Susan Bowes

Susan Oliver, born Charlotte Gercke, was an American actress who achieved prominence in the late 1950s and 1960s through numerous television roles and several film appearances. Her early career included stage work on Broadway, notably in "Small War on Murray Hill" and "Look Back in Anger," followed by a move to Hollywood where she secured guest spots on popular series like "Wagon Train," "Climax!," and "Father Knows Best." Oliver also starred in her first film, "The Green-Eyed Blonde," in 1957.

Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Oliver's acting career continued with roles in "The Twilight Zone," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "Star Trek" (in the pilot episode "The Cage" and later "The Menagerie"), and a recurring role on "Peyton Place." She received an Emmy nomination for her portrayal of Neta Snook in the TV movie "Amelia Earhart." Later in her career, Oliver transitioned to directing, becoming one of the first women accepted into the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women and directing episodes of "M*A*S*H" and "Trapper John, M.D."

Beyond her entertainment career, Oliver was an accomplished aviator. Following a traumatic flight experience, she overcame her fear and pursued a pilot's license. In 1967, she piloted a single-engined aircraft solo across the Atlantic Ocean, a significant feat for a woman at the time, chronicled in her autobiography "Odyssey: A Daring Transatlantic Journey." She also co-piloted a plane to victory in the "Powder Puff Derby" and was named Pilot of the Year.

Susan Oliver began her acting career on Broadway in the late 1950s, appearing in plays such as "Small War on Murray Hill" and "Look Back in Anger." She quickly transitioned to television, accumulating numerous guest roles on popular shows including "Kaiser Aluminum Hour," "The United States Steel Hour," "Climax!," "Wagon Train," and "Father Knows Best." Her first feature film role was in the 1957 melodrama "The Green-Eyed Blonde." Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Oliver was a frequent presence on television, with credits spanning "The Twilight Zone," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "Rawhide," "Laramie," "The Virginian," and "Star Trek," where she played Vina in the pilot episode "The Cage" and her performance was later incorporated into "The Menagerie," earning her the nickname "The Green Girl." She also had a recurring role on "Peyton Place" and was nominated for an Emmy for her performance as Neta Snook in the television film "Amelia Earhart." Her film work included "The Disorderly Orderly" and "BUtterfield 8."

As acting opportunities became less frequent in the late 1970s, Susan Oliver turned her attention to directing. She was among the initial group of women admitted to the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women, contributing significantly to its funding. Her short film "Cowboysan" was a product of this program. Oliver went on to direct episodes of major television series, including the premiere of "M*A*S*H"'s eleventh season and an episode of its spin-off "Trapper John, M.D." In her later acting years, she made appearances on "Magnum, P.I.," "Murder, She Wrote," and "Simon & Simon." Her final on-screen appearance was in an episode of "Freddy's Nightmares."

Susan Oliver developed a passion for aviation after a frightening transatlantic flight experience in 1959. After overcoming her initial fear of flying, she began training and earned her pilot's certificate. In 1967, she achieved a significant milestone by becoming the fourth woman to fly a single-engined aircraft solo across the Atlantic Ocean, a journey that ended in Denmark due to denied airspace access to the Soviet Union. This adventurous spirit also led her to co-pilot a plane to victory in the "Powder Puff Derby" in 1970, earning her the title "Pilot of the Year." She documented her aviation experiences and life philosophy in her 1983 autobiography, "Odyssey: A Daring Transatlantic Journey." Oliver also held commercial pilot ratings and was involved with aviation committees.