In the 1970s, Hollywood was a glittering world full of stars who seemed to have it all—fame, beauty, and talent. Among them was a young actress who captured the hearts of millions, becoming one of the era’s most beloved icons.
Her journey was anything but easy, filled with personal battles, emotional struggles, and painful health issues. But in the end, she found peace, purpose, and a new calling. Her story is nothing short of incredible.
It all began with a dream. Like many aspiring stars, she arrived in Hollywood with big hopes and an undeniable talent. But it wasn’t until she landed a role in the hit TV show The Bionic Woman that her career truly skyrocketed.
Playing Jaime Sommers, a tennis champion who becomes a crime-fighting hero after receiving bionic implants, she became a household name and an icon of strength and grace. The show was a cultural sensation, and her role as a powerful woman broke new ground in how women were portrayed in the media.
Reflecting on her success, she said, “It was the beginning of changing the image of women in the media. Anybody over the age of 34 still tells me how I was such a big part of their childhood,” sharing her pride in the impact she had made.
Fans couldn’t get enough of her, with one commenting on a throwback photo she posted on Instagram: “Wow! My childhood hero!!” and another adding, “Absolutely Beautiful!!😍😍😍.”
However, behind the scenes, her life was far from the glamour of Hollywood. Despite the success of The Bionic Woman, the pressures of fame soon took their toll. By the time the show wrapped in 1978, she was completely burnt out.
She admitted that the emotional disconnect of her character mirrored her own inner turmoil. “How Jaime Sommers was feeling—not like a woman but like a kind of robot—was the way I was feeling about the series,” she revealed.
The demands of being a TV star were intense. Working 16-hour days, dealing with constant pressure from Hollywood executives, and struggling with difficult relationships left her physically and emotionally drained.
In a moment of deep frustration, she turned to alcohol and drugs, confessing, “I felt betrayed, friendless. […] I knew I had to make some changes; I had to become more relaxed about people and within myself.”
Her struggles on and off set were often misunderstood. On the set of The Incredible Journey of Doctor Meg Laurel, she was described as difficult and demanding, asking crew members to clear stones and sticks from her path after she had tripped multiple times.
But those who knew her defended her, explaining that much of her behavior was a result of the relentless pressure she was under. She herself reflected on her difficult experiences, saying, “I was raised by the Golden Rule, but no one in this business has heard of it.
At one point I found myself talking to God, yelling, ‘You forgot the movie industry!’”
To make matters worse, her body began to betray her. She faced severe side effects from medications that caused her to lose her hair and endured a painful car accident that left scars on her lip and scalp. But perhaps the most challenging of all were her battles with chronic urticaria, a condition that caused unbearable welts and swelling all over her body.
“It would burn. It would itch like crazy. It’s something that could just make you go insane,” she said, describing the pain. After months of suffering, she was desperate for relief.
In her personal life, things weren’t much better. Her first marriage to music publisher Allan Rider ended in just two years. Her second marriage to actor Michael Brandon lasted only three. Her third marriage, to stuntman Henry Kingi, began with a romantic ceremony at Lake Tahoe, where they exchanged a Paiute Indian blessing.
Yet, despite their passionate beginning, their marriage soon became another painful chapter in her life, ending in divorce. “It was like living with a roller coaster,” a friend of hers once said, describing the volatile relationship.
At this lowest point, physically and emotionally exhausted, she knew she needed to make a change. She began to focus inward, finding solace in her faith and personal growth. “I went back to reading the Bible,” she shared, acknowledging the comfort it brought her.
Through her renewed spirituality, she found balance, allowing her to heal both physically and emotionally. “Every commitment you make, to your career or to anything else, is an expression of God. You must do it with love and faith,” she explained, embracing a deeper sense of purpose.
Her healing journey didn’t stop there. Inspired by holistic teachings she had encountered as a teenager, she adopted alternative methods to treat her health issues. After suffering from ulcers and gallbladder problems, she avoided surgery through natural remedies, which helped her find lasting relief.
She dedicated herself to sharing these practices with others, teaching workshops and hosting retreats like “Quiet the Mind & Open the Heart,” where she helped others find peace and healing.
Years passed, and the woman who had once been Hollywood’s shining star found herself drawn back to the industry that had shaped her. In 2018, she made a return to acting, taking on roles in Samson and Grey’s Anatomy.
Reflecting on her comeback, she shared, “I’m kind of being guided to come back. The heart wants what the heart wants, as they say.” She was ready to return, not as the young woman she had once been, but as someone who had found herself, with a new perspective on life.
Now 75, Lindsay Wagner’s story has come full circle. From her rise to fame as The Bionic Woman to her transformation into a wellness advocate, her journey is a testament to resilience and self-discovery.
Today, she dedicates her life to helping others find peace and balance, embracing the holistic lifestyle that has kept her healthy and vibrant.
Social media users have noticed her timeless beauty, with one commenter saying, “Lindsay. Wow you’re still so beautiful xxx,” and another adding, “😍😍Lindsay ahhhh eternal child in love, the most beautiful woman on the planet.”
Lindsay’s story proves that it’s never too late to redefine success and happiness, inspiring others to look within and pursue their own journeys of self-discovery.
What do you think of Lindsay’s incredible journey? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
