Yvonne Craig, television’s first ‘Batgirl,’ dies at 78

LOS ANGELES — Yvonne Craig, the ballet dancer turned Batgirl who played one of the first female superheroes on television, has died after a two-year battle with breast cancer.

Craig, who played Batgirl Barbara Gordon in the 1960s television series “Batman,” died Tuesday night at her home in Pacific Palisades, according to a statement posted on her website. She was 78.

Craig was the first to play the role when she joined “Batman” in 1967, cast as Commissioner Gordon’s librarian daughter by day and the caped crime-fighter who teamed up with Batman and Robin to deliver “Pows!” and “Kabooms!” by night. The show was canceled in 1968.

The actress began her career with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, touring with the company for three years before she was cast as the lead in the western movie “The Young Land” in 1959. Her television career also included a memorable role in the third season of “Star Trek” in 1969, when she played the crazed green slave girl who aimed to kill Capt. Kirk.

After she stopped acting, Craig and her sister went into the real estate business.

In a statement posted on her website, Craig’s family said she had wanted to keep her battle with cancer private. “She wanted to spend all of her energy concentrating on winning her battle,” the statement said.

The cancer had metastasized to her liver, according to the family’s statement. Late last year, Craig had an operation to remove portions of her liver and her gallbladder, and had been in chemotherapy “almost continuously” since her diagnosis two years ago.

In March, she canceled scheduled appearances in Los Angeles and Niagara Falls, citing a recent surgery.

“This didn’t dampen her sense of humor or her spirit,” her family said. “In the end, her mind still wanted to fight but her body had given up.”

Craig is survived by her husband, Kenneth Aldrich, and her sister, Meridel Carson.