Actress Francine York, who played the sidekick of literary villain The Bookworm on the 1960s "Batman" television series, passed away Friday at age 80. Her death was confirmed by her friends, television producer Pepper Jay.

Born in 1936 in Aurora, Minnesota, York parlayed her success in beauty pageants into work as first as model and showgirl and then as an actor in theater, television and film.

After appearing in minor roles on such TV shows as "Bringing Up Buddy," "Route 66" and "Surfside 6," York got her big break with the 1962 Jerry Lewis comedy "It's Only Money." She went on to appear in another five of Lewis' films, from 1963's "The Nutty Professor" to 1983's "Cracking Up."

However, she's likely best remembered by comic book fans as Lydia Limpet, the henchwoman to Roddy McDowall's Bookworm, on two 1966 episodes of "Batman."

York's film and TV credits are as varied as they are numerous, with roles on "Death Valley Days," "Lost in Space," "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.," "The Wild, Wild West," "I Dream of Jeannie," "Mission: Impossible" and "Days of Our Lives." Her career spanned nearly six decades, into the present, with York making recent appearances on "The King of Queens," "The Mindy Project" and "Star Trek: Progeny."

(via Deadline)