# Cathy Lee Crosby
**Cathy Lee Crosby** (born 1944) is an American actress, producer, and former nationally ranked tennis player, best known as the cohost of the ABC series *That's Incredible!* and as the star of the 1974 made-for-television movie *Wonder Woman*, following [Linda Harrison](https://www.edgepedia.org/linda-harrison)'s 1967 appearance in the short presentation film of the character.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944) • [2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1994/07/31/cathy-lee-crosby/ba1c0797-e2d6-41f2-b7f7-1d73b1d51317/) • [13](https://www.tvobscurities.com/articles/wonder_woman/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1944, Los Angeles, California; daughter of the actress Linda Hayes[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944) |
| Tennis career | Nationally ranked player who competed at Wimbledon; per her IMDb biography, a career high of #7 in singles and #4 in doubles in the United States[2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1994/07/31/cathy-lee-crosby/ba1c0797-e2d6-41f2-b7f7-1d73b1d51317/) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004848/bio/) |
| Early screen Wonder Woman | Starred as the title role in the ABC TV movie *Wonder Woman*, first aired March 12, 1974; not the first live-action portrayal, as Linda Harrison had played the character in the 1967 short presentation film *Who's Afraid of Diana Prince?*[4](https://www.wonderland-site.com/html/series/wonder/cathylee/ww74-00-00.htm) • [13](https://www.tvobscurities.com/articles/wonder_woman/) |
| Signature hosting job | Cohost of *That's Incredible!* on ABC with Fran Tarkenton and John Davidson, 1980–1984 or 1985[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944) |
| Film debut | Kay Butler in *The Laughing Policeman* (1973), opposite Walter Matthau[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/cathy_lee_crosby) |
| Producing | Founder of CLC Productions; executive producer and star of *Untamed Love* (1994), based on Torey Hayden's *One Child*[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944) • [2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1994/07/31/cathy-lee-crosby/ba1c0797-e2d6-41f2-b7f7-1d73b1d51317/) |
| Education | Degree from the University of Southern California; studied acting with Lee Strasberg[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944) |
## Tennis before acting
Crosby grew up in California and started playing tennis at an early age, entering her first tournament at 13.[6](https://teamusa-org-migration.s3.amazonaws.com/USA%20Racquetball/Migration/Documents/1979_nrb_may.pdf) The Washington Post's 1994 profile describes her as a nationally ranked player who competed at Wimbledon before turning to acting.[2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1994/07/31/cathy-lee-crosby/ba1c0797-e2d6-41f2-b7f7-1d73b1d51317/) Her own IMDb biography adds that she represented the United States in international tennis competition and reached a career high of #7 in singles and #4 in doubles nationally.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004848/bio/) By 1974, she had decided she needed a change from her professional tennis career and looked toward acting.[7](https://comicbookmovie.com/wonder-woman/wonder-woman-exclusive-an-interview-with-cathy-lee-crosby-a71139)
## Wonder Woman (1974)
Crosby played Diana Prince and [Wonder Woman](https://www.edgepedia.org/wonder-woman) in a 1974 ABC television movie directed by Vincent McEveety, with Ricardo Montalban, Kaz Garas, and [Andrew Prine](https://www.edgepedia.org/andrew-prine) in supporting roles.[4](https://www.wonderland-site.com/html/series/wonder/cathylee/ww74-00-00.htm) • [8](https://www.scifi-movies.com/en/short/0002633/wonder-woman-1974/) The film premiered on Tuesday, March 12, 1974, at 8:30 PM in ABC's Tuesday Movie of the Week.[4](https://www.wonderland-site.com/html/series/wonder/cathylee/ww74-00-00.htm) It was intended as a pilot for a series, but Warner Bros. decided instead to bring in a new team, leading to the [Lynda Carter](https://www.edgepedia.org/lynda-carter) version of *Wonder Woman* the following year.[9](https://www.inkl.com/news/television-q-a-wonder-woman-tv-movie)
The portrayal differed sharply from the comic book character. Crosby's Wonder Woman was blonde and appeared without superpowers, in a costume far removed from the classic outfit.[4](https://www.wonderland-site.com/html/series/wonder/cathylee/ww74-00-00.htm) • [10](https://comic-watch.com/movies/psychotronic-cinemavision-wonder-woman-1974/amp) A contemporary Variety review reprinted by the [Wonderland](https://www.edgepedia.org/wonderland) site called the incarnation regrettable and found the action footage too well rehearsed, while crediting Crosby with giving the title role some credibility by playing it straight.[4](https://www.wonderland-site.com/html/series/wonder/cathylee/ww74-00-00.htm) A later retrospective noted that Crosby was praised for her athleticism and charisma, while comic book fans were disappointed by the departure from the character's mythological roots and the unrecognizable costume.[10](https://comic-watch.com/movies/psychotronic-cinemavision-wonder-woman-1974/amp) The film earned adequate ratings but was ridiculed by comic book fans for straying far from the source material.[11](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/wonder-woman-actress-cathy-lee-000058289.html)
## That's Incredible! and 1980s television
From 1980, Crosby cohosted ABC's *That's Incredible!* alongside former NFL quarterback [Fran Tarkenton](https://www.edgepedia.org/fran-tarkenton) and singer-actor John Davidson.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944) Encyclopedia.com dates her cohosting run from 1980 to 1985; the Washington Post gives 1980 to 1984.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944) • [2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1994/07/31/cathy-lee-crosby/ba1c0797-e2d6-41f2-b7f7-1d73b1d51317/) The stunt-and-human-interest series was ABC's answer to NBC's hit *Real People*, and it made Crosby a household name.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004848/bio/) She returned to the franchise for reunion specials, hosting *That's Incredible! Reunion* in 1988 and *That's Incredible: The Reunion, Part II* in 2003.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944) • [5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/cathy_lee_crosby)
Her 1980s work also included the miniseries roles of Tracy Carter in *Roughnecks* (1980) and Major Kate Breckenridge in NBC's *World War III* (1984), and Judith Main in John Jakes's *Heaven and Hell: North and South, Part III* (1994).[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944) She appeared frequently as herself on celebrity competition and variety programs, serving as ABC team captain in *Battle of the Network Stars VIII* (1980), hosting *Battle of the Network Stars IX* the same year, and appearing as a guest commentator at [WrestleMania 2](https://www.edgepedia.org/wrestlemania-2) in April 1986.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944) • [12](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/52827/cathy-lee-crosby)
## Film and stage work
Crosby's film debut came as Kay Butler in *The Laughing Policeman* (1973), followed by *Trackdown* (1975), *Coach* (1978), in which she played Randy Rawlings, and *The Dark* (1979).[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944) She appeared as herself in [Robert Altman](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-altman)'s *[The Player](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-player-1992-film)* (1992).[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944) • [2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1994/07/31/cathy-lee-crosby/ba1c0797-e2d6-41f2-b7f7-1d73b1d51317/)
On stage, she wrote, directed, and starred in the first theatrical adaptation of *They Shoot Horses, Don't They?* at the Hollywood American Legion, and wrote, directed, and acted in *Zoot Suit—The Real Story* in Beverly Hills; her off-Broadway debut came in *Almost Perfect* at the Hudson Guild Theatre in 1988, directed by [Geraldine Fitzgerald](https://www.edgepedia.org/geraldine-fitzgerald).[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004848/bio/)
## Producing and later career
In 1994 Crosby founded CLC Productions to make *Untamed Love* (also known as *One Child*), a Lifetime movie based on Torey Hayden's autobiographical book about a special-education teacher; Crosby executive produced the film and played the teacher, Maggie Bernard, preparing for the role by studying Hayden's teaching methods and spending six months teaching disturbed children.[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944) • [2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1994/07/31/cathy-lee-crosby/ba1c0797-e2d6-41f2-b7f7-1d73b1d51317/) The film marked her return after what she described as a self-imposed four-year hiatus from the industry.[2](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1994/07/31/cathy-lee-crosby/ba1c0797-e2d6-41f2-b7f7-1d73b1d51317/)
She is the author of *Let the Magic Begin*, published by [Simon & Schuster](https://www.edgepedia.org/simon-and-schuster).[1](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004848/bio/) Her later screen credits include *The Big Tease* (1999), *Ablaze* (2001), and *Prayer Never Fails* (2016).[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/cathy_lee_crosby)
## References
1. [Crosby, Cathy Lee 1944–, Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television via Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/crosby-cathy-lee-1944)
2. [Patricia Brennan, "Cathy Lee Crosby: The Teacher Who Wouldn't Give Up," The Washington Post, July 30, 1994](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1994/07/31/cathy-lee-crosby/ba1c0797-e2d6-41f2-b7f7-1d73b1d51317/)
3. [Cathy Lee Crosby – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004848/bio/)
4. [Wonder Woman (1974) coverage including the Variety review, Wonderland](https://www.wonderland-site.com/html/series/wonder/cathylee/ww74-00-00.htm)
5. [Cathy Lee Crosby, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/cathy_lee_crosby)
6. ["This Time It's...", National Racquetball Magazine, May 1979](https://teamusa-org-migration.s3.amazonaws.com/USA%20Racquetball/Migration/Documents/1979_nrb_may.pdf)
7. [Wonder Woman Exclusive: An Interview with Cathy Lee Crosby, ComicBookMovie](https://comicbookmovie.com/wonder-woman/wonder-woman-exclusive-an-interview-with-cathy-lee-crosby-a71139)
8. [Wonder Woman (1974), Vincent McEveety, SciFi-Movies](https://www.scifi-movies.com/en/short/0002633/wonder-woman-1974/)
9. [Television Q&A: Wonder Woman TV movie, Inkl](https://www.inkl.com/news/television-q-a-wonder-woman-tv-movie)
10. [Psychotronic Cinemavision: Wonder Woman 1974, Comic Watch](https://comic-watch.com/movies/psychotronic-cinemavision-wonder-woman-1974/amp)
11. [Wonder Woman Actress Cathy Lee Crosby Reacts To Gal Gadot's Batman V Superman Costume, Yahoo Entertainment](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/wonder-woman-actress-cathy-lee-000058289.html)
12. [Cathy Lee Crosby, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/52827/cathy-lee-crosby)
13. [Wonder Woman: An Early Attempt - Television Obscurities](https://www.tvobscurities.com/articles/wonder_woman/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Co to C*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license