Veteran actress Joanne Linville has passed away. Famous for her role as a Romulan commander in a classic episode ofStar Trekamong many other screen credits, Linville reportedly died on Sunday. Her death was announced by the talent agency CAA, but a cause of death was not revealed. She was 93 years old.
Linville’s life story begins on Jun 28, 2025, when she was born as Beverly Joanne Linville in Bakersfield, California. Growing up in Venice, she first worked as an oral surgeon’s assistant before switching her focus to acting. Linville would turn to dancing to help pay her tuition, and by the 1950s, she was picking up TV guest roles by the mid 1950s, appearing on shows likeAlfred Hitchcock Presents,Kraft Theatre, andPlayhouse 90. Heading into the 60s, she’d go on to appear in other programs likeBonanza,Gunsmoke, andHawaii Five-0.
Perhaps the most memorable role for Linville was for the 1968 episode “The Enterprise Incident” of theoriginal Star TrekTV series. She portrayed a Romulan commander who is romanced by Spock (Leonard Nimoy) so Captain Kirk (William Shatner) can steal her ship’s Romulan cloaking device. Linville’s character’s name, along with her fate, is not revealed in the episode. The fan-made webseriesStar Trek Continuesfeatured Linville’s daughter Amy playing the same role.
In 1961, Linville also appeared in a particularly memorable episode ofThe Twilight Zone. In the episode, titled “The Passersby,” Linville plays Lavinia Gordon, the owner of a Southern mansion in the Civil War. She continued to appear frequently in other big name shows for years to come, with the 70s and 80s bringing her roles for titles includingColumbo,Kojack,Charlie’s Angels,CHiPs,Dynasty, andL.A. Law. Linville would also star with George Grizzard in the final episode of the TV seriesBus Stop.
Her work wasn’t limited to the small screen as Linville appeared in a variety of motion pictures as well. She was featured in the moviesThe Goddess,Scorpio,Gable and Lombard,A Star Is Born, andThe Seduction. Linville would also join James Franco in the TV movieJames Deanin 2001 for her final movie role. She also appeared in other TV movies likeHouse on Greenapple Road,The Critical List,The Users,Secrets, andThe Right of the People. The last credit for Linville would be a voice role for theStar Trekfan audio dramaStarship Excelsior.
Along with actress Irene Gilbert, Linville co-founded the Stella Adler Academy in Los Angeles in 1985. In 2011, she published the instructional bookJoanne Linville’s Seven Steps to an Acting Craft. The actress also taught the course The Power of Language at the Stella Adler Academy.
Linville’s survivors include granddaughter-in-law Billie Lourd and her son, Kingston; ex-husband, director Mark Rydell; their children, Christopher and Amy; and grandchildren, Austen, Ruby, and Ginger. Our condolences go out to them at this painful time. May Linville rest in peace as she is forever remembered by those who loved her and enjoyed her work. This news comes to us fromDeadline.
