Adrienne Barbeau Adrienne Barbeau is the actress who played Senator Cretak in the seventh season episode . She took over the role from actress Megan Cole . Barbeau was a candidate for the role of in the fourth season episode during early stages of production . ( ) Born in Sacramento , California , Barbeau moved to New York City in the 1960s , where she began appearing on stage . She gained fame – and made her television acting debut – playing Carol Tainer , the overstressed daughter of the title character of the hit sitcom " Maude " . She played the role from 1972 through 1978 , earning a Golden Globe nomination in 1977 . During this time , she also made guest appearances on such programs as " Eight Is Enough " , " Quincy , M . E . " ( starring Jack Klugman , Robert Ito and Garry Walberg , in an episode with Kim Cattrall ) , and " The Love Boat " ( in a two - parter with Richard Lineback and John Schuck ) . She also appeared in an episode of " Hallmark Hall of Fame " with George Takei and co - starred with Ricardo Montalban and France Nuyen in the 1978 TV movie " Return to Fantasy Island " , which served as the second pilot for Montalban ' s series , on which Barbeau would guest - star twice . Also in 1978 , she co - starred with William Shatner in the TV movie " Crash " . It was also during the 1970s that Barbeau established herself as a sex symbol , primarily in pin - up posters . Barbeau later became known for her work in horror films and science fiction films during the early 1980s . In 1980 , she starred opposite Jamie Lee Curtis in her then - husband John Carpenter ' s horror thriller " The Fog " , which marked her film debut ; the following year , she had a role in Carpenter ' s sci - fi thriller " Escape from New York " . In 1982 , she continued to establish herself as a horror genre actress with a lead role in Wes Craven ' s cult horror film " Swamp Thing " ( co - starring Ray Wise , Dick Durock , and Nicholas Worth ) , based on the DC Comics property . She also appeared in the George A . Romero / Stephen King horror anthology " Creepshow " that same year , starring in a segment with Fritz Weaver , Robert Harper , and Don Keefer . Also during the 1980s , Barbeau was seen in a number of comedies and made - for - TV movies . In 1980 , co - starred with Gary Lockwood in the TV movie and with Lee Meriwether in the TV movie " Tourist " . The following , she had a role in the hit action - comedy " The Cannonball Run " ( also featuring John Fiedler ) and co - starred with William Sadler in the TV movie " Charlie and the Great Balloon Chase " . In 1986 , she made an appearance in the comedy " Back to School " , playing the unfaithful wife of Rodney Dangerfield ' s character who , in a brief scene , is seen cheating on Dangerfield with future star Robert Picardo . Also starring in this film are Terry Farrell and Sally Kellerman . She also appeared in a very campy role in the 1989 spoof " Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death " with " Politically Incorrect " s Bill Maher . Her episodic TV appearances during this time included two episodes of " Hotel " , two episodes of " Murder , She Wrote " ( one with Janet MacLachlan and Susan Oliver , another with George Takei ) , and an episode of the 1980s version of . During the 1990s , Barbeau appeared in such films as " Father Hood " ( 1993 , with Brian Bonsall and Bob Gunton ) and " Silk Degrees " ( 1994 , with Charles Napier ) . She also appeared in an episode of the cult sci - fi series " " , starring Mary Kay Adams , Andreas Katsulas , and Bill Mumy , as well as an episode of " Sliders " , another sci - fi series popular during the 90s ( which starred John Rhys - Davies ) . Her most prominent role during this decade , however , was that of the voice of Selina Kyle , aka Catwoman , on " Batman : The Animated Series " . Frank Welker voiced Catwoman ' s beloved cat , Isis , and other " Trek " alumni who appeared in the same episodes included Earl Boen , Loren Lester , Diana Muldaur , Kate Mulgrew , Brock Peters , and Paul Williams . Barbeau also made a small cameo in an episode of the spinoff series " Batman Beyond " ( with David Warner ) . Most recently , Barbeau has become known for her recurring role as Diedrich Bader ' s character ' s mother on the hit sitcom " The Drew Carey Show " from 1998 through 2004 and for her role as snake charmer Ruthie on the HBO series " Carnivàle " from 2003 through 2005 . Also starring in the latter series were the likes of Michael John Anderson , Clancy Brown , K Callan , John Fleck , Robert Knepper , John Carroll Lynch , Scott MacDonald , Matt McCoy , Diane Salinger , John Savage , and Time Winters . For her performance in " Carnivàle " , Barbeau was nominated for a Golden Satellite Award in 2004 . Barbeau is currently married to writer , producer , and actor Billy Van Zandt , himself a " Star Trek " alumnus , having appeared in . The two married in 1994 after meeting on the set of the TV series " Daddy Dearest " , which Van Zandt produced . The union would produce twin boys , Walker and William , born . Barbeau and Van Zandt later co - starred together in the 1999 film " A Wake in Providence " ( which Van Zandt co - wrote ) . In 2006 , Barbeau starred as Judy Garland in an off - Broadway play written by Van Zandt called " The Property Known as Garland " . Most recently , Barbeau can be seen on " General Hospital " co - starring with Lisa LoCicero .