Evans
Linda Evans was born Linda Evanstad on November 18, 1942. Her father, Alba, was a big, strong, handsome man of
Norwegian ancestry. Her mother, Arleen, was a kindly and sympathetic woman. Linda had two sisters. Carol was older
by nearly two years and Kathy was Linda's junior by nine years.
Linda was only fourteen when her father was diagnosed with abdominal cancer. There was nothing the doctors could do
but try to ease his pain. "I shall never forget my horror and grief when my grandparents told Carol and me the truth. I
just couldn't accept the fact that my father, always so strong, so brave and kind, was going to die."
Because of her father's illness he could no longer work and it became necessary for Linda to help out at home. She got a
job and contributed to the upkeep of the house. She went to work first as a waitress, later as an usherette. There was
little chance for a social life.
Alba Evanstad was in the hospital throughout much of his illness but eventually he insisted on being allowed to go home.
He wanted to be near the things he loved most, his family and his books. His wife and daughters also wanted him at home.
"We wanted him near us. No matter how tormenting it would be to watch someone you love fade and fade and fade. I
clung desperately to a last hope. A miracle." Sadly, there was to be no miracle, but Alba got his wish and died quietly at
home surrounded by his loved ones.
It was while attending Hollywood High School that Linda accompanied a nervous classmate to an audition for a Canada
Dry TV commercial. The ad-agency director was impressed with the wholesomely pretty and brunette Linda. He asked
her to also read for the commercial. This marked the beginning of her career.
Following the Canada Dry and two other commercial spots, Linda began making the TV guest-star rounds on such series
as Bachelor Father, Ozzie and Harriet, The Untouchables and The 11th Hour. Her fortunes improved when she dropped
the 'tad' from her last name and dyed her hair blonde.
As Linda Evans, she made her first important film appearance as kidnapped pop singer Sugar Kane in the 1963 movie
Beach Blanket Bingo. That same year she was signed to an MGM contract, though she spent much of it on loan out to
other studios. In 1965 Linda won the role as Audra Barkley in a new TV western called The Big Valley. This proved to be
her big break in acting. The successful ABC-TV series ran until 1969.
Afterwards, her life and career fell under the strict guidance of her then-husband, actor/director John Derek, whom she
had married in 1968. They were divorced in 1974 after a ten year relationship, finally freeing Linda from his influence.
She was compelled to virtually start all over again, starring in less than stellar films such as Mitchell in 1975. In 1976
she married real estate mogul Stan Herman. They were divorced in 1981.
Her comeback wasn't successful until she was cast as Krystle Carrington on what would eventually become a long
running night time serial called "Dynasty", the show lasted from 1981 to 1989. For her work on "Dynasty", Linda was
the recipient of five People's Choice Awards and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a dramatic television series.
Symbolic of her international popularity, she also won Italy's coveted Telegetto Award for favorite female TV star, and
she was named one of the world's "Ten Most Beautiful Women" for four consecutive years by Harper's Bazaar
Magazine. Linda enjoys the reputation of being one of Hollywood's nicest and most gracious actresses.
Linda's personal concerns extend beyond the entertainment world. A persuasive spokesperson, she has endorsed several
commercial products and worked tirelessly on behalf of the pro-environment movement. An avid and dedicated environ-
mentalist, she has taken up the cause in her home state of Washington and nationwide. At the request of former President
George Bush, Linda joined the "Take Pride In America" campaign targeted at preserving our natural resources.
For several years, beginning in 1989, Linda was romantically linked with popular New Age pianoist and composer Yanni,
but they went their separate ways in 1998. In recent years she authored a popular self-help book, "Linda Evans' Beauty
and Exercise" and became the owner of the Linda Evans' Fitness Centers, which are located in fifteen locations through-
out California.