Born in Phoenix, the youngest of three children, Lynda made her professional singing debut at fifteen in Tempe, Arizona. She attended Kenilworth School, then the Arcadia Titans High School and the Arizona State University. She studied classical dances for seven years in the School Ballet of Phoenix. She also studied chanting and piano, and had her dramatic training with Laura Zucker, Stella Adler, Charles Conrad, Milton Katselas, Lieux Dressler, and Greta and Sandra Seacat. In 1973, she won the Miss World-U.S.A. title and shortly thereafter outdistanced hundreds of other actresses for the part of "Wonder Woman," a character she infused with such depth and humor that it has become one of the most indelible characters in TV history.
She is the only star who achieves top TV ratings in both musical and dramatic specials. Her fourth variety special, "Lynda Carter, Street Life," with George Benson and Tony Orlando guesting, aired on CBS in March and won the rating derby. Her Emmy-winning CBS special, "Lynda Carter Celebration," was one of the highest-rated musical variety offerings of 1981. In the field of dramatics, she again has consistently proved a ratings and review winner by tackling significant subject matter. "Born To Be Sold," her most recent motion picture for television, not only was a major Nielsen winner for NBC, but did it against such formidable opposition as the season premieres of "M.A.S.H.," "Lou Grant" and "House Calls" and one of the most attractive Monday night NFL games. It did so while tackling a subject of deep social significance, the plight of children sold illegally for adoption. Similar success was achieved by Lynda's first television movie, "The Last Song," a highly-suspenseful CBS film which candidly addressed the perils of uncontrolled chemical pollution and garnered a 37 share of the audience. The title song from the movie, as performed by Lynda, was produced by entertainer extraordinaire, Kenny Rogers.
Within the past two years, she hosted three other dynamic television variety specials, starred in two dramatic telefeatures, headlined London's famed Palladium, and became the first entertainer to associate herself with a major women's professional tennis tournament. Lynda Carter has proven a truly international star. In the world of sports, she is a premier attraction as well. Lynda hosts such premier professionals as Chris Evert Lloyd and Martina Navratilova in the annual $125,000 Lynda Carter/Maybelline Tennis Classic which has been held in Deer Creek, Florida. Appointed Beauty and Fashion Director of Maybelline Cosmetics, Lynda appears in advertising as well as serving as a consultant in the development and marketing of new products. Her achievement in this area startled even the flamboyant cosmetics industry. In the 18 months following her association with Maybelline products, the company's sales tripled, skyrocketing from $70 million to over $200 million.
Lynda has been the recipient of an unprecedented number of honors, including, from the London-based International Academy of Beauty, the title of "The Most Beautiful Woman In The World." She has, in addition, been named one of Mr. Blackwell's "Ten Best Dressed Women In America," Gallup poll's "Ten Most Admired Women In America," one of Helene Curtis' "Ten Best Tressed Women In America," and one of the International Bachelors Association's "Ten Most Exciting Women In The World." Her personality print, for which she received the coveted million-selling Gold Poster Award, continues to be one of the most popular posters in America. In addition to Mexico's Ariel Award, she also received South America's coveted Gold Two Award as most popular actress and performer.
