Linda Evans
Linda Evans | |
|---|---|
| Born | Linda Evenstad |
| Spouse(s) | John Derek (1968-1974) Stan Herman (1976-1981) |
Linda Evans (born Linda Evenstad on November 18, 1942, in Hartford, Connecticut) is a Golden Globe-winning and Emmy nominated American actress known primarily for her roles on television. She rose to fame as Barbara Stanwyck's daughter, Audra Barkley, on the 1960s Western, The Big Valley (1965-1969). However, Evans' most prominent role was as Krystle Carrington on the 1980s ABC prime-time television soap opera Dynasty, a role she played from 1981-1988.
Career
Evans's first guest-starring role was on an episode of Bachelor Father, which starred her future co-star John Forsythe. She would co-star with him on Dynasty, more than two decades later.
Before then, she co-starred opposite longtime actress Barbara Stanwyck on The Big Valley.
Due to her character's name on Dynasty, she starred in an ad campaign for Crystal Light beverages, starting in 1984.
Evans has been married twice. She was first married to actor and film producer John Derek from 1968 to 1974. Evans' second marriage was to Stan Herman, a property executive, from 1976 to 1981.
Regularly listed as one of the most beautiful women in America, she appeared in Playboy magazine at the behest of her then husband John Derek in 1971, those photos published a second time in 1982 when she was turning forty.
During the 1980s, Linda Evans and her Dynasty co-star, Joan Collins, became two of the most celebrated female television stars of the decade, displaying an on-screen adversarial chemistry. For her role as Krystle, Evans won a Golden Globe award in 1982 for Best Actress in a Drama Series (tying with Barbara Bel Geddes ), and 5 People's Choice Awards as Favorite Actress in a Drama Series in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1986. Evans was also nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead actress in a Drama Series in 1983.
For her contribution to the television industry, Linda Evans has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6834 Hollywood Blvd.
After she left Dynasty, Evans semi-retired from acting and only made occasional television appearances. She now resides in Lakewood, Washington, and owns a small chain of fitness centers.
In the 1990s, Evans hosted infomercials for Rejuvenique, a mask for toning facial muscles.
In 2006, Evans reunited with her Dynasty castmates for the non-fiction reunion special Dynasty: Caviar and Catfights. She then starred in the stage play Legends opposite her former Dynasty rival Joan Collins.
Miscellaneous
Evans was spoofed in the popular animated TV show Family Guy; the following conversation takes place between Stewie and Olivia:
Stewie: Well, fine! Refuse my offer. Get booted out of this place (acting school) and wind up like Linda Evans.
(Flash to supermarket scene)
Intercom: Linda Evans, we have a spill in Aisle 9. Linda Evans, spill in Aisle 9.[1]
Filmography
- Twilight of Honor (1963)
- Those Calloways (1965)
- Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)
- Childish Things (1969)
- The Klansman (1974)
- Mitchell (1975)
- Avalanche Express (1979)
- Tom Horn (1980)
- Trekkies (1997) (documentary)
Television work
- The Big Valley (1965-1969)
- Female Artillery (1973)
- Nakia (1974)
- The Big Rip-Off (1975)
- Hunter (1976) (pilot for series)
- Hunter (1977) (canceled after 8 episodes)
- Nowhere to Run (1978)
- Standing Tall (1978)
- Dynasty (1981-1989)
- Bare Essence (1982)
- Kenny Rogers as The Gambler: The Adventure Continues (1983)
- North and South, Book II (1986) (miniseries)
- The Last Frontier (1986)
- She'll Take Romance (1990)
- Dynasty: The Reunion (1991)
- The Gambler Returns: Luck of the Draw (1991)
- Dazzle (1995)
- The Stepsister (1997)