Barbara Baldavin’s career explored as Star Trek The Original Series actress dies aged 85

According to reports, Barbara Baldavin, the actress who starred on Star Trek: The Original Series in 1966, passed away on Sunday, March 31, 2024 at her residence in Manhattan Beach. She was 85 years old.

According to her son, Marc D’Agosta, Baldavin passed away from congestive heart failure, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Born on October 18, 1938 in Quincy, Massachusetts, Baldavin studied acting at the Lee Strasberg Institute before landing her first role in Star Trek in 1966, as stated by IMDb.

Following her role in three episodes of NBC’s Star Trek, Baldavin went on to marry the show’s casting director Joseph D’Agosta. She is survived by her husband, as well as two sons and two grandchildren.

Barbara Baldavin: Actress and Casting Director for Star Trek Original Series

In the 1960s, Barbara Baldavin gained recognition for her performances as two iconic characters on NBC’s Star Trek original series. She initially appeared as Angela Martine, the phaser control officer, in 1966 and later returned for the show’s series finale in 1969 as Lt. Lisa, a communications officer and court reporter. Although the show was eventually revived as a popular franchise, it was originally canceled.

In the first season, Baldavin made a lasting impression with her unforgettable performances, appearing alongside Stephen Mines and William Shatner. In the initial episodes, her character Angela Martine’s marriage to Robert Tomlinson, portrayed by Stephen Mines, was disrupted by an assault while being officiated by Capt Kirk, played by William Shatner, at Starfleet. She later reprised her role as Lt Lisa in the final episode of the series in 1969.

Despite the cancellation of Star Trek, Barbara Baldavin continued her acting career and spent six years playing Nurse Holmby in the TV series Medical Center from 1970 to 1976. Additionally, she made guest appearances on popular television shows such as Adam-12, Columbo, Charlie’s Angels, Fantasy Island, Quincy M.E., Mannix, Skeeter, and Barnaby Jones.

During the 1980s, Barbara Baldvin held the position of casting director for popular television shows like Strike Force, Dynasty, and Matt Houston. She was also involved in casting for several films. IMDb reports that Baldavin, who coincidentally shared a birthday with Gilligan’s Island actress Dawn Wells, later became friends with the star and even taught at her Film Actors Boot Camp. Sadly, Wells, most recognized for her portrayal of Mary Ann Summers in Gilligan’s Island, passed away in 2020 at the age of 82.

Upon hearing the news of her passing, a fan wrote a tribute to the actress on X (previously known as Twitter). The message, written in Spanish, stated:

“Goodbye to Barbara Baldavin, in the Enterprise communications on television’s STAR TREK. Before becoming a casting director she acted in CRIMINAL BLACKMAIL, by Henry Hathaway; AIRPORT 75; TWO MEN AGAINST THE WEST, by Blake Edwards, and a lot of TV. Rest in peace.”

Barbara Baldavin, an actress, tied the knot with Joseph D’Agosta, the casting director for Star Trek: The Original Series. D’Agosta selected her for the roles of Angela Martini in the episodes Balance of Terror, Shore Leave, and Space Seed, as well as Lisa in Turnabout Intruder.

During the three-season run of Star Trek: The Original Series, D’Agosta served as casting director and also utilized his talents on other projects such as The Brady Bunch, Eureka, and Poltergeist II: The Other Side.