Summary
The actors who portrayed Batgirl, Catwoman, and the Riddler in the 1960sBatmantelevision series also appeared inStar Trek: The Original Series.BatmanandTOSboth began in 1966 and appealed to similar audiences, so it’s not surprising that several actors popped up on these two shows.With its campy, humorous tone, the 1960sBatmanwas very different from most modern adaptations featuring the Caped Crusader.As Batman (Adam West) and Robin (Burt Ward) defended Gotham City, they used ridiculously named gadgets to take on villains, and comic book words like “POW!” and “BAM!” popped up on the screen during fight scenes.
AlthoughStar Trek: The Original Serieshad its campy moments, its tone was much less tongue-in-cheek than that ofBatman. Following the adventures ofCaptain James T. Kirk (William Shatner)and the USS Enterprise,Star Trektold more serious stories with a moral lesson. Many actors appeared in minor roles across both shows, butYvonne Craig, Julie Newmar, and Frank Gorshin all played significant roles inBatmanand made particularly memorable guest stars onStar Trek.Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) may have been the heart ofStar Trek: TOS,but the new and often alien characters they encountered each week kept things interesting.
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Batgirl Yvonne Craig Played Marta In Star Trek
Star Trek: The Original Series Season 3, Episode 16 - “Whom Gods Destroy”
InBatman, Yvonne Craig portrayed Batgirl AKA Barbara Gordon, the daughter of Gotham City Police Commissioner Gordon (Neil Hamilton). While not fighting crime alongside Batman and Robin, Barbara worked as a librarian. The character of Barbara Gordon was created as a joint effort between the executive producer ofBatman,William Dozier, and several creators at DC Comics. She made her comic book debut in January 1967, and her television debut in the season 3 premiere ofBatmanthat same year.Craig appeared in 26 episodes ofBatmanfrom September 1967 through March 1968, and she did most of her own stunts.
TheStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 3 episode, “Whom Gods Destroy,” begins with Captain Kirk and the Starship Enterprise arriving at a Federation psychiatric facility only to find that they have been lured there by the escaped patients.Led by Garth of Izar (Steve Ihnat), these patients imprison Kirk and Spock and attempt to take over the Enterprise.Yvonne Craig portrays Marta,an Orion womanwho was being held as one of the patients at the facility. Marta attempts to seduce Kirk and eventually tries to kill him before Spock subdues her. Garth later kills Marta as a demonstration of his own power.
Catwoman Julie Newmar Played Eleen In Star Trek
Star Trek: The Original Series Season 2, Episode 3 - “Friday’s Child”
Julie Newmar portrayed the villainous Catwoman in 13 episodes ofBatmanacross the show’s first two seasons.A skilled jewel thief and cat burglar, Catwoman often flirted with Batman, trying to coax him to join her.But despite their complicated love/hate relationship, Batman always chose to remain on the side of the crime fighters. Over the course of her career, Newmar starred in numerous films, television shows, and theatrical performances. She won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for portraying Katrin Sveg in the 1958 Broadway production ofThe Marriage-Go-Round.
Newmar returned to voice Catwoman, alongside Adam West and Burt Ward, for the 2016 animated film,Batman: Return of the Caped Crusadersand its 2017 sequel,Batman vs. Two-Face.
In theStar Trek: The Original Seriesepisode “Friday’s Child,“the USS Enterprise visits Capella IV to negotiate a mining contract only to find a Klingon representative already present. The Capellan leader, Akaar (Ben Gage), appears ready to side with the Federation, but then fighting breaks out among the Capellans.Julie Newmar plays Eleen, Akaar’s pregnant wife who must flee after her husband is killed in the melee.Kirk, Spock, and McCoy save Eleen and escape to the hills, where McCoy eventually persuades her to allow him to help with her delivery. She later names her newborn son Leonard James Akaar and takes over as her son’s regent.
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Riddler Frank Gorshin Played Bele In Star Trek
Star Trek: The Original Series Season 3, Episode 15 - “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield”
Frank Gorshin portrayed the Riddler in 10 episodes ofBatmanand the 1966 film, earning an Emmy nomination for the role.Frank Gorshin’s take on the Riddler helped make the puzzling criminal mastermind one of Batman’s most iconic villains.Because he disliked the Riddler’s unitard costume from the Batman comics, Gorshin helped create the question-mark-covered green business suit and bowler hat look, which eventually made its way back into the comics. Not only did Gorshin appear in numerous films and television shows, but he also performed as a comedian and impressionist at popular nightclubs.
InStar Trek’s"Let That Be Your Last Battlefield,“Frank Gorshin portrays Bele, one of two survivors of a planet ravaged by centuries of war.When the Starship Enterprise rescues Lokai (Lou Antonio), the other survivor, Bele soon arrives and explains that he has been chasing Lokai for 50,000 years. When Lokai and Bele realize that their planet has been destroyed, they attack one another, destined to remain in conflict for the rest of their lives. Thanks to Bele and Lokai’s stark black and white make-up, “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” has become one ofStar Trek: The Original Series’most recognizable episodes.
