Joanna Cameron, known for her lead role on the 1970s DC television series The Secrets of Isis, has passed away. She was 70 years old.
Cameron’s passing was confirmed on Facebook and Twitter by her Isis co-star Joanna Pang Atkins. “Sad to post that JoAnna Cameron ‘The Mighty Isis’ has flown to heaven,” Atkins wrote. “She suffered a stroke and passed away from complications this past Friday. We shared the wonderful lasting experience of making The Secrets of Isis. May she RIP.” Atkins shared a photo of Cameron alongside herself and fellow Isis star Brian Cutler.
Sad to post that JoAnna Cameron “The Mighty Isis” has flown to heaven. She suffered a stroke and passed away from complications this past Friday. We shared the wonderful lasting experience of making “The Secrets of Isis”. May she RIP. photo with BrianCutler pic.twitter.com/AF5rEo79Bm
— Joanna Pang Atkins (@JPangAtkins) October 24, 2021
Joanna Cameron, sometimes credited as JoAnna Cameron, was born in Vail, Colorado on Sept. 20, 1951. Cameron began her acting career in 1969, debuting in the film How to Commit Marriage. She then went on to appear in a number of different films and television shows throughout the ’70s. However, Cameron is perhaps best known for her role as Andrea Thomas/Isis on Isis, later retitled The Secrets of Isis, which originally aired on CBS for 22 episodes across 2 seasons from Sept. 6, 1975 to Oct. 23, 1976.
Isis aired as a companion to CBS’ Shazam!, with the shows being collectively referred to as The Shazam!/Isis Hour. Shazam!‘s lead character, Captain Marvel, was licensed to DC Comics at the time, with the publisher acquiring full ownership of the character in the 1990s. Similarly, the character of Isis was also integrated into the DC Universe, with her alter ego ultimately being changed from Andrea Thomas to Adrianna Tomaz. The character of Isis, originated by Cameron, has appeared in multiple DC TV shows since her 1975 debut, and is even expected to have a role in the upcoming DC Extended Universe film Black Adam.
The Secrets of Isis is noteworthy for being the first live-action TV series in the United States to feature a female superhero as its lead character, with Cameron’s Isis pre-dating both Lindsay Wagner’s Bionic Woman and Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman. The show followed high school science teacher Andrea Thomas, a descendant of Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt, whose Isiac amulet grants her the power of the goddess Isis when need be.
In addition to Cameron herself, Isis starred the aforementioned Atkins (then known as Joanna Pang) and Cutler as Cindy Lee and Rick Mason, respectively. Ronalda Douglas joined the cast as Rennie Carol in Season 2, with Atkins’ Cindy Lee exiting. Additionally, John Davey — the second actor to portray Captain Marvel on Shazam! — made guest appearances in three episodes of Isis. Cameron returned the favor, reprising her role as Isis in three episodes of Shazam!.
After Isis wrapped up, Cameron went on to make guest appearances on shows like McMillan & Wife and The Amazing Spider-Man. In the late ’70s, she was also cited in the Guinness Book of World Records for having appeared in 105 commercials, more than anyone else at the time. Cameron ultimately retired from acting, with her last known role being in the aptly-titled 1980 TV movie Swan Song. After leaving the world of acting, Cameron worked for 10 years as a nurse in the home healthcare industry before beginning a career in hotel marketing.
Source: Twitter
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