Lynda Day George

Life and career

Lynda was born in San Marcos, Texas. Originally known as Lynda Day, her career began with guest roles on many television series of the 1960s, including Route 66, Flipper, Here Come the Brides, The Green Hornet, Mannix, The Fugitive, The Invaders, It Takes a Thief, The Virginian, Good Morning, World, and Bonanza. She had her first major role as Amelia Cole in a short-lived 1970-1971 television series, The Silent Force, and later starred in the television pilot for Cannon in 1971. That same year, she was cast as Lisa Casey in the critically acclaimed series Mission: Impossible, garnering a Golden Globe nomination in 1972 and an Emmy Award nomination in 1973. During the show's last season, she missed seven episodes because of her maternity leave and was temporarily replaced by Barbara Anderson.

She first met actor Christopher George when they starred together in the 1966 independent film The Gentle Rain. While working together again in the 1970 John Wayne film Chisum, they fell in love and were married on May 15, 1970.

Thereafter, she became Lynda Day George and co-starred in multiple television films with her husband over the next 10 years, including The House on Greenapple Road (1970), Mayday at 40,000 Feet! (1976), and Cruise Into Terror (1978). They also worked together in episodes of The F.B.I. (1970), Mission: Impossible (1971), McCloud (1975), Love Boat (1977), and Vega$ (1978). They guest-starred in television's Wonder Woman in 1976, with Lynda playing villain Fausta Grables, Nazi Wonder Woman.

She continued her television work throughout the 1970s with guest roles on Police Story, Kung Fu, Marcus Welby, M.D., and Barnaby Jones. She played supporting roles in Rich Man, Poor Man, Roots, and Once an Eagle.

Her movie career is noted for several horror cult films in which she co-starred with husband Christopher, including Day of the Animals (1977), Pieces (1982), and Mortuary (1983). She also co-starred with John Saxon in the 1980 horror film Beyond Evil.

Christopher George died of a heart attack on November 28, 1983, at the age of 52. She worked only sporadically after that, in guest roles on Fantasy Island (1984), Murder She Wrote (1985), Hardcastle and McCormick (1985), and Blacke's Magic (1986). She was also a regular guest on religious television programs. In one of her final performances, Lynda reprised the role of Lisa Casey on an episode of the revived Mission: Impossible television series in 1989. She officially retired from acting shortly thereafter.

Marriages

She was first married to Joseph Pantano (1963–1970) (divorced), with one son, Nicky. She left Pantano to marry George. She was married to George from 15 May 1970 until his death, on 28 November 1983, and had one daughter, Casey. They filed suit to have Nicky Pantano legally declared as Christopher's natural son. In 1990, Lynda George married Doug Cronin, who died of cancer 4 December 2010; they resided in Los Angeles and Gardiner, Washington.