Yvonne Craig as Batgirl, Dies at 78 (Photo : Screenshot of 1960's "Batman" TV Show)
Tears fell as the film industry lost one of its most beloved members. Former 1960's television star and dancer, actress Yvonne Craig succumbed to breast cancer last Monday, August 17.
Craig played the original Batgirl, alongside the original Batman and Robin. Her character was Commissioner Gordon's daughter who loved Batman.
After the show was cancelled in 1968, Craig eventually ventured into other projects, although she is best known for her stint as Batgirl even until today.
Sadly, Craig had been suffering from metastatic breast cancer which spread into her liver. She passed away at her Pacific Palisades home, according to her spokesperson.
By Craig's side in her final moments were close members of her family. The actress is survived by husband Kenneth Aldrich, her sister Meridel Carson and nephews Christopher and Todd Carson.
Craig was born in Taylorvilla, Illinois but was raised in Ohio. She started her arts career as a formally trained ballet dancer and was a member of the corps de ballet of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in the fifties.
Not soon after, she transitioned into a blossoming acting career, making various appearances in a series of films before landing the big role as the Caped Crusader's female counterpart.
Aside from "Batman", Craig also appeared on the original "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", which has recently been revived into a 2015 full-length film.
She also starred in two films with rock and roll legend Elvis Presley, "It Happened at the World's Fair" and "Kissin' Cousins."
In 2000, Craig authored a book, "From Ballet to the Batcave and Beyond", which detailed her early days as a dancer and how she got into acting.
As Batgirl, Craig introduced the female superhero model, which in turn helped to bring women more prominent roles in film as the years progressed.
Today, it is common for superhero movies to feature prominent female roles.
Recent films like The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, the X-Men series and Fantastic Four all have female major characters -- which is due in large part to Craig's effort to pioneer the movement.
