Yvonne Craig, TV's Batgirl, dies at 78

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Yvonne Craig, the actress best known for playing Batgirl in the 1960s Batman TV series, has died at the age of 78.

A statement was made by her family on the actress' behalf, announcing that the star had lost her two year battle against metastasized breast cancer which had spread to her liver.

"She had been in chemo almost continuously for the past two plus years since being diagnosed and that had weakened her immune system as well as her body," the announcement read. "This didn't dampen her sense of humor or her spirit, she intended to fight and win this battle. In the end, her mind still wanted to fight but her body had given up."

However, Craig still wanted her family and friends to remain upbeat in her passing and to celebrate the amazing life she was able to live.

"Having spent time with her over these past months, she made her wishes known to me and made me promise I would them along," reads the statement. "Wish Number One, is that her family, friends and fans would know how much she loved them and always treasured her time with them. Wish Number Two, was that no one waste a moment of their time in mourning for her loss in sadness but instead celebrate the awesome life she had been fortunate enough to live. She felt that she lived a wonderful life and was blessed in many ways."

"She was able to travel the world and see many places. Yvonne spent quality time with those that she loved and was able to accomplish many goals and ambitions that she set for herself. Yvonne excelled in ballet, a film career, a business life, as well as in philanthropic and charity work over the years. She had been able to do this with joy and much laughter and she wouldn't have changed a thing. Well, maybe one thing and that would have been not to get cancer."

Craig is regarded by many as a pioneer of female superhero's on screen. Craig inspired many as she originated the role of Batgirl being able to famously perform her own stunts. "I hear from women that I was their role model," she told CNN in an interview earlier this year. "When I was a little girl, I realized that girls could kick butt just like guys, [they'd say]. "

Craig was also known for roles on TV shows such as The Man From U.N.C.L.E., The Six Million Dollar Man, Kojack and Star Trek.

Yvonne Craig is survived by her husband, sister and two nephews.