Bye Bye Batgirl!

As Batgirl and Barbara Gordon

Yvonne Craig, played Batgirl in the original TV series, one of the original Star Trek's green girls, and a spy on the original The Man from U.N.C.L.E. died Monday at 78.

Craig died at her home in Pacific Palisades, Calif., as a result of complications from breast cancer that had spread to her liver. 

As Marta the Orion

The bad guy won.

Craig was a trained dancer who had studied at the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and toured for three years. Those dancing skills came in handy when the character of Batgirl debuted on ABC's popular superhero crime-fighting series in 1967. Craig was able to perform her own stunts alongside Adam West, who played Batman.

As with many characters on the show, she had to play two roles. By day, she was librarian Barbara Gordon, daughter of Gotham City police Commissioner James Gordon. But in times of need, she transformed into the caped crusader fighting crime alongside Batman and Robin. She even had a purple motorcycle with white lace trim.

Star Trek fans will remember Craig's work, too. She played Marta, the green-skinned Orion slave girl who wanted to kill Captain Kirk in Season 3.

I was a fan of all three shows. Great TV, but a little dated. I'm a bit afraid to go see the new "The Man From U.N.C.L.E."

Wombat-socho brings us "Rule 5 Sunday: RIP Batgirl, Viva Jeannie!"