Susan Whitfield

Susan Oliver, born Charlotte Gercke in 1932, was an American actress who achieved significant recognition for her extensive television and film career. She began her acting journey in New York, appearing on Broadway in plays like "Small War on Murray Hill" and "Look Back in Anger." Oliver soon transitioned to Hollywood, accumulating over 100 acting credits across numerous popular television series and films throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Her roles included appearances in "Wagon Train," "The Twilight Zone," and "Star Trek," where her performance as Vina in the pilot episode "The Cage" later became iconic.

Beyond her acting career, Oliver developed a profound passion for aviation. After overcoming a fear of flying stemming from a near-fatal plane incident, she trained as a pilot. In 1967, she made history by becoming the fourth woman to fly a single-engine aircraft solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Her aviation achievements also included co-piloting a victory in the "Powder Puff Derby" and being named Pilot of the Year. Oliver documented her experiences and life philosophy in her 1983 autobiography, "Odyssey: A Daring Transatlantic Journey." She also ventured into directing, helming episodes for "M*A*S*H" and "Trapper John, M.D.," and was a regular cast member on "Days of Our Lives" before her passing in 1990.

Susan Oliver, born Charlotte Gercke in 1932, launched her professional acting career in 1957 with a notable presence on both stage and television. Her early work included an ingénue role in Robert E. Sherwood's Broadway comedy "Small War on Murray Hill." Later that year, she took over the lead female part in John Osborne's "Look Back in Anger." Following these stage appearances, Oliver transitioned to television, performing in live dramas such as "Kaiser Aluminum Hour" and "The United States Steel Hour." She then moved to Hollywood, where she appeared in filmed television shows like "Wagon Train" and "Father Knows Best," as well as the West Coast-based live drama series "Climax!" Her first motion picture role was the title character in the low-budget melodrama "The Green-Eyed Blonde" in 1957.

Throughout the 1960s and into the 1970s, Susan Oliver became a familiar face on television, guest-starring in a wide array of popular series. Her credits include appearances on "Adventures in Paradise," "The Twilight Zone," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "Route 66," "Dr. Kildare," "The Naked City," "The Fugitive," "I Spy," and "Mannix," among many others. She also had a memorable role as the ambitious wife in the film "Your Cheatin' Heart" (1964) and appeared alongside Jerry Lewis in "The Disorderly Orderly" the same year. Oliver's role as Vina in the original "Star Trek" pilot, "The Cage" (1964), later became legendary when repurposed in "The Menagerie" (1966), with her green-skinned portrayal earning her the nickname "The Green Girl." She also held a recurring role on "Peyton Place" and was a regular on "Days of Our Lives" from 1975 to 1976.

By the late 1970s, as acting roles became less frequent, Susan Oliver shifted her focus to directing. She was among the first women accepted into the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women. Her short film, "Cowboysan," was a product of this program. Oliver went on to direct episodes for prominent television series, including the premiere of the 11th season of "M*A*S*H" and an episode of its sequel, "Trapper John, M.D." In her later acting years, she made appearances on "Magnum, P.I.," "Murder, She Wrote," and "Simon & Simon." Oliver's extensive career in Hollywood encompassed well over 100 acting credits before her death in 1990.

Susan Oliver's life was significantly shaped by her passion for aviation. Following a traumatic flight experience in 1959, she eventually overcame her fear and pursued a pilot's license. In 1967, she achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the fourth woman to complete a solo transatlantic flight in a single-engine aircraft, flying from New York to Copenhagen. Her journey, though intended to reach Moscow, was rerouted due to airspace restrictions. Oliver chronicled this and other aviation adventures, along with her life philosophy, in her 1983 autobiography, "Odyssey: A Daring Transatlantic Journey." She was recognized for her piloting skills, co-piloting a win in the "Powder Puff Derby" and earning the title Pilot of the Year from the Association of Executive Pilots. She also held various pilot ratings, including commercial licenses for single and multi-engine aircraft and a glider rating.