Hollywood star Linda Evans, now 83, began her career as a model before transitioning to acting. She landed a significant role on the hit series The Big Valley alongside Lee Majors and Barbara Stanwyck in the 1960s. Later, she became iconic for playing Krystle Carrington opposite Joan Collins' Alexis Colby on the 1980s television saga Dynasty.
This week, Evans shared a rare personal photo from the 1970s, showing her relaxing by a swimming pool. 'Long time ago… A photo in my blue swimsuit and such a beautiful memory from another chapter of my life. Good old memories,' she wrote in the Instagram caption. The actress, who was married to John Derek (former husband of Bo Derek), is now retired and living in Washington.
Early Career Highlights
Evans' first guest-starring role was on a 1960 episode of Bachelor Father, starring John Forsythe, with whom she would later co-star on Dynasty. After guest roles on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1960-1962) and appearances on shows like The Lieutenant and Wagon Train, she gained her first regular role in 1965 on The Big Valley as Audra Barkley, daughter of Victoria Barkley played by Barbara Stanwyck.
She subsequently appeared on The Rockford Files, Mannix, Harry O, Banacek, McCloud, and McMillan & Wife. In 1977, she starred in the series Hunter with James Franciscus and Ralph Bellamy, followed by the 1979 thriller Avalanche Express and the 1980 film Tom Horn co-starring Steve McQueen.
The Dynasty Era
Dynasty premiered in January 1981, with Evans playing the blonde good girl Krystle Carrington. When Joan Collins joined as the villainous ex-wife Alexis, ratings soared. Evans left the show in 1989, four months before its finale, and reprised her role in the 1991 miniseries Dynasty: The Reunion. She appeared in three TV movies in the 1990s and won the British show Hell's Kitchen in 2009. In 2021, she starred in the film Swan Song.
Reflections on Aging and Life
Upon turning 80, Evans said, 'The number is high, but I see my age as an adventure. I'm excited to see what else is to come.' Looking back, she noted she would 'do everything differently' if she could return to her 20s, except for buying her home in Tacoma, Washington, and never giving up the search for love. 'I have loved every time and every challenge in my life. I've suffered a lot, but I'm proud of it,' she added.
Evans now works only on special projects that bring her joy, such as the 2021 film Swan Song, which tells the story of an older man revisiting his past. She shared, 'Truly loving myself has been very valuable to me — it doesn't matter how late in life it happened.'
Personal Life
Evans has been married twice: first to John Derek (1968-1974) and later to Stan Herman (1975-1979). She has no children and lives peacefully alone. Her last known relationship was with Greek composer Yanni from 1989 to 1998. In 2014, Yanni told Oprah, 'Linda is one of the most amazing human beings I've ever met.'
In her Instagram post, Evans wrote about aging: 'When you get to be my age, you relish each decade of your life with a sense of wonder and awe for every summer that comes again.'
