Lynda Carter
Lynda Jean Cordova Carter (born July 24, 1951) is an American actress, singer and beauty pageant titleholder best known as the star of the live-action television series Wonder Woman, in the role of Diana Prince / Wonder Woman, based on the DC comic book fictional superhero character of the same name. As a pageant contestant, Carter was crowned Miss World USA 1972 and finished in the top 15 at the Miss World 1972 pageant. She achieved fame playing Wonder Woman in a series that aired on ABC and later on CBS from 1975 to 1979.[4]
For other people with the same name, see Linda Carter (disambiguation).
Lynda Carter
- Actress
- singer
1968–present
Miss World USA 1972
Wonder Woman (1975–1979)
Maybelline commercials
Lens Express commercials
2
Early life[edit]
Carter was born in Phoenix, Arizona, the daughter of Juanita (née Córdova) and Colby Carter.[1][5] Her father is of English and Irish ancestry, and her mother, whose family hailed from Mexico, is of Mexican, Spanish, and French descent.[6][7] She has one brother, Vincent, and one sister, Pamela.
Carter made her public television debut on Lew King's Talent Show at age 5. During high school, Carter performed in a band called Just Us. The band included a marimba, a conga drum, an acoustic guitar, and a stand-up bass which was played by another girl in the group. At age 15, Carter began singing in the local pizza parlor to earn extra money.[8] When she was 16, she joined two of her cousins in another band called The Relatives. Actor Gary Burghoff was the drummer for the band. The group opened at the Sahara Hotel and Casino lounge in Las Vegas for three months; because Carter was under 21 she had to enter through the kitchen.[9]
In 1970, Carter successfully auditioned for and then sang on tour with The Garfin Gathering and bandleader Howard (Speedy) Garfin. Their first performance together was at the Holiday Inn Chinatown, a San Francisco hotel so new that it had no completed sidewalk entrance. Consequently, they played mostly to the hotel staff and hotel guests who parked their cars in the underground garage.[10] The Garfin Gathering toured the Nevada "Silver Circuit", playing shows in many of the state's casino lounges between Lake Tahoe, Carson City, Reno, and Las Vegas. In 1972, Carter decided to leave the Garfin Gathering to pursue an acting career, returning to Arizona.[11]
Honors[edit]
In 1985, DC Comics named Carter as one of the honorees in the company's 50th anniversary publication Fifty Who Made DC Great for her work on the Wonder Woman series.[21]
In 2014, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars was dedicated to Carter's career. Carter's dedication is the 369th honoree on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars.[63]
In 2016, Carter received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Gracie Awards.[64] The Gracie Awards ceremony is presented by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWM), since 1975.[65]
On April 3, 2018, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce (HCC) proudly honored Carter with the 2,632nd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The star is at 6562 Hollywood Boulevard in the television section. HCC President and CEO Leron Gubler unveiled the star with the assistance of guest speakers, director Patty Jenkins and former CBS chairman Leslie Moonves.[66]
On September 17, 2022, the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago honored Carter with the Sor Juana Legacy Award for her outstanding contributions to the arts. The Sor Juana Legacy Award recognizes women of Mexican descent for their lifetime achievements.[67]
On December 13, 2022, Carter, along with a handful of others, were inducted into the California Hall of Fame.[68]
