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Dynasty's Wife Background: An Emmy-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actress mostly recognized for her work on television, Linda Evans was shot to prominence at age 23 as the always-imperiled Audra Barkley on the popular western series “The Big Valley” (ABC, 1965-1969), opposite Barbara Stanwyck, Richard Long, Peter Breck and Lee Majors. Over 15 years later, the blonde beauty gained even more popularity and acclaimed with her notable portrayal of the merciful wife Krystle Carrington on the long-running prime time soap opera “Dynasty” (1981-1989), during which she took home her Golden Globe Award and Emmy nomination, in addition to Soap Opera Digest Awards and People's Choice Awards, and later, in 1991, reprised her famous role on a reunion TV film. The Miss Golden Globe of 1964 also acted in numerous TV films, making her last performance in the 1997 “The Stepsister,” and in such big screen films as “Childish Things” (1969), directed by then husband John Derek, “Mitchell” (1975), “Avalanche Express” (1979) and “Tom Horn” (1980). For her work in television, the now-retired Evans has been inducted into Hollywood Walk of Fame. Evans, whose measurement were 34-24-34 in 1968, is the owner of Linda Evans Fitness Centers, which are located in 15 different places. In 1984, the “Dynasty” star became the spokesperson for the sugar-free beverage Crystal Light, and has been a supporter of numerous commercial products, including one Clairol's Ultress hair color (1989). As for her romantic life, Evans has been divorced twice. She had a rigid married life with actor/director/producer/photographer John Derek from 1968 to 1974, who left her for actress Bo Derek. Despite the conditions, the three maintained good relationships for many years. Her second marriage to real estate businessman Stan Herman lasted for five years (1976-1981). Before marrying Derek, Evans was engaged to producer Patrick Curtis, but they split up in 1962, after having been together for two years. She had a long-running relationship with Yanni (together from 1989 to early 1998).
Timid Teen
Childhood and Family: Linda Evanstad, whose last name is of Norwegian root, was born on November 18, 1942, in Hartford, Connecticut, to professional dancers. When she was six months old, her family relocated to North Hollywood. A lone child, Linda was extremely shy as a teenager so that her principal encouraged her to take acting classes to solve her problem. A defining moment came shortly thereafter when she was spotted by an advertising agency director while accompanying a friend to an audition for a TV commercial, which she eventually won. The rest is what they said as a history. Linda attended Hollywood High School with future star Stephanie Powers. Later known with the surname Evans, Linda married actor/director John Derek (born in 1926, death in 1998) in 1968 after he divorced from second wife actress Ursula Andress. The bond ended after six years in 1974. She was married for a second time in 1976 to Stan Herman, a Beverly Hills realtor. They divorced in 1981. While still married to Linda, Herman had a turbulent affair with screen beauty Claudia Jennings (born in 1949, died in 1979) during the summer of 1979. Currently, Linda lives in Lakewood, Washington.
The Big Valley
Career: A student of Hollywood High School, Linda Evans caught the eye of an ad-agency director in a classmate's audition for a Canada Dry TV commercial. She ended up landing the part and after two more commercial engagements, the salubriously pretty girl broke into acting in guest roles in such television series as the comedy “Bachelor Father” (1960), “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” (1960-1962), “The Untouchables” (1962), “The Eleventh Hour” and “The Lieutenant” (both 1963). Her luck started to change when she began to use the professional name “Evans” and dyed her hair from brunet to blonde. In 1963, she made her feature acting debut in a small role as Alice Clinton in director Boris Sagal's “Twilight of Horror,” which was the first starring vehicle of actor Richard Chamberlain. The year also saw Evans sign as an MGM actress, though her subsequent projects were primarily for other studios. These include the Disney drama/family “Those Calloways” (1965), opposite Brian Keith and Vera Miles, and American International Pictures’ “Beach Blanket Bingo” (1965), where she was cast as a kidnapped pop singer named Sugar Kane. Following episodic roles in “Wagon Train” and “My Favorite Martian” (both 1965), Evans eventually secured a regular gig when she received the offer to play the ever-menaced Audra Barkley on “The Big Valley,” a new western series starring Hollywood renowned Barbara Stanwyck, after the new actress failed in an audition for a western movie. Debuted in September 1965, the series proved popular among audiences and established Evans as a new star. She played the role of Stanwyck's daughter and the sister of Richard Long, Lee Majors and Peter Breck until the hit show came to an end in 1969. In the peak of her fame, Evans became involved with the soon-to-be-husband actor/director/producer and photographer John Derek, who was known for his curiosity on blondes. After their marriage, Derek strictly guided his wife's life and career and in 1969, he directed Evans in an independent drama film called “Childish Things,” which also starred Don Murray. Two years later, he posted Evans' photo for Playboy magazine. The marriage eventually ended in 1974 when Derek found a new love in another blonde beauty, Mary Catherine Collins (later known as Bo Derek). In her six-year marriage to Derek (1968-1974), Evans' screen performances were sporadic. Outside “Childish Things” and her previous TV series commitment, “The Big Valley,” she only had supporting roles in the ABC TV film “Female Artillery” (1973), starring Dennis Weaver, the pilot of ABC's “Nakia” (1974) and the action film “The Klansman” (1974), directed by Terence Young, as well as guest spots in four TV series, including the critically acclaimed series “McCloud” (1973). She attempted to relaunch her career in 1975 by having a job in the minor film “Mitchell.” The same year, she also landed a bit part in the TV film “The Big Rip-Off” and guested in the series “McCoy,” “McMillan & Wife” and “The Rockford Files.” She revisited the TV series realm as a regular role two years later in CBS's “Hunter” (1977), but the show only had a short life and was canceled after only eight episodes. There she portrayed CIA agent Marty Shaw, opposite James Franciscus as Agent James Hunter. Evans continued to act in such films as “Nowhere to Run” (1978, TV), “Standing Tall” (1978, TV), “Avalanche Express” (1979), “Tom Horn” (1980) and “Bare Essence” (1982, TV) and played the recurring role of Jessica in the long-running sitcom “The Love Boat” from 1981 to 1982. However, she did not re-reach stardom until she played the starring role of Krystle Carrington on the well-liked ABC primetime soap “Dynasty,” which ran for nine seasons from 1981 to 1989. As the former secretary-turned-wife of compelling oil mogul Blake Carrington (portrayed by John Forsythe), she offered fine performance that won her a Golden Globe in 1982 for Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series – Drama, two Soap Opera Digest for Outstanding Actress in a Prime Time Serial (1984, 1985), five consecutive People's Choice for Favorite Female TV Performer (1982-1985) and a 1983 Emmy nomination and showed her sexiness to both critics and audiences alike despite her 40s, thanks in part to her famed blonde hair and incredible Bob Mackie costumes. After the demise of “Dynasty,” Evans recreated her coveted role of Krystle Carrington for a reunion TV film in 1991 called “Dynasty: The Reunion.” In addition, she starred as Jane McMillan in “She'll Take Romance” (1990), a comedy TV film helmed by Piers Haggard, and reprised her role of Kate Muldoon for “The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw” (1991), a sequel of 1983's “Kenny Rogers as The Gambler: The Adventure Continues.” Evans supported Lisa Hartman and Cliff Robertson for the based-on-novel telepic “Dazzle” in 1995 before making her last TV movie appearance to date in 1997's “The Stepsister,” playing Joan Curtis Shaw Canfield. Among her costars in the drama were Rena Sofer, Bridgette Wilson, Richard Joseph Paul and Donnelly Rhodes. Since then, she has busied herself by making self-appearances in many TV shows, including “The Rosie O'Donnell Show,” “E! True Hollywood Story,” “Larry King Live” and “Entertainment Tonight.” She has also actively participated in the pro-environment campaign.
Awards:
People's Choice: Favorite Female TV Performer, 1986 People's Choice: Favorite Female TV Performer (tied with Joan Collins), 1985 Soap Opera Digest: Outstanding Actress in a Prime Time Serial, “Dynasty,” 1985 Soap Opera Digest: Outstanding Actress in a Prime Time Serial, “Dynasty,”1984 People's Choice: Favorite Female TV Performer, 1984 People's Choice: Favorite Female TV Performer (tied with Loretta Swit), 1983 People's Choice: Favorite Female TV Performer in a New TV Program, 1982 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actress in a TV-Series – Drama, “Dynasty,” 1982 Golden Globe: Miss Golden Globe, 1964
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