Batgirl Actress Yvonne Craig Passes Away at 78
It’s a sad day for many Bat-fans, as Yvonne Craig, the first live-action Batgirl, has passed away. Craig played Barbara Gordon/Batgirl on the hit series Batman from 1966 alongside Adam West and Burt Ward. Though she was only there for a single season, her impact was felt as she showed that a female superhero could go toe-to-toe with the bad guys (and girls) just as easily as the men. Both in physicality and in smarts, she often solved mysteries by herself at times.
Though it’s been decades since the show aired, her legacy lives on, especially through the Batman ’66 comic. The series features her likeness portrayed onto Barbara Gordon and Batgirl. Craig passed away on Monday (August 17), and her family made the following statement:
“She felt that she lived a wonderful life and was blessed in many ways. She was able to travel the world and see many places. Yvonne spent quality time with those that she loved and was able to accomplish many goals and ambitions that she set for herself. Yvonne excelled in ballet, a film career, a business life, as well as in philanthropic and charity work over the years. She had been able to do this with joy and much laughter and she wouldn’t have changed a thing.”
On behalf of Batman and Batgirl fans everywhere, I say thank you Ms. Yvonne Craig, and rest in peace.