American actor Lyle Waggoner, the first to portray Wonder Woman’s Major Steve Trevor, has passed away in Westlake Village, California today, March 17, 2020, at the age of 84.
The actor and sculptor was born April 13, 1935 in Kansas City, Kansas. He was best known for both co-starring on The Carol Burnett Show betwee 1967 and 1974, and appearing as Major Steve Trevor in Wonder Woman and as Col. Steve Trevor, Jr. in the sequel The New Adventures of Wonder Woman. Although the two shows were filmed only months apart in real life, they took place thirty years apart.
From the 1950’s to the 1990’s he was a popular guest star on a variety of shows: Gunsmoke, Marcus Welby, MD, Love Boat, Happy Days, Murder, She Wrote, and Fantasy Island.
His science fiction and fantasy roles included an alien in A Journey to the Center of Time, guest roles on Lost in Space (he played a robot), Time Express, Mork & Mindy, and Lord Khoura in Wizards of the Demon Sword. In 1966, he auditioned for the role of Batman / Bruce Wayne for the television series and was a finalist, but the part went instead to Adam West.
He was married to actress Sharon Kennedy on September 17, 1960. He is survived by her, and their two sons, Jason and Beau.
Chris Pine has taken over the role of Steve Trevor in the DCEU, but Lyle Waggoner will be remembered as Wonder Woman’s first beau.
Goodnight, Major. And thank you.
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Susan Macdonald is the author of the children's book "R is for Renaissance Faire", as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in "Alternative Truths", "Swords and Sorceress #30", Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, "Cat Tails" "Under Western Stars", and "Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid". Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio's web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.
