“They Made Us Believe in Heroes: 7 Wonder Woman Stars Remembered After Their Heartbreaking Departures”

When Wonder Woman first lassoed her way into homes through the glowing screens of the 1970s, she became a beacon of empowerment.

At the heart of it all was Lynda Carter, whose portrayal remains immortal.

But around her, a constellation of stars helped create the magic — many of whom are no longer with us.

Their stories, full of triumph and heartbreak, remind us that even heroes are mortal.

Cloris Leachman (Queen Hippolyta)

Before she was a comedic legend, Cloris Leachman stepped into the regal sandals of Queen Hippolyta in the 1975 Wonder Woman pilot movie.

Her performance, commanding yet warm, set the tone for Diana’s origin story.

Off-screen, Leachman was a Hollywood powerhouse — winning eight Primetime Emmys and an Oscar.

Her humor was sharp, her presence unforgettable.

When she passed away in 2021 at 94, the entertainment world lost one of its fiercest queens.

Beatrice Straight (Queen Hippolyta, Season 1)
After Leachman, Oscar-winner Beatrice Straight took over the role of Diana’s mother in the first season.

With her Shakespearean grace, she turned a mythic figure into a loving parent torn between duty and affection.

Straight, known for her devastatingly short but powerful role in Network (1976), brought a quiet dignity to Wonder Woman.

She died in 2001 at 86, her legacy that of a woman who gave heart to goddesses.

Carolyn Jones (Queen Hippolyta, Seasons 2–3)
Yes, three different actresses portrayed Hippolyta — and Carolyn Jones made her version unforgettable.

Already adored as Morticia Addams in The Addams Family, Jones gave Hippolyta both strength and melancholy.

Her life, however, was marked by tragedy.

In 1983, after a long battle with colon cancer, she died at just 53.

Hollywood mourned one of its most distinctive, haunting beauties — a woman who embodied elegance even in her final days.

Debra Winger (Drusilla/Wonder Girl)
Though Debra Winger herself is still alive, her Wonder Woman co-stars often spoke of how the set felt “cursed” in the years that followed.

Among those who left too soon was Lyle Waggoner, who played Steve Trevor — the dashing Air Force major who loved and fought beside Diana.

Lyle Waggoner (Steve Trevor)
Waggoner’s easy charm made him the perfect match for Carter’s Diana.

Behind his striking looks was a man of humor and humility, a pioneer who later found success as an entrepreneur.

Fans adored his loyalty and warmth, both on-screen and off.

He passed away peacefully in 2020 at 84, with Carter paying tribute: “He was kind, funny, and full of life.

My partner, my friend — a true hero.

Deborah Wakeham (Evilessa, 1970s Series Guest)
Few remember her name, but those who do recall her fire.

Deborah Wakeham played the sinister Evilessa in one of the campiest, most entertaining episodes of the Wonder Woman TV run.

Her performance captured the pulpy charm of the era.

Sadly, her later years were marked by illness, and she passed away in the late 1990s, largely forgotten by the industry that once adored her.

Richard Eastham (General Phil Blankenship)
The calm, commanding general who guided Diana through her missions was brought to life by Richard Eastham — a seasoned actor with a Broadway pedigree.

His voice, resonant and reassuring, gave structure to chaos.

Off-camera, he was known for generosity and mentoring young performers.

Eastham died in 2005 at 89, remembered as the steadfast father figure of Wonder Woman.

John Randolph (Senator Bradford, 1977 Episode)
A respected character actor whose career spanned stage and screen, Randolph appeared in one memorable episode where Wonder Woman faces moral choices larger than any villain.

Known for Serpico and You’ve Got Mail, he represented Hollywood’s golden generation.

He passed away in 2004 at 88, leaving behind a filmography as vast as his wisdom.

Michael Ansara (Actor, Voice of Ares in Animated Versions)
Jumping forward to the animated world, Michael Ansara’s voice became synonymous with godlike menace.

As Ares, the God of War, in Justice League and other DC projects, he was thunder in human form.

His deep baritone carried both menace and sorrow — a villain who believed he was right.

Ansara, a Syrian-born American legend who also starred in Star Trek, died in 2013 at 91.

His voice remains immortalized in every whisper of war in the DC universe.

Together, these seven performers — and the world they built — remind us why Wonder Woman endures.

They weren’t just actors playing heroes and villains; they were the architects of a myth.

Each of them carried a spark that made Diana Prince more than a comic book character — they made her human.

When fans revisit Wonder Woman today, they aren’t just watching old television; they’re communing with ghosts.

The flicker of light on the screen, the shimmer of Diana’s bracelets, the golden lasso catching the sun — all of it is powered by the spirits of those who helped her shine.

In their absence, the world feels a little dimmer.

But as long as Wonder Woman still spins into action on screens around the globe, they live on — in courage, compassion, and truth.

Because true heroes never die.

They just fly off into the sky, leaving us to wonder when they might return.