Inside Lynda Carter's Tribute To Her Late Husband

The original Wonder Woman has experienced many highs and lows in recent years. After briefly appearing in Patty Jenkins' Wonder Woman: 1984 (you don't want to miss that end credit scene!), released on Christmas Day in 2020, Lynda Carter is mourning the loss of her husband, Robert Altman (not to be confused with the auteur 20th-century director of the same name), who died on Feb. 4, 2021. Altman died following complications from a medical procedure, according to The Washington Post.

The 73-year old Altman was the co-founder and CEO of ZeniMax Media, the parent company of gaming business Bethesda. "He was a true visionary, friend, and believer in the spirit of people and the power of what they could accomplish together," Bethesda tweeted. "He was an extraordinary leader, and an even better human being." 

Carter and Altman were a match made in superhero heaven. They wed in 1984 and had two children, James and Jessica, per Page Six. Of course, Carter had a lot to say when reminiscing about her 37-year marriage to the love of her life — keep scrolling to find out how Carter honored Altman's memory.

Lynda Carter took to social media to mourn the loss of her loving husband, Robert Altman. "One week ago, my beloved husband Robert A. Altman passed away," Carter captioned her post. "Robert is the love of my life and he always will be. Our 37 years of marriage were an extraordinary gift. We shared the passion I hope everyone is lucky enough to experience in their lifetime." 

Carter went on to thank the family's fans and supporters during this difficult time before writing directly to Robert: "You are the most honorable person that I have ever had the privilege to know. And I got to be your wife and the mother of your children. Thank you for giving me all the love in my life. Nothing could prepare our family for this moment, but we will do the best to follow our dreams and honor the legacy you've left behind. I will love you always and forever." 

It seems Altman and Carter shared a romance straight out of the movies. 

Wonder Woman Lynda Carter found her soulmate in Robert Altman, but the film and TV star was married before. Carter first wed producer and talent manager Ron Samuels in 1977. Carter was 25 years old at the time, while Samuels was "a lot older," Carter admitted. Looking back, Carter told Closer that she shouldn't have said yes to "the first person that proposes." Carter and Samuels divorced in 1982. "I was just stupid," Carter opened up. 

Samuels reportedly represented other leading female TV stars, including Lindsay Wagner from Bionic Woman. He also worked as a film producer until 2015, per his IMDb page. 

Carter, the former Miss World USA, performed her own stunts on Wonder Woman, and at one time was the highest-paid woman on TV, per The Daily Mail. Yet her professional life took a private toll amid her marriage to Samuels: a struggle with alcoholism. "I didn't even start drinking till I was in my mid-20s," Carter continued. Per The Daily Mail, the timeline matches with her being "unhappily married" to Samuels. 

Carter admitted that her road to recovery hinged on her happiness. "I would stop drinking for two or three years, then start again and it just felt terrible. That was a long time ago and now I'm very happy," she concluded. Her divorce and lack of "substance" in her life also led Carter to relocate to Maryland, where she eventually met Altman, then a young lawyer in Washington, D.C. 

Lynda Carter and Robert Altman stayed in Potomac, Maryland, where they raised children Jessica and James. As to the secret behind their almost 40-year marriage? "It works because we have different personalities," Carter told The Daily Mail in January 2021. 

"He's very smart, very charming and very even-tempered, and while he's a lot of fun and has a great sense of humor, around other people he's more self-contained. I have always been... attention-seeking!" Carter joked. 

Per The Washington Post, Carter met Altman while at a Maybelline cosmetics event. She was the spokesperson, he an attendee. Carter was first skeptical about how well she could connect to attorney Altman. "When you hear lawyer, you think, how dull," Carter admitted. "But Robert is a very successful lawyer who loves rock and roll." 

After close to 40 years together, the actor-singer and attorney proved to be two halves of the same whole. "I married an amazing human being," Carter told The Daily Beast in 2018. "He's the love of my life and he is a tremendous father. He is a lot of fun to be with...He's my best friend. I adore him. So we have a really, really great marriage." Now, Carter honors their love and union following his untimely passing.