Where Is She Now: Lynda Carter (Actress) as Wonder Woman.
Updated: 1/22/09
Name: Lynda Carter
Birth Name: Linda Jean Cordova Carter
Born: July 24, 1951, Phoenix, Arizona
Claim To Fame: Best known for the Amazonian title role in the fantasy-adventure television series Wonder Woman which aired from 1975 to 1979.
Family Life: She has been married twice. She married her
former agent Ron Samuels, in 1977. They were divorced in 1982. She has been married to attorney Robert Altman since 1984. They have two children, James and Jessica Altman.
Info: Carter attended Globe High School in Globe, Arizona and Arcadia High School, in Phoenix. She started college at Arizona State University, but dropped out to pursue a career in music after being voted the "most talented" student. She toured with several rock groups as a singer before returning
to Arizona in 1972.
She found national fame when she won the Miss World USA title in 1972, representing Arizona. Following her win, she began taking acting classes and making appearances on TV shows such
as Starsky and Hutch, Cos and Nakia and B-movies including her only nude appearances in Bobbie Jo and the Outlaw.
Her acting career reached new heights when she landed the starring role in the Wonder Woman television series. She was adored by fans and critics alike, and to this day is still closely identified with the Wonder Woman character.
Carter starred in the 1983 biopic of Rita Hayworth titled Love Goddess, as well as many of her own television specials: Lynda Carter's Special (1980), Encore! (1980), Celebration (1981), Street Life (1982) and Body And Soul (1984). She made
appearances on other short-lived TV series, and during the late 1970s, she recorded an album titled Portrait and had guest spots on variety television programs.
In 2001, she was cast in the independent comedy feature, Super Troopers, as, "Vermont Governor Jessman." She appeared in the 2005 big-screen remake of The Dukes of Hazzard, and in the film
Sky High, as "Principal Powers," the head of a school for superheroes. The script allowed for Carter to poke fun at her most famous character when she states: "What a waste. I can't do anything more to help you. I'm not Wonder Woman, y'know."
Trivia: Performed in a band during high school called 'Just Us', which consisted of a marimba, a congo drum, an acoustic guitar, and a stand-up bass played by another girl.
Performed many of her own stunts on "Wonder Woman" (1976) including hanging from a helicopter, to the nervousness of CBS, during the second season episode "Anschluss '77".
Owns the DVD release rights to her television specials.
Half Irish, half Mexican.
Auditioned for the role of Captain Kathryn Janeway on "Star Trek: Voyager" (1995).
Daughter-in-law of television producer Sophie Altman.
Ranked #3 on Wizard magazine's "Sexiest Women of TV" list (March 2008).
Grew up an avid reader of the Wonder Woman comic books.
Has been involved in many charitable causes, including a pioneering role with the Susan G. Komen Foundation (for breast cancer education and research) in which she received the Jill
Ireland Award for her volunteer work, the Red Cross, U.S.O., Ronald McDonald House, and many charities benefiting children.
Hosts the Lynda Carter Golf Tournament for charity.
Where Is She Now: Carter could be seen on a 2007 episode of
Smallville, titled "Progeny," playing Chloe Sullivan's
Kryptonite-empowered mother. She has done voiceovers for video games, performing voices for the nord and orsimer (orc) females in two computer games of The Elder Scrolls series, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.
In 2005, she was "Mama Morton" in the West End London production of Chicago. Her rendition of "When You're Good to Mama" was officially released on the Chicago: 10th Anniversary Edition CD box set in October of 2006, prompting Carter to
book her own cabaret tour act. She first performed from May 1-6, 2007, in San Francisco, at the York Hotel's Empire Plush Room, and proceeded to tour around the U.S.
Carter made the news last June when she found a body floating in the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. while rowing out of the Potomac Boat Club. She alerted some fishermen to call police and waited for them to arrive. That same month, she admitted in an interview to People magazine
that she had entered a rehabilitation clinic for treatment of chronic alcoholism.
She continues to tour as a singer, and her website states that she will be releasing a new CD soon.
