
From September to November 2005, Carter played Mama Morton in the West End London
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
production of Chicago
Chicago (musical)
Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago. The music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the "celebrity criminal"...
. In 2006, her rendition of "When You're Good to Mama" was officially released on the Chicago: 10th Anniversary Edition CD box set. In May 2007, Carter began touring the U.S. with her one-woman musical cabaret show, An Evening with Lynda Carter. She has played engagements at such venues as Feinstein's At Loews Regency in New York, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. In June 2009, her second album, "At Last", was released and reached #10 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Jazz Albums Chart..
In June of 2011, Carter released her third album, "Crazy Little Things", which she describes as delightful mix of standards, country, and pop tunes.
Personal life
Carter has been married twice. Her first marriage was to her former talent agentTalent agent
A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds jobs for actors, authors, film directors, musicians, models, producers, professional athletes, writers and other people in various entertainment businesses. Having an agent is not required, but does help the artist in getting jobs...
Ron Samuels
Ron Samuels
Ron Samuels is a film producer. His credits include Iron Eagle , Aces: Iron Eagle III , and Ravenhawk .Samuels was married to actress Lynda Carter from May 28, 1977 to 1982. Currently, he is married to actress and former Ms. Olympia Rachel McLish...
from 1977 to 1982. In January 1984, Carter married Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, attorney
Attorney at law
An attorney at law in the United States is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court on the retainer of clients. Alternative terms include counselor and lawyer...
Robert A. Altman
Robert A. Altman
Robert A. Altman is the current chairman and CEO of ZeniMax Media, parent company of Bethesda Softworks, LLC.-Career:Altman is a lawyer. He became part of the company BCCI. During his time there he was accused of helping the business buy an American bank and lying to US regulators about it. In...
, law partner of Clark Clifford
Clark Clifford
Clark McAdams Clifford was an American lawyer who served United States Presidents Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Jimmy Carter, serving as United States Secretary of Defense for Johnson....
(and now CEO of ZeniMax Media). The Altmans have two children, James (born 1988) and Jessica (born 1990), and live in Potomac, Maryland
Potomac, Maryland
Potomac is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, named for the nearby Potomac River. The population was 44,822 at the 2000 census. The Potomac area is known for its very affluent and highly-educated residents. In 2009 CNNMoney.com listed Potomac as the fourth...
.
In 1992, after a lengthy and highly publicized jury
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
trial stemming from his involvement with the BCCI
Bank of Credit and Commerce International
The Bank of Credit and Commerce International was a major international bank founded in 1972 by Agha Hasan Abedi, a Pakistani financier. The Bank was registered in Luxembourg with head offices in Karachi and London. Within a decade BCCI touched its peak...
, Carter's husband was acquitted
Acquittal
In the common law tradition, an acquittal formally certifies the accused is free from the charge of an offense, as far as the criminal law is concerned. This is so even where the prosecution is abandoned nolle prosequi...
. Carter was seen on the TV news with her arm around him, shouting, "Not guilty! Not guilty!" to the gathered reporters.
In 2003 Lynda revealed that her mother had suffered with IBS
Irritable bowel syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is a functional bowel disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain, discomfort, bloating, and alteration of bowel habits in the absence of any detectable organic cause. In some cases, the symptoms are relieved by bowel movements...
for over 30 years. Carter used her celebrity to spotlight the condition, touring the country as an advocate and spokesperson. Lynda is also a staunch advocate and supporter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen for the Cure, formerly known as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, often referred to as simply Komen, is the most widely known, largest and best-funded breast cancer organization in the US....
, Pro-Choice rights for women, and legal equality for LGBT people
LGBT social movements
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender social movements share inter-related goals of social acceptance of sexual and gender minorities. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their allies have a long history of campaigning for what is generally called LGBT rights, also called gay...
.
In early June 2008, while rowing out of the Potomac Boat Club, Carter spotted a body floating in the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
. She called out to some fishermen and waited for the police to arrive. That same month, she admitted in an interview to People magazine that she had entered a rehabilitation clinic
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
for treatment of alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1976 | Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw is a 1976 film directed by Mark L. Lester. It stars Marjoe Gortner and Wonder Woman actress Lynda Carter.... |
Bobbie Jo Baker | |
| 1993 | Lightning in a Bottle | Charlotte Furber | |
| 2001 | Super Troopers Super Troopers Super Troopers is a 2001 crime-comedy film directed by Jay Chandrasekhar, written by and starring the Broken Lizard comedy group . Marisa Coughlan, Daniel von Bargen and Brian Cox co-star while Lynda Carter has a cameo appearance... |
Governor Jessman | a.k.a. Broken Lizard's Super Troopers |
| 2004 | The Creature of the Sunny Side Up Trailer Park The Creature of the Sunny Side Up Trailer Park The Creature of the Sunny Side Up Trailer Park, originally titled Bloodhead, is a 2004 comedic horror film directed by Christopher Coppola, about two very different men, Donnie, played by Andre Ware, and Doug, played by Steve Hedden who must join forces to battle a gory killer in a small, desert town... |
Lynette | a.k.a. Creature |
| 2005 | Sky High Sky High (2005 film) Sky High is a 2005 American comedic superhero family film about an airborne school for teenage superheroes. It was directed by Mike Mitchell and written by Paul Hernandez, Robert Schooley, and Mark McCorkle... |
Principal Powers | |
| The Dukes of Hazzard The Dukes of Hazzard The Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard... |
Pauline | ||
| 2006 | Tempbot | Mary Alice | Short film |
| 2007 | Tattered Angel | Hazel Anderson | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1974 | Nakia | Helen Chase | 1 episode |
| 1975 | Matt Helm Matt Helm (TV series) Matt Helm is a short-lived American mystery television series which aired on the ABC Network during the 1975-1976 season. The title character was played by Anthony Franciosa.-Overview:... |
Bobbi Dee | 1 episode |
| 1976 | A Matter of Wife... And Death A Matter of Wife... And Death A Matter of Wife... and Death was a television movie that first aired April 10, 1976 on NBC. It was a sequel to the 1973 film Shamus, and was intended as a pilot for a series. The teleplay was written by Don Ingalls and the film directed by Marvin Chomsky, with Robert Weitman as the producer... |
Zelda | TV movie |
| Starsky and Hutch Starsky and Hutch Starsky and Hutch is a 1970s American cop thriller television series that consisted of a 90-minute pilot movie and 92 episodes of 60 minutes each; created by William Blinn, produced by Spelling-Goldberg Productions, and broadcast between April 30, 1975 and May 15, 1979 on the ABC... |
Vicky | 1 episode | |
| 1975-79 | Wonder Woman Wonder Woman (TV series) Wonder Woman is an American television series based on the DC Comics comic book superhero of the same name. Starring Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince and Lyle Waggoner as Steve Trevor, the show originally aired from 1975 to 1979.... |
Wonder Woman Wonder Woman Wonder Woman is a DC Comics superheroine created by William Moulton Marston. She first appeared in All Star Comics #8 . The Wonder Woman title has been published by DC Comics almost continuously except for a brief hiatus in 1986.... |
59 episodes |
| 1980 | The Last Song | Brooke Newman | TV movie |
| The Muppet Show The Muppet Show The Muppet Show is a British television programme produced by American puppeteer Jim Henson and featuring Muppets. After two pilot episodes were produced in 1974 and 1975, the show premiered on 5 September 1976 and five series were produced until 15 March 1981, lasting 120 episodes... |
Herself | 1 episode | |
| 1981 | Born to Be Sold | Kate Carlin | TV movie |
| 1982 | Hotline Hotline (film) Hotline is a 1982 made-for-tv thriller film directed by Jerry Jameson. The working title of the film was Reach Out.- Plot :After a long shift at the bar, which included serving a drunk demanding of sexual favors, art student Brianne O'Neill returns home longing for a good night's rest... |
Brianne O'Neill | TV movie |
| 1984 | Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess | Rita Hayworth Rita Hayworth Rita Hayworth was an American film actress and dancer who attained fame during the 1940s as one of the era's top stars... |
TV movie |
| Partners in Crime | Carole Stanwyck | 13 episodes | |
| 1987 | Stillwatch | Patricia Traymore | TV movie |
| 1989 | Mike Hammer: Murder Takes All Mike Hammer: Murder Takes All Mike Hammer: Murder Takes All is a 1989 made for television film. It effectively served as a sequel the CBS television series The New Mike Hammer, and starred Stacy Keach.... |
Helen Durant | TV movie |
| 1991 | Daddy Daddy (1991 film) Daddy, also known as Danielle Steel's Daddy, is a 1991 television film directed by Michael Miller. The film is based upon the 1989 novel of the same name written by Danielle Steel.- Plot :... |
Charlotte Sampson | TV movie a.k.a. Danielle Steel's Daddy |
| Posing: Inspired by Three Real Stories | Meredith Lanahan | TV movie a.k.a. I Posed for Playboy |
|
| 1994-95 | Hawkeye Hawkeye (TV series) Hawkeye is a television series, airing in syndication for one season during 1994-1995, and produced by Stephen J. Cannell. The series was filmed in North Vancouver and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.... |
Elizabeth Shields | 22 episodes |
| 1996 | When Friendship Kills When Friendship Kills When Friendship Kills, also released as A Secret Between Friends: A Moment of Truth Movie, is a 1996 American television film directed by James A. Contner... |
Kathryn Archer | TV movie a.k.a. A Secret Between Friends: A Moment of Truth Movie |
| She Woke Up Pregnant | Susan Saroyan | TV movie a.k.a. Crimes of Silence |
|
| 1997 | A Prayer in the Dark | Emily Hayworth | TV movie |
| 1998 | Someone to Love Me | Diane Young | TV movie a.k.a. Someone to Love Me: A Moment of Truth Movie a.k.a. Girl in the Backseat |
| 1999 | Family Blessings | Lee Reston | TV movie a.k.a. LaVyrle Spencer's 'Family Blessings |
| 2003 | Terror Peak | Dr. Janet Fraser | TV movie |
| Hope & Faith Hope & Faith Hope & Faith is an American sitcom that aired for three seasons on ABC from September 26, 2003, to May 2, 2006. For its first two seasons the show was part of a revived TGIF comedy block.... |
Summer Kirkland | 1 episode | |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it is also primarily produced... |
Lorraine Dillon | 1 episode |
| Law & Order Law & Order Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,... |
Lorraine Dillon | 1 episode | |
| Sky High Sky High Sky High may refer to:*Sky High , a 1975 song by the band Jigsaw*Sky High , a famous Australian racehorse*Sky High , a novel*Sky High Lee , Canadian professional wrestler*Sky High Stuntman, an Amiga game... |
Principal Powers | Movie | |
| 2006 | Slayer | Colonel Jessica Weaver | TV movie |
| 2007 | Smallville Smallville Smallville is the hometown of Superman in comic books published by DC Comics. While growing up in Smallville, the young Clark Kent attended Smallville High with best friends Lana Lang, Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross... |
Moira Sullivan | 1 episode |
Albums
- 1978: PortraitPortrait (Lynda Carter album)Portrait is the first album by the American actress Lynda Carter. It was released in 1978 on vinyl LP, 8-track and cassette as well as a limited edition picture LP. Carter co-wrote three of the songs: "Want to Get Beside You," "Fantasy Man" and "Toto "...
- 2009: At LastAt Last (Lynda Carter album)At Last is the second studio album by actress and singer Lynda Carter, released on June 9, 2009.-Track listing:#"You Send Me" – 3:47#"Where Did Our Love Go" – 3:44...
- 2011: Crazy Little Things