How Lynda Carter Became Wonder Woman

Lynda Carter’s rise to fame began with winning the Miss USA title in 1973 after a local beauty pageant.

Her acting career took off in New York with appearances on television shows like Starsky and Hutch before becoming renowned for her portrayal of Wonder Woman in 1975.

Born as Lynda Jean Cordova in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 24, 1951, she engaged in classical dance and drama from a young age, refining her talents throughout her youth.

Although she briefly attended Arizona State University, she opted to leave and embarked on a musical journey, touring the country and performing with her high school rock band.

By 1972, Carter had returned home to kickstart a modeling career, eventually leading to her remarkable victory in the Miss USA pageant in 1973.

Following her victory in the beauty pageant, Lynda Carter received an opportunity from Hollywood. She pursued acting training in New York and landed guest roles on TV series like Cos and Starsky and Hutch.

However, it was her standout performance as Wonder Woman in 1975 that truly established her as a renowned star. Initially, the show was a special on ABC, but by 1976, it transitioned into a full-fledged series.

Despite initial concerns from CBS about the reception of a female lead, the show continued to air for several years on the network.

“TV executives didn’t think there was a market for a female holding a show like Wonder Woman,” Carter confided to the Daily Mail. “Women were buying all their products, yet men dominated the shows.”

“We’re still fighting the same fight. We still need more female role models,” she told Variety in October 2016. “But Wonder Woman is much more than a cartoon character. She’s fighting for truth and justice and the secret self that exists in all women and girls. There’s a moral fiber and a goodness about her that all women have.”

Lynda Carter praised Gal Gadot’s portrayal of Wonder Woman in the film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016. Post her iconic Wonder Woman role, Carter pursued music and acting, featuring in Las Vegas performances and guest-starring on TV series like Law & Order, Smallville, and Two and a Half Men.

Her career encompasses roles in The Dukes of Hazzard film adaptation, Mama Morton in the West End production of Chicago, and spokesperson positions for Maybelline and Lens Express.

Additionally, Carter appeared as President Olivia Marsdin in the CW’s Supergirl series during its second season in October 2016.

In 2008, Carter opened up about her personal struggle with alcoholism in the past. She shared in an interview with People that she sought help at a rehabilitation center in the late ’90s and has remained sober since then.

Carter was previously married to Hollywood producer and manager Ron Samuels from 1977 to 1982. She later tied the knot with Washington lawyer Robert Altman in 1984, with whom she shares two children, Jamie and Jessica.