He was a great television star of the 80s who worked with Heather Locklear and Joan Collins in a brilliant series.
But before that, she was a blonde pinup bombshell.
In this image below, she wore a swimsuit to promote one of her 1960s television shows.
The series was a western starring Lee Majors, who would later star in Six Million Dollar Man and marry Farrah Fawcett.
Who is she?
He was a great television star of the 80s who worked with Heather Locklear and Joan Collins in a brilliant series. But before that, she was a blonde pin-up bombshell. Who is she?
This is Linda Evans.
The bikini image was a 1965 promotional shot for The Big Valley, starring Majors and classical icon Barbara Stanwyck.
cute was the Star of the nightly soap opera Dinastía, which aired from 1981 to 1989.
The Hollywood actress, now 81, played innocent blonde beauty Krystle Carrington, married to handsome millionaire Blake Carrington, played by John Forsythe.
But the sweet little lamb had to fight her husband’s evil ex-wife, Alexis Carrington, played by Joan Collins.
That led to catfights and sky-high ratings.
Today, Linda, who was married to Bo Derek’s ex, John Derek, is retired and thriving in Washington.
But she often posts glamorous photos on her Instagram page of herself proving that she is still stunning.
This is Linda Evans. The bikini image was a 1965 promotional shot for The Big Valley, starring Majors and classical icon Barbara Stanwyck. Seen in 1984
Evans is seen here on the set of the western show The Big Valley. She played the stunning Audra Barkley, the daughter of Victoria Barkley (played by Barbara Stanwyck).
Seen here with the cast which included Joan Collins and Heather Locklear.
Evans’ first guest-starring role was in a 1960 episode of Bachelor Father.
The series starred John Forsythe, with whom he would co-star 20 years later in Dynasty.
After several guest roles on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet between 1960 and 1962, and guest appearances on television series such as The Lieutenant and Wagon Train, Evans landed her first regular role in 1965 on The Big Valley.
She played the stunning Audra Barkley, the daughter of Victoria Barkley (played by Barbara Stanwyck).
He then appeared in The Rockford Files with James Garner, Mannix, Harry O with David Janssen, Banacek with George Peppard, McCloud with Dennis Weaver, and McMillan & Wife with Rock Hudson.
In 1977, he starred alongside James Franciscus and Ralph Bellamy in the series Hunter.
Then came the 1979 thriller Avalanche Express, and in 1980 she co-starred with Steve McQueen in Tom Horn.
Linda in a swimsuit with John in Dynasty
Then came Dynasty, which in January 1981.
When Collins joined the cast as Blake’s villainous ex-wife, ratings soared.
Evans left Dynasty in 1989, four months before the series ended.
In 1991, Evans returned to the role of Krystle for the television miniseries Dynasty: The Reunion.
He was then in three made-for-TV movies in the 1990s, but then retired.
In 2009, Evans appeared on and won the British television show Hell’s Kitchen. In 2021, Evans appeared in the film Swan Song.
When he turned 80, he talked about getting older.
‘The number is high, but I see my age as an adventure. “I’m excited to see what else is to come,” she said.
Looking back on her life, The Big Valley star said that if she could go back to her 20s, she would “do everything differently.”
During the conversation at his home in Tacoma, Washington, he revealed the only two things he wouldn’t change.
Throwback circa the 1980s: “When you get to my age, you enjoy every decade of your life with a sense of wonder and awe for each summer that returns,” the soap star wrote in her caption. ‘Getaways and adventures can take on a new meaning. But with the sun on my shoulders and my heart open to change, this season is as promising as ever.
Evans at the Late Night Shopping event at Designer Outlets in Soltau, Germany, in 2019
“I would buy my house back here in Tacoma and never give up the search for love,” she said. ‘But despite this, I have loved every moment and every challenge of my life. “I have suffered a lot, but I am proud of it.”
The soap opera star spoke about his quiet life in Washington.
‘I only work on special projects that fill my heart with joy. That’s why, in 2019, after falling in love with a script written by filmmaker Todd Stephens, I accepted a role in his film (2021),’ he said.
He added: “(Swan Song) tells the story of an old man who dies of sadness for his life but is reborn after revisiting his past.”
Evans talked about revisiting her own past and finding self-love. ‘It’s one of the beautiful things about getting older. Truly loving myself has been very valuable to me, no matter what stage of my life it happened.’
The star dated Greek composer Yanni for almost a decade, from 1989 to 1998; seen in 1991
The actress has been married twice in her life.
Her first marriage was to the late actor and director John Derek from 1968 to 1974.
A year later, she married Sexual Intent actor Stan Herman, until their subsequent divorce in 1979.
The Connecticut star has no children and lives a quiet life alone.
Their last publicly known relationship began in 1989.
She dated Greek composer Yanni for almost a decade, but the couple finally broke up in 1998.
In 2014, he told Oprah: “Linda is one of the most incredible human beings I have ever met in my life.”
The blonde beauty shared a throwback photo and wrote an insightful caption about aging: “When you reach my age, you enjoy each decade of your life with a sense of wonder and awe for each summer that returns.” Getaways and adventures can take on a new meaning.