Linda Evans

Linda Evans – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the remarkable life of Linda Evans (b. November 18, 1942) — from her early days in Hollywood to starring roles in The Big Valley and Dynasty, her later ventures, and her reflections through memorable quotes.

Introduction

Linda Evans (born Linda Evenstad on November 18, 1942) is an American actress whose elegance, poise, and dramatic presence made her a television icon. Best known as Krystle Carrington on the hit 1980s soap opera Dynasty, she first made her mark in Western dramas such as The Big Valley. Over decades, she evolved from a young screen presence to a celebrated star, gracefully navigating transitions, fame, and reinvention. Her quotes reveal an inner reflective life behind the glamour.

Early Life and Background

Linda Evans was born in Hartford, Connecticut, to parents Arlene (née Dart) and Alba Evenstad, both of whom were professional dancers. Her family had Norwegian roots: “Evenstad” was the name of a farm in Norway from which her paternal great-grandmother emigrated in the late 19th century.

When she was about six months old, her family moved to North Hollywood, California, where she would grow up and attend Hollywood High School. As a young girl, she was shy; she later said she took drama classes “as a form of therapy, to cure her of her shyness.”

Early in her life, she adopted the stage name “Linda Evans,” dropping her original surname.

Career & Rise to Fame

Early Screen Appearances & The Big Valley

Linda Evans’ earliest screen roles in the 1960s were small guest parts. Her first credited guest appearance was on the series Bachelor Father (1960). She also appeared in episodes of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1960–62) and in anthology and western series such as Wagon Train, The Lieutenant, and The Eleventh Hour.

Her breakthrough came in 1965, when she joined the cast of the Western series The Big Valley as Audra Barkley, daughter to Barbara Stanwyck’s character Victoria Barkley. She remained in that series until 1969.

During the 1970s, she continued to appear in guest roles on series such as The Rockford Files, Mannix, Harry O, Banacek, McCloud, and McMillan & Wife. She also starred briefly in Hunter (1977) for a run of 13 episodes.

In film, she co-starred in Avalanche Express (1979) with Lee Marvin and Robert Shaw, and in Tom Horn (1980), opposite Steve McQueen.

Dynasty and Peak Stardom

In 1981, Evans took on what would become her most iconic role: Krystle Carrington in the ABC primetime soap Dynasty. Her character was introduced as Blake Carrington’s (played by John Forsythe) secretary turned wife.

Dynasty initially struggled in ratings, but after the addition of Joan Collins as Alexis Carrington and adjustments to plotlines, the show soared. By the 1984–85 season, Dynasty was the number one show in America.

Evans won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Drama Series in 1981, and was nominated for the Golden Globe in subsequent years (1982–1985). She also earned a Primetime Emmy nomination in 1983. During her Dynasty tenure, she also won multiple People’s Choice Awards (Favorite Female Performer).

She remained a central figure on Dynasty until 1989, though she left before its final season, appearing in only six episodes of Season 9.

Later Career & Other Ventures

After departure from Dynasty, Evans appeared in Dynasty: The Reunion (1991) and a few made-for-TV movies through the 1990s. She also opened a small chain of fitness centers and became involved in health, beauty, and wellness enterprises.

In 2009, she competed in and won the UK television version of Hell’s Kitchen.

Though mostly retired from acting by the late 1990s, she returned to the screen in 2021 with a small role in the film Swan Song.

Evans has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6834 Hollywood Boulevard.

Personality, Themes & Influence

Linda Evans’ career straddled eras: the classic Westerns of the 1960s, the melodrama of 1980s soap operas, and later the wellness/branding side of celebrity. Her public persona combined beauty, strength, and dignity.

She was also willing to reflect publicly on identity, image, aging, independence, and self-worth—choosing to share parts of her inner life rather than hide them behind glamour. Her journey shows how an actress from small roles could rise to high visibility yet seek calculated retreats from the spotlight.

Famous Quotes

Here are some memorable reflections attributed to Linda Evans:

“I wanted to be able to go shopping without people looking to see if I really was one of the world’s 10 most beautiful women. I longed to be myself.”

“You cry tears when a man leaves you at any age — it doesn’t matter whether you are 20 or 60.”

“I didn’t want to make a man the No. 1 quest in my life.”

“It doesn’t matter if I don’t succeed in something, what matters is that I learn from my mistakes.”

“Find out what you don’t want to know about yourself, what you’re afraid of.”

“Money to me is just the biggest blessing in the world that allows me freedom.”

“Nobody, no matter what they look like.” (often presented in context: “Nobody, no matter what they look like, … [faces challenges]”)

“You can take Elvis. You can take Marilyn Monroe. Success and fame will not be the answer if something inside of you is bothering you.”

These quotes show her introspective voice and concerns that go beyond her public image.

Lessons from Linda Evans

1. Authenticity amid fame — Even with great beauty and acclaim, she sought an identity beyond external approval.

2. Resilience with grace — Leaving a role at the height of fame and later returning on her terms shows strength in self-direction.

3. Lifelong reinvention — From actress to wellness entrepreneur, she expanded her horizons rather than stagnating.

4. Inner life matters — Her reflections remind us that narcissistic success often masks deeper demands for self-discovery.

5. Age is not defeat — Her late work and public statements show that shifts and returns are possible, not liabilities.

Conclusion

Linda Evans is a figure whose career reflects both the pleasures and pressures of television stardom. From her formative years in North Hollywood to her ascendance in The Big Valley, to becoming a cultural icon in Dynasty, and finally to her quieter ventures, she navigated fame with dignity and introspection. Her life and words serve as reminders that celebrity need not eclipse one’s inner journey, that wisdom can accompany glamour, and that reinvention is always within reach.