Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Joanne Linville, the first woman to ever star as a Romulan commander in Star Trek, died on Sunday (June 20). The actress had scores of other screen credits, most notably on The Twilight Zone and Star Trek. CAA made the announcement, but did not disclose a cause of death. Linville was 93.
The actress began her career in TV with a bevy of guest roles in the mid-1950s, appearing on series like Studio One, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Kraft Theatre, and Playhouse 90. She continued into the 60s, starring in classic dramas like Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The F.B.I., Route 66, Ben Casey, I Spy, and Hawaii Five-o.
In a 1961 Twilight Zone episode, Linville is recognizable as Lavinia Gordon, the owner of a ruined Southern mansion in the Civil War-themed “The Passerby.” She starred alongside James Gregory.
Linville is best known for her role in a 1968 episode of the original Star Trek, “The Enterprise Incident.” In the episode, Leonard Nimoy’s Spock is seen in a rare romance plot with Linville’s powerful Romulan commander, who is seduced by the Vulcan’s charms. Unfortunately for her character, Spock is staging a ruse so that Captain Kirk can steal the Romulan cloaking device that renders ships invisible.
The actress continued to work in TV throughout the 1970s and 80s, starring in hit shows like Columbo, Kojak, Charlie’s Angels, CHiPs, Dynasty, and L.A. Law. Though she wasn’t a series regular, her career steadily prevailed in the industry.
Linville was married to On Golden Pond director Mark Rydell from 1962-73 and was the great-grandmother of actress Billie Lourd and Austen Rydell’s son, Kingston. She is survived by the four of them, along with her children Christopher and Amy, and her grandchildren Ruby and Ginger.
