Linda Evans facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Linda Evans
Evans at Heart Truth in February 2012
Born	Linda Evenstad (1942-11-18) November 18, 1942 (age 82) Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
Education	Hollywood High School
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1960–1997; 2020–present
Known for	Dynasty The Big Valley Avalanche Express Tom Horn
Spouse(s)	John Derek ​ ​ (m. 1968; div. 1974)​ Stan Herman ​ ​ (m. 1975; div. 1979)​
Partner(s)	Patrick Curtis (1960–1962) George Santo Pietro (1980–1984) Yanni (1989–1998)

Keenan Wynn, Evans and Jack Ging in television's The Eleventh Hour (1963)

Original cast of The Big Valley (1965) with Evans (Audra), Barbara Stanwyck (Victoria) standing in front of Richard Long (Jarrod), Peter Breck (Nick), Lee Majors (Heath) and Charles Briles (Eugene)

Evans in The Big Valley, 1965

With George Peppard in Banacek, 1974

Linda Evans (born Linda Evenstad on November 18, 1942) is a famous American actress. She is well-known for her roles on TV. In the 1960s, she starred as Audra Barkley in the Western show The Big Valley. Later, she became super famous as Krystle Carrington in the 1980s TV show Dynasty. She played this role from 1981 to 1989.

Linda Evans' Early Life

Linda Evenstad was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on November 18, 1942. Her parents, Arlene and Alba Evenstad, were both professional dancers. When Linda was six months old, her family moved to North Hollywood.

She went to Hollywood High School. Linda took drama classes to help her overcome shyness. When she started acting, she changed her last name to "Evans."

Linda Evans' Acting Career

Linda Evans' first acting job was in 1960 on a TV show called Bachelor Father. She worked with John Forsythe on this show. Years later, they would star together again in Dynasty.

Becoming a Star in The Big Valley

After several guest roles, Evans got her first regular part in 1965. This was in the Western series The Big Valley. She played Audra Barkley, the daughter of Victoria Barkley. Barbara Stanwyck played Victoria. Linda was a main cast member until the show ended in 1969.

TV and Movie Roles in the 1970s

Throughout the 1970s, Evans appeared in many TV shows. She was in detective shows like The Rockford Files and Banacek. In 1977, she starred in the drama series Hunter.

She also acted in movies. In 1979, she was in the thriller Avalanche Express. In 1980, she co-starred with Steve McQueen in the Western film Tom Horn.

Dynasty: A Major Success

Linda Evans was then chosen to play Krystle Carrington in the new TV show Dynasty. The show started in January 1981. It was meant to be a rival to the popular show Dallas.

Evans played the new wife of a rich oil businessman, Blake Carrington. John Forsythe played Blake. At first, the show's ratings were low. But they got much better when Joan Collins joined the cast. She played Blake's ex-wife, Alexis Carrington. By 1984–85, Dynasty was the most-watched show in America.

Awards and Recognition

Linda Evans won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a TV Drama Series in 1981 for her role in Dynasty. She was nominated for this award many times. She also won several People's Choice Awards for Favorite Female TV Performer. In addition, she won Soap Opera Digest Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress.

Evans also became a spokesperson for the drink Crystal Light. This was because her character's name was Krystle.

Life After Dynasty

Linda Evans left Dynasty in 1989. After that, she mostly stopped acting. She focused on fitness and opened a chain of fitness centers. In the 1990s, she hosted infomercials for a facial toning mask. She also wrote a book called Linda Evans Beauty and Exercise in 1983.

In 1991, Evans returned to play Krystle Carrington in a TV miniseries called Dynasty: The Reunion. She appeared in a few more TV movies in the 1990s. She then retired from screen acting in 1997.

In 2006, Evans reunited with her Dynasty castmates for a special show. She also starred in a play called Legends with Joan Collins. In 2009, Evans appeared on and won the British TV show Hell's Kitchen.

In 2021, Evans returned to acting for a small role. She was in the movie Swan Song. Linda Evans has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Linda Evans' Personal Life

Linda Evans has been married and divorced twice. Her first marriage was to actor and director John Derek. They were married from 1968 to 1974. Her second marriage was to Stan Herman, a realtor, from 1975 to 1979.

She also had relationships with other people. She lived with restaurant owner George Santo Pietro from 1980 to 1984. From 1989 to 1998, she was in a relationship with musician Yanni.

Linda Evans is very close friends with her ex-stepdaughter, Sean Catherine Derek. She is also friendly with Bo Derek, who later married John Derek.

After a health issue, Evans became interested in alternative healing. She explored Eastern philosophy and naturopathy. She moved to Rainier, Washington, to be closer to a metaphysical school. She lives on a large estate with her sister and nephew.

Filmography

Film Roles

Television Roles

See also

In Spanish: Linda Evans para niños