Wonder Woman: the legendary life of Lynda Carter

Lynda Jean Cordova

Lynda Jean Cordova, A passion for music, Moving into acting, The wonder years, Skeptical networks, An unprecedented success, The helicopter stunt, Jeannie Epper, Ron Samuels, Sage advice, True love, A normal family, Struggles with alcohol dependency, Passing the torch, Activist and icon, Unexpected controversy, Speaking out on abuse in the film industry, From the studio to the West End, A moment of recognition, A devastating shock, Wonder Woman

Lynda Carter was born Lynda Jean Cordova in Phoenix, Arizona, on July 24, 1951. She was the youngest of three siblings and showed an affinity for the performing arts from a young age.

A passion for music

Lynda Jean Cordova, A passion for music, Moving into acting, The wonder years, Skeptical networks, An unprecedented success, The helicopter stunt, Jeannie Epper, Ron Samuels, Sage advice, True love, A normal family, Struggles with alcohol dependency, Passing the torch, Activist and icon, Unexpected controversy, Speaking out on abuse in the film industry, From the studio to the West End, A moment of recognition, A devastating shock, Wonder Woman

Carter studied classical dance and drama throughout her youth, and even formed a rock band in high school. She briefly attended the University of Arizona but soon dropped out to tour the country and sing with her band.

Moving into acting

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While studying acting in New York, Carter started to get small parts making guest appearances on shows like ‘Starsky and Hutch.’

The wonder years

Lynda Jean Cordova, A passion for music, Moving into acting, The wonder years, Skeptical networks, An unprecedented success, The helicopter stunt, Jeannie Epper, Ron Samuels, Sage advice, True love, A normal family, Struggles with alcohol dependency, Passing the torch, Activist and icon, Unexpected controversy, Speaking out on abuse in the film industry, From the studio to the West End, A moment of recognition, A devastating shock, Wonder Woman

In 1975, she got her big break when she landed the leading role in the ‘Wonder Woman’ TV series. This would be the defining moment of her career and the character she will always be associated with.

Skeptical networks

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The show got picked up by CBS after one season, but the executives feared that a show with a female lead wouldn’t be very popular.

An unprecedented success

Lynda Jean Cordova, A passion for music, Moving into acting, The wonder years, Skeptical networks, An unprecedented success, The helicopter stunt, Jeannie Epper, Ron Samuels, Sage advice, True love, A normal family, Struggles with alcohol dependency, Passing the torch, Activist and icon, Unexpected controversy, Speaking out on abuse in the film industry, From the studio to the West End, A moment of recognition, A devastating shock, Wonder Woman

Despite their low expectations, ‘Wonder Woman’ was a smash hit among both men and women, and ran until 1979. Carter became an icon for women, and her posters adorned the walls of many teen bedrooms.

The helicopter stunt

Lynda Jean Cordova, A passion for music, Moving into acting, The wonder years, Skeptical networks, An unprecedented success, The helicopter stunt, Jeannie Epper, Ron Samuels, Sage advice, True love, A normal family, Struggles with alcohol dependency, Passing the torch, Activist and icon, Unexpected controversy, Speaking out on abuse in the film industry, From the studio to the West End, A moment of recognition, A devastating shock, Wonder Woman

One of the most incredible stunts she ever performed was in the second season of the show. Wonder Woman was supposed to hold onto the bottom of a helicopter as it flew through the air. However, all of the stuntmen were, well, men, so it would have looked ridiculous.

Jeannie Epper

Lynda Jean Cordova, A passion for music, Moving into acting, The wonder years, Skeptical networks, An unprecedented success, The helicopter stunt, Jeannie Epper, Ron Samuels, Sage advice, True love, A normal family, Struggles with alcohol dependency, Passing the torch, Activist and icon, Unexpected controversy, Speaking out on abuse in the film industry, From the studio to the West End, A moment of recognition, A devastating shock, Wonder Woman

Speaking of stunt doubles, Carter had a hand in forcing the studio to hire one of the first stunt women in Hollywood. Jeannie Epper became her stunt double after the helicopter fiasco, and went on to become one of the most decorated stunt women in the industry.

Ron Samuels

Lynda Jean Cordova, A passion for music, Moving into acting, The wonder years, Skeptical networks, An unprecedented success, The helicopter stunt, Jeannie Epper, Ron Samuels, Sage advice, True love, A normal family, Struggles with alcohol dependency, Passing the torch, Activist and icon, Unexpected controversy, Speaking out on abuse in the film industry, From the studio to the West End, A moment of recognition, A devastating shock, Wonder Woman

In the middle of her ‘Wonder Woman’ years, Carter married her manager, Ron Samuels. She was 25 at the time and Samuels was a lot older. The marriage lasted until 1982.

Sage advice

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Carter would later refer to their marriage as an unfortunate chapter in her life. "He was a lot older, and I was just stupid," she said. “Don’t marry the first person that proposes to you!"

True love

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Within a couple of years, Carter married the love of her life, lawyer Robert Altman. They tied the knot in 1984 and she relocated to Maryland to live with him, as he worked out of Washington D.C.

A normal family

Lynda Jean Cordova, A passion for music, Moving into acting, The wonder years, Skeptical networks, An unprecedented success, The helicopter stunt, Jeannie Epper, Ron Samuels, Sage advice, True love, A normal family, Struggles with alcohol dependency, Passing the torch, Activist and icon, Unexpected controversy, Speaking out on abuse in the film industry, From the studio to the West End, A moment of recognition, A devastating shock, Wonder Woman

The couple had two children, Jamie and Jessica, whom Carter tried to give a normal life. Her relationship with Altman was strong and they supported each other through thick and thin.

Struggles with alcohol dependency

Lynda Jean Cordova, A passion for music, Moving into acting, The wonder years, Skeptical networks, An unprecedented success, The helicopter stunt, Jeannie Epper, Ron Samuels, Sage advice, True love, A normal family, Struggles with alcohol dependency, Passing the torch, Activist and icon, Unexpected controversy, Speaking out on abuse in the film industry, From the studio to the West End, A moment of recognition, A devastating shock, Wonder Woman

Carter experienced her own struggles during the ‘90s as she battled alcohol addiction. With the support of her family and a stint in rehab, she got sober and has stayed that way ever since.

Passing the torch

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Carter even appeared in the highly successful new ‘Wonder Woman’ film franchise starring Gal Gadot. She made a brief appearance in ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ (2020) as Asteria, and it’s been confirmed that she’s coming back for the next installment.

Activist and icon

Lynda Jean Cordova, A passion for music, Moving into acting, The wonder years, Skeptical networks, An unprecedented success, The helicopter stunt, Jeannie Epper, Ron Samuels, Sage advice, True love, A normal family, Struggles with alcohol dependency, Passing the torch, Activist and icon, Unexpected controversy, Speaking out on abuse in the film industry, From the studio to the West End, A moment of recognition, A devastating shock, Wonder Woman

Lynda Carter was the perfect person to play an icon of female strength and empowerment. She has always been outspoken about social and political issues that affect women and the LGBTQ community in particular.

Unexpected controversy

Lynda Jean Cordova, A passion for music, Moving into acting, The wonder years, Skeptical networks, An unprecedented success, The helicopter stunt, Jeannie Epper, Ron Samuels, Sage advice, True love, A normal family, Struggles with alcohol dependency, Passing the torch, Activist and icon, Unexpected controversy, Speaking out on abuse in the film industry, From the studio to the West End, A moment of recognition, A devastating shock, Wonder Woman

However, the celebration of Wonder Woman’s status as a symbol of female empowerment was short-lived. The backlash from those who thought Wonder Woman was a poor example was so strong that the UN took back the honor. A petition that gained more than 40,000 signatures argued that a scantily clad white woman wasn’t an appropriate role model.

Speaking out on abuse in the film industry

Lynda Jean Cordova, A passion for music, Moving into acting, The wonder years, Skeptical networks, An unprecedented success, The helicopter stunt, Jeannie Epper, Ron Samuels, Sage advice, True love, A normal family, Struggles with alcohol dependency, Passing the torch, Activist and icon, Unexpected controversy, Speaking out on abuse in the film industry, From the studio to the West End, A moment of recognition, A devastating shock, Wonder Woman

During the explosion of the #MeToo movement in 2018, Carter revealed that she too had been sexually abused by one of the most prominently accused men named in the fallout. She decided not to share his name, saying “There’s nothing legally I could add to it, because I looked into it.” However, she spoke out and identified herself as a survivor in support of the other women who suffered similar abuse.

From the studio to the West End

Lynda Jean Cordova, A passion for music, Moving into acting, The wonder years, Skeptical networks, An unprecedented success, The helicopter stunt, Jeannie Epper, Ron Samuels, Sage advice, True love, A normal family, Struggles with alcohol dependency, Passing the torch, Activist and icon, Unexpected controversy, Speaking out on abuse in the film industry, From the studio to the West End, A moment of recognition, A devastating shock, Wonder Woman

She has released five studio albums and starred in the West End production of ‘Chicago’ as Mama Morton in 2006.

A moment of recognition

Lynda Jean Cordova, A passion for music, Moving into acting, The wonder years, Skeptical networks, An unprecedented success, The helicopter stunt, Jeannie Epper, Ron Samuels, Sage advice, True love, A normal family, Struggles with alcohol dependency, Passing the torch, Activist and icon, Unexpected controversy, Speaking out on abuse in the film industry, From the studio to the West End, A moment of recognition, A devastating shock, Wonder Woman

In 2018, Carter’s long career in acting and music were honored when she received her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She brought along her whole family to share the joyful moment.

A devastating shock

Lynda Jean Cordova, A passion for music, Moving into acting, The wonder years, Skeptical networks, An unprecedented success, The helicopter stunt, Jeannie Epper, Ron Samuels, Sage advice, True love, A normal family, Struggles with alcohol dependency, Passing the torch, Activist and icon, Unexpected controversy, Speaking out on abuse in the film industry, From the studio to the West End, A moment of recognition, A devastating shock, Wonder Woman

In 2021, Carter lost her beloved husband of 37 years to a rare form of blood cancer. In an interview with People later that year, she admitted that she was really struggling with her grief and still crying several times a day. "The next part of my life is I want to learn who I am,” she said. “It's totally frightening. I don't know who I am without Robert."

Wonder Woman

Lynda Jean Cordova, A passion for music, Moving into acting, The wonder years, Skeptical networks, An unprecedented success, The helicopter stunt, Jeannie Epper, Ron Samuels, Sage advice, True love, A normal family, Struggles with alcohol dependency, Passing the torch, Activist and icon, Unexpected controversy, Speaking out on abuse in the film industry, From the studio to the West End, A moment of recognition, A devastating shock, Wonder Woman

While Carter may be finding her feet again after such a tragic and life-changing event, one thing is for sure: to the rest of us, she will always be the awe-inspiring Wonder Woman, in every single way. 

Sources: (Biography) (Wonderwall) (USA Today) (People) (NinjaJournalist) 

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