Lynda Day George
Lynda Day George in publicity picture for 1973 telefilm She Cried Murder
Born
Lynda Louise Day

(1944-12-11) December 11, 1944[1]
San Marcos, Texas, U.S.
Years active1961–1989
Spouses
Joseph Pantano
​
​
(m. 1963; div. 1970)​
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1970; died 1983)​
      Doug Cronin
      ​
      ​
      (m. 1990; died 2010)​
      Children2

      Lynda Louise Day George (born December 11, 1944) is an American television and film actress whose career spanned three decades from the 1960s to the 1980s. She was a cast member on Mission: Impossible (1971–1973). She was also the wife of actor Christopher George.

      Life and career

      George was born in San Marcos, Texas. Originally known as Lynda Day, she began her career in the 1960s with the Eileen Ford modeling agency working as a top model in print and TV commercials, and then on Broadway starring in The Devils opposite Jason Robards and Anne Bancroft.[2] She then moved to Los Angeles and began a long television career with guest roles on many 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, Lancer and Bonanza. She starred in the first of the two Universal/NBC TV-pilot films based around psychiatrist/supernatural investigator Dr. David Sorrell (played by Louis Jourdan), Fear No Evil in 1969. George also had appearances playing in Barnaby Jones in the 1973 episode “Stand in for Death” and in a 1975 episode “Double Vengeance”.[3] 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.

      With Christopher George in Mission: Impossible (1971)

      She first met actor Christopher George while they were both models at Eileen Ford and she was married to her first husband. They starred together in the 1966 independent film The Gentle Rain.[4] 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, the Nazi Wonder Woman.[5][6]

      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. In 1977, she appeared on the game shows Match Game '77 and Tattletales, the latter with her husband Christopher.

      Her movie career is noted for several horror cult films in which she co-starred with her 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 only worked sporadically after that, in guest roles on Fantasy Island (appearing several times on the series, playing a different character each time), Murder She Wrote, Hardcastle and McCormick, and Blacke's Magic. She was also a regular guest on various 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.

      In 2021, George announced that she is ready to return to acting.[7]

      Marriages

      She was first married to Joseph Pantano from 1963 to 1970, with one son, Nicky. She left Pantano to marry Christopher George.[8] She was married to him from May 15, 1970, until his death on November 28, 1983, and they had one daughter, Casey. They filed suit to have Nicky Pantano legally declared as Christopher's natural son. In 1990, Lynda George's third marriage was with actor and producer Doug Cronin, who died of cancer on December 4, 2010; they resided in Los Angeles and Gardiner, Washington.[9][10][11]

      Memoir

      On January 17, 2020, during an interview with entertainment correspondent Ed Robertson of TV Confidential, George announced that she was collaborating with a biographer on a memoir centered on her acting career. The working title is Lynda Day George: A Hollywood Memoir.[12]

      Filmography

      Year Title Role Notes
      1961 The Outsider Kim
      1962 Route 66 Bibi Episode: "You Never Had It So Good"
      1963 Route 66 Allison Episode: "A Long Way from St. Louie"
      Rockabye the Infantry Connie Mahoney TV short
      1964 Flipper Linda Granville Episode: "Second Time Around"
      NBC Children's Theatre Maid Marian Episode: "Robin Hood"
      1966 Felony Squad Karen Anders Episode: "Fear Below"
      T.H.E. Cat Lisa Heller Episode: "The System"
      The Green Hornet Ardis Ralston Episode: "Deadline for Death"
      Hawk Charlotte Burns Episode: "Game with a Dead End"
      Seaway Leonora Episode: "Don't Forget to Wipe the Blood Off: Parts 1 & 2"
      The Gentle Rain Judy Reynolds
      1967 The F.B.I. Mindy Platt Episode: "Sky on Fire"
      Carol Grant Episode: "Line of Fire"
      Mannix Carol Blake Episode: "Then the Drink Takes the Man"
      The Invaders Janet Wilk Episode: "The Trial"
      Cowboy in Africa Liz Carter Episode: "What's an Elephant Mother to Do?"
      Coronet Blue Jenny Straigh Episode: "A Dozen Demons"
      The Virginian Judy Atkins Episode: "A Welcoming Town"
      The Fugitive Nadine Newmark Episode: "There Goes the Ball Game"
      1968 Lancer Sarah Cassidy Episode: "The Escape"
      Bonanza Lisa Jackson Episode: "The Stronghold"
      It Takes a Thief Samantha Sutton Episode: "A Matter of Royal Larceny"
      Good Morning World Cecily Hutton Episode: "For My Daughter's Hand, You'll Get My Foot"
      The F.B.I. Joyce Carr Episode: "The Widow"
      Felony Squad Julie Brown Episode: "The Flip Side of Fear: Parts 1 & 2"
      The Sound of Anger Barbara Keeley Television movie
      1969 Fear No Evil Barbara Anholt
      1970 Chisum Sue McSween
      The Immortal Terry Kerwin Episode: "Man on a Punched Card"
      Here Come the Brides Valerie Episode: "Two Women"
      House on Greenapple Road Lillian Crane Television movie
      The F.B.I. Maria Pierce Episode: "Return to Power"
      1970–1971 The Silent Force Amelia Cole Main cast
      1971 Cannon Christie Redfield Episode: "Pilot"
      The Sheriff Alma Gregory Television movie
      1971–1973 Mission: Impossible (Lisa) Casey Main cast
      1973 Barnaby Jones Ellie Briggs Episode: "Stand-In for Death"
      Police Story Angela Wilson Episode: "The Big Walk"
      Set This Town on Fire Molly Thornburgh Television movie
      She Cried Murder Sarah Cornell Television movie
      1974 Petrocelli Vickie Richardson Episode: "By Reason of Madness"
      Thriller Cathy More Episode: "Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are"
      Marcus Welby, M.D. Leigh Conforti Episode: "I've Promised You a Father: Part 1"
      Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law Leigh Conforti Episode: "I've Promised You a Father: Part 2"
      The Magician Stacey Hyatt Episode: "The Illusion of Black Gold"
      Kung Fu Dora Burnham Episode: "In Uncertain Bondage"
      Panic on the 5:22 Mary Ellen Lewis Television movie
      1975 Barnaby Jones Brina Douglas Episode: "Double Vengeance"
      Ellery Queen Alma Van Dine Episode: "The Adventure of the Comic Book Crusader"
      Death Among Friends Lisa Manning Television movie
      Barbary Coast Clio Du Bois Episode: "The Barbary Coast"
      McCloud Stacy Decker Episode: "Sharks!"
      The Trial of Chaplain Jensen Louise Kennelly Television movie
      1976 Mayday at 40,000 Feet! Cathy Armello Television movie
      Wonder Woman Fausta Grables Episode: "The Nazi Wonder Woman"
      Rich Man, Poor Man Linda Quayles TV Miniseries, 1 episode
      Most Wanted Laurie Chandler Episode: "The Ten-Percenter"
      Once an Eagle Marge Krisler TV Miniseries, 4 episodes
      Twin Detectives Nancy Pendleton Television movie
      1977 Roots Mrs. Reynolds TV Miniseries, 3 episodes
      Murder at the World Series Margot Mannering Television movie
      Day of the Animals Terry Marsh
      Match Game '77
      It Happened at Lakewood Manor Valerie Adams Television movie
      Switch Dominique Deveraux Episode: "Two on the Run"
      1978 Cruise Into Terror Sandra Barry Television movie
      The Return of Captain Nemo Kate TV Miniseries, 3 episodes
      Fantasy Island Iris Chandler Episode: "Trouble, My Lovely/The Common Man"
      Nancy Harding Episode: "Homecoming/The Sheikh"
      The Love Boat Laura Wakefield Episode: "A Selfless Love/The Nubile Nurse/Parents Know Best"
      Vega$ Sandra Wells Episode: "Serve, Volley and Kill"
      1979 Racquet Monica Gordon
      The Love Boat Peggy Rossmore Episode: "Play by Play/Cindy/What's a Brother For?"
      The Littlest Hobo Lisa Phillips Episode: "Little Girl Lost"
      1980 Fantasy Island Lorraine Peters Episode: "With Affection, Jack the Ripper/Gigolo"
      Beyond Evil Barbara Andrews
      Casino Carol Television movie
      1981 Fantasy Island Dr. Carla Frankenstein Episode: "The Lady and the Monster/The Last Cowboy"
      1982 Benson as Gabrielle Simone season 4 episodes 1 & 2
      Pieces Mary Riggs
      The Love Boat Barbara Lee Episode: "Green, But Not Jolly/Past Perfect Love/Instant Family"
      Mortuary Eve Parson
      1983 Masquerade Jackie Episode: "Girls for Sale"
      Young Warriors Beverly Carrigan
      1984 Fantasy Island Nora Leonard Episode: "Sweet Life/Games People Play"
      1985 Murder, She Wrote Diane Shelley Episode: "My Johnny Lies Over the Ocean"
      Hardcastle and McCormick Mrs. Burt Schneider Episode: "Too Rich and Too Thin"
      1986 Blacke's Magic Louise Richmond Episode: "Address Unknown"
      1989 Mission: Impossible Lisa Casey Episode: "Reprisal"

      Awards and nominations

      Year Award Category Production Result
      1972 Golden Globe Best TV Actress - Drama Mission: Impossible Nominated
      1973 Emmy Award Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Drama Series - Continuing) Mission: Impossible Nominated

      References

      Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lynda Day George.
      1. ↑ Ward, Jack (1993). Television Guest Stars. McFarland. p. 203. ISBN 9780899508078.
      2. ↑ "Lynda Day George Celebrates Milestone Mission: Impossible Anniversary". PR.com. September 24, 2021.
      3. ↑ Demetria Fulton previewed Linda George on Barnaby Jones; episode titled “Double Vengeance”(11/07/1975).
      4. ↑ Bruno, Katie (October 8, 2021). "Lynda Day George: Love Without Fear". Closer Weekly.
      5. ↑ "Rat Patrol Bios". klio.net. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
      6. ↑ Hal Erickson (2012). "Movies: Biography for Lynda Day George". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18.
      7. ↑ Nolasco, Stephanie (September 17, 2021). "'Mission Impossible' star Lynda Day George talks filming TV series". FoxNews.com.
      8. ↑ Film Fatales: Women in Espionage Films and Television, 1962-1973, By Tom Lisanti, Louis Paul, Eileen O'Neill, Published by McFarland, 2002, ISBN 0-7864-1194-5, ISBN 978-0-7864-1194-8.
      9. ↑ "Death and Memorial Notice: Douglas Phillip Cronin". Peninsula Daily News. North Olympic Peninsula, Washington. 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
      10. ↑ Urbani de la Paz, Diane (5 March 2010). "Lynda Day George on love, life in the Northwest and her Oscar party". Peninsula Daily News. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
      11. ↑ "'Mission: Impossible' Star Lynda Day George Had 3 Unlucky Marriages And Was Widowed Twice". fabiosa.com. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
      12. ↑ url=https://www.televisionconfidential.com/
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