Lynda Louise Day George (born Lynda Louise Day; 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 Day 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. Bancroft acted as a mentor to Day, who described working on the play as formative to her acting. She auditioned for the film Bye Bye Birdie but was not cast. 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, T.H.E. Cat, 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. 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 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 ten episodes because of her maternity leave and was temporarily replaced by Barbara Anderson.
She first met actor Christopher George while they were both models at Eileen Ford. They starred together in the 1966 independent film The Gentle Rain, Day's first role in a theatrical film, by which time she was married to her first husband. While working together again in the 1970 John Wayne film Chisum, Day and Christopher George became romantically involved and were married on May 15, 1970; Day divorced her first husband earlier that year.
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), The 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. The many co-star roles came about because she and her husband had the same agent, who was aware that they enjoyed working with one another.
She continued her television work throughout the 1970s with guest roles on television series The Immortal, which starred husband Christopher; Police Story; Kung Fu; Marcus Welby, M.D.; and Barnaby Jones. She appeared with her husband on an episode of Celebrity Bowling in 1975. 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. Lynda worked only 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 Casey (now given the full name Lisa Casey) on an episode of the revived Mission: Impossible television series in 1989.
In 2021, George announced that she was ready to return to acting. As of 2023, however, no new roles have been announced.
Marriages She was first married to Joseph Pantano from 1963 to 1970, with one son, Nicky. She left Pantano to marry Christopher George.Film Fatales: Women in Espionage Films and Television, 1962-1973, By Tom Lisanti, Louis Paul, Eileen O'Neill, Published by McFarland, 2002, , . She was married to him from May 15, 1970, until his death on November 28, 1983, and they had one daughter, Krisinda Casey. They filed suit to have Nicky Pantano legally declared as Christopher's natural son. In 1990, Lynda George married actor and producer Doug Cronin, who died of cancer on December 4, 2010; they resided in Los Angeles and Gardiner, Washington.
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. Her biographer co-author died in 2021, but in 2023 George said she is still resolved that the book will eventually be published, and that her agent is working on finding another co-author and a publisher.
Filmography and TV work Year Title Role Notes1961The OutsiderKim1962Route 66BibiEpisode: "You Never Had It So Good"1963Route 66AllisonEpisode: "A Long Way from St. Louie"Rockabye the InfantryConnie MahoneyTV short1964FlipperLinda GranvilleEpisode: "Second Time Around"NBC Children's TheatreMaid MarianEpisode: "Robin Hood"1966Felony SquadKaren AndersEpisode: "Fear Below"T.H.E. CatLisa HellerEpisode: "The System"The Green HornetArdis RalstonEpisode: "Deadline for Death"HawkCharlotte BurnsEpisode: "Game with a Dead End"SeawayLeonoraEpisode: "Don't Forget to Wipe the Blood Off: Parts 1 & 2"The Gentle RainJudy Reynolds1967The F.B.I.Mindy PlattEpisode: "Sky on Fire"Carol GrantEpisode: "Line of Fire"MannixCarol BlakeEpisode: "Then the Drink Takes the Man"The InvadersJanet WilkEpisode: "The Trial"Cowboy in AfricaLiz CarterEpisode: "What's an Elephant Mother to Do?"Coronet BlueJenny StraighEpisode: "A Dozen Demons"The VirginianJudy AtkinsEpisode: "A Welcoming Town"The FugitiveNadine NewmarkEpisode: "There Goes the Ball Game"1968LancerSarah CassidyEpisode: "The Escape"BonanzaLisa JacksonEpisode: "The Stronghold"It Takes a ThiefSamantha SuttonEpisode: "A Matter of Royal Larceny"Good Morning WorldCecily HuttonEpisode: "For My Daughter's Hand, You'll Get My Foot"The F.B.I.Joyce CarrEpisode: "The Widow"Felony SquadJulie BrownEpisode: "The Flip Side of Fear: Parts 1 & 2"The Sound of AngerBarbara KeeleyTelevision movie1969Fear No EvilBarbara Anholt1970ChisumSue McSweenThe ImmortalTerry KerwinEpisode: "Man on a Punched Card"Here Come the BridesValerieEpisode: "Two Women"House on Greenapple RoadLillian CraneTelevision movieThe F.B.I.Maria PierceEpisode: "Return to Power"1970–1971The Silent ForceAmelia ColeMain cast1971CannonChristie RedfieldEpisode: "Pilot"The SheriffAlma GregoryTelevision movie1971–1973Mission: Impossible(Lisa) CaseyMain role (seasons 6-7)1973Barnaby JonesEllie BriggsEpisode: "Stand-In for Death"Police StoryAngela WilsonEpisode: "The Big Walk"Set This Town on FireMolly ThornburghTelevision movieShe Cried MurderSarah CornellTelevision movie1974PetrocelliVickie RichardsonEpisode: "By Reason of Madness"ThrillerCathy MoreEpisode: "Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are"Marcus Welby, M.D.Leigh ConfortiEpisode: "I've Promised You a Father: Part 1"Owen Marshall: Counselor at LawLeigh ConfortiEpisode: "I've Promised You a Father: Part 2"The MagicianStacey HyattEpisode: "The Illusion of Black Gold"Kung FuDora BurnhamEpisode: "In Uncertain Bondage"Panic on the 5:22Mary Ellen LewisTelevision movie1975Barnaby JonesBrina DouglasEpisode: "Double Vengeance"Ellery QueenAlma Van DineEpisode: "The Adventure of the Comic Book Crusader"Death Among FriendsLisa ManningTelevision movieBarbary CoastClio Du BoisEpisode: "The Barbary Coast"McCloudStacy DeckerEpisode: "Sharks!"The Trial of Chaplain JensenLouise KennellyTelevision movie1976Mayday at 40,000 Feet!Cathy ArmelloTelevision movieWonder WomanFausta GrablesEpisode: "The Nazi Wonder Woman"Rich Man, Poor ManLinda QuaylesTV Miniseries, 1 episodeMost WantedLaurie ChandlerEpisode: "The Ten-Percenter"Once an EagleMarge KrislerTV Miniseries, 4 episodesTwin DetectivesNancy PendletonTelevision movie1977RootsMrs. ReynoldsTV Miniseries, 3 episodesMurder at the World SeriesMargot ManneringTelevision movieDay of the AnimalsTerry MarshMatch Game '77It Happened at Lakewood ManorValerie AdamsTelevision movieSwitch Dominique DeverauxEpisode: "Two on the Run"1978Cruise Into TerrorSandra BarryTelevision movieThe Return of Captain NemoKateTV Miniseries, 3 episodesFantasy IslandIris ChandlerEpisode: "Trouble, My Lovely/The Common Man"Nancy HardingEpisode: "Homecoming/The Sheikh"The Love BoatLaura WakefieldEpisode: "A Selfless Love/The Nubile Nurse/Parents Know Best"Vega$ Sandra WellsEpisode: "Serve, Volley and Kill"1979RacquetMonica GordonThe Love BoatPeggy RossmoreEpisode: "Play by Play/Cindy/What's a Brother For?"The Littlest HoboLisa PhillipsEpisode: "Little Girl Lost"1980Fantasy IslandLorraine PetersEpisode: "With Affection, Jack the Ripper/Gigolo"Beyond EvilBarbara AndrewsCasinoCarolTelevision movie1981Fantasy IslandDr. Carla FrankensteinEpisode: "The Lady and the Monster/The Last Cowboy"1982Bensonas Gabrielle Simoneseason 4 episodes 1 & 2PiecesMary RiggsThe Love BoatBarbara LeeEpisode: "Green, But Not Jolly/Past Perfect Love/Instant Family"MortuaryEve Parson1983MasqueradeJackieEpisode: "Girls for Sale"Young WarriorsBeverly Carrigan1984Fantasy IslandNora LeonardEpisode: "Sweet Life/Games People Play"1985Murder, She WroteDiane ShelleyEpisode: "My Johnny Lies Over the Ocean"Hardcastle and McCormick Mrs. Burt SchneiderEpisode: "Too Rich and Too Thin"1986Blacke's MagicLouise RichmondEpisode: "Address Unknown"1989Mission: ImpossibleLisa CaseyEpisode: "Reprisal"
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Production Result1972Golden Globe Best TV Actress - DramaMission: Impossible1973Emmy Award Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Drama Series - Continuing)Mission: Impossible
References
External links
The Girls of Mission: Impossible Love is actress' beauty secret: Retired TV star Lynda Day George happy in Gardiner