Lynda Carter, the iconic actress who brought Wonder Woman to life in the 1970s, is a name etched in the annals of television history.
Her portrayal of the Amazonian superheroine left an indelible mark on pop culture, but behind the golden lasso and bulletproof bracelets, Lynda Carter's personal and professional journey was fraught with challenges.
The Wonder Woman series, which aired from 1975 to 1979 and was known as "Wonder Woman" in Spain, catapulted Lynda Carter to stardom. However, the glitz and glamour of Hollywood often come at a price. Lynda Carter revealed that she had been subjected to the harrowing ordeal of rape within the entertainment industry. Her courage in sharing this painful experience shed light on the dark underbelly of the industry and gave a voice to survivors.
During the show's peak, Lynda Carter became one of the highest-paid television actresses of her time, earning a staggering $1,500 per episode, with a second-season paycheck reaching one million dollars. However, the weight of success took its toll, leading her down a perilous path marked by alcohol abuse. It would take years and multiple visits to detoxification clinics for her to find her way back to sobriety.
A pivotal moment in Lynda Carter's life came when her second husband, attorney Robert A. Altman, urged her to confront her demons and prioritize her children, James and Jessica. Her journey to recovery was a testament to her resilience and determination.
Wonder Woman was Lynda Carter's most iconic role, but her career extended beyond it. She continued to work in television, dabbled in film, and even pursued her passion for music. Singing had been a part of her life since her teenage years, with jazz and blues being her favored genres. She released her first album in 1978, titled "Portrait," and her latest in 2018, "Red Rock N' Blues." Lynda Carter's love for music endures, and she continues to captivate audiences with her performances.
In her personal life, Lynda's first husband, Ron Samuels, served as both her agent and the agent of other prominent figures like Charlie's former angel, Jacklyn Smith, the bionic woman, Lindsay Wagner, and Charo. Their marriage lasted from 1977 to 1982. Two years later, she found true love in Robert A. Altman. He not only held a special place in her heart but ventured into the world of video games by founding ZeniMax Media, which he sold to Microsoft for a staggering 7.5 billion dollars shortly before his passing in 2021. Lynda Carter, deeply affected by her husband's loss, shared her heartache on social media, revealing her struggle to navigate life without him.
In recent years, Lynda Carter has surprised her fans by collaborating with her daughter, Jessica, who holds degrees in psychology and law. The actress remains very active on social media, using her platform to connect with her devoted followers. Her recent tweet paying tribute to the late singer Tony Bennett at the age of 96 exemplifies her enduring passion for music and the arts.
Lynda Carter's legacy as the original Wonder Woman endures, and she even made a cameo appearance in the 2020 film "Wonder Woman 1984," alongside Gal Gadot. Her life has been marked by triumphs and tribulations, but through it all, Lynda Carter stands as a symbol of strength, resilience, and the enduring power of the superheroine she portrayed with grace and charisma.
