Many things were better in the 1980s, not least the TV shows.
Take the soap opera Dynasty, a true classic that grew over the years and turned the incredible Linda Evans into a household name.
With her timeless beauty and unmatched elegance, Evans has captivated audiences for decades — and seeing her today, you can’t help but tip your hat in admiration.
Won the genetic lottery
The 1980s were an unforgettable era — a time when many of us were young, healthy, and full of life, with a sense of peace that feels rare today. Life was simpler, things were affordable, and iconic TV shows like Dynasty captured our imaginations. At the heart of it all was Linda Evans, who embodied the decade with her resilience, strength, and grounded charm both on and off the screen.
Linda Evans — a name synonymous with elegance, grace, and that unmistakable 1980s glamour — didn’t just act; she owned every role. Blessed with striking features and perfect bone structure, she truly won the genetic lottery, making her a timeless icon of style and poise.
Born Linda Evenstad on November 18, 1942, in Hartford, Connecticut, she was the quiet middle daughter in a Norwegian-American family. “Evenstad” was the name of the small farm in Norway, where Linda Evans’s great-grandmother lived before emigrating to the United States in 1884.
When Linda was six months old, her family moved to North Hollywood, and fate nudged her toward the spotlight. Though naturally shy and reserved, Linda’s striking beauty and graceful presence stood out. In high school, a drama classmate convinced her to try acting — a decision that would change her life forever and lead to a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
“The irony of that star was when I was young (age 16), I was a cashier at the Paramount Theater on Hollywood Boulevard, and they gave me the star right next to where I worked,” she told Digital Journal.
Sealing her place in history
Evans began humbly in the early 1960s with small TV parts, but everything shifted when she landed the role of Audra Barkley on The Big Valley (1965–1969). Playing alongside the legendary Barbara Stanwyck, she embodied strength and determination as the ranch family’s daughter. It was her first brush with stardom — and it taught her the professionalism and grit that would define her career.
“It was an ‘old world time’ that I thought was quite beautiful and I was thrilled to be a part of it. I don’t know if I would want to start in this world right now, especially the way it is set up,” she said.
But it was the 1980s that sealed Linda Evans’s place in pop culture history.
In 1981, she stepped into the role of Krystle Carrington on the primetime soap Dynasty — and television would never be the same. Against Joan Collins’s fiery Alexis Carrington, Evans played the graceful and morally steady Krystle. Their onscreen rivalry exploded into some of TV’s most legendary catfights, forever etched in pop culture. While Collins brought the fire, Evans brought the heart — balancing over-the-top drama with a warmth that made her America’s sweetheart.
As Krystle, the anxious-to-please, soft-spoken blonde with a flawless look, Linda Evans rose to become one of the most popular and bankable actresses on television. Her portrayal won her a Golden Globe Award and multiple People’s Choice Awards, cementing her as one of television’s most beloved actresses.
“We were very fortunate with Dynasty, we had an exceptionally good cast, and everybody got along despite the Enquirer saying that there were fights on the show. We never had any of that,” Linda said.
Heartbreak and marriages
But off-screen, Evans faced battles of her own. Her marriage to actor John Derek ended in heartbreak when he left her for a teenage Bo Derek — a scandal splashed across tabloids. Yet through it all, Evans carried herself with dignity and grace, never lashing out publicly. Fans admired her even more for her quiet strength.
After her split from John Derek, Linda went on to marry billionaire developer Stan Herman — but that relationship, too, eventually came to an end.
When Dynasty ended in 1989, Evans chose peace over the Hollywood grind. She moved to the Pacific Northwest, embracing wellness, spirituality, and family life.
”After Dynasty, I sort of retired again. Somehow I am very blessed when I want to work, or when something interests me, things come to me,” she said.
She later opened up about her journey in her memoir, Recipes for Life: My Memories, a heartfelt mix of personal stories and favorite recipes.
And she wasn’t done surprising people. In 2009, Evans appeared on Hell’s Kitchen UK, charming Gordon Ramsay and winning the entire competition — proving she still had the same determination that once lit up America’s TV screens.
Cancer battle
On June 5, 2020, Linda Evans shared a heartfelt Instagram post of herself walking her dog for Hope Walk Week. In the caption, she opened up about something deeply personal: both of her parents and two of her sisters had battled cancer. She wrote about the unimaginable pain and challenges the disease brings — but also about the sweetness of love and kindness when you don’t face it alone. While she had already lost three loved ones, she revealed that her younger sister was still fighting, and her walk that day was for her sibling and for everyone touched by cancer.
Heartbreak struck again in February 2022. Just one day after Valentine’s Day, Linda posted a photo of her sister Charlie smiling behind a birthday cake. Alongside it, she wrote, “My beloved sister Charlie, forever in my heart,” mourning her sister’s passing after a long battle with cancer.
But illness didn’t just strike her family — Linda herself has faced enormous struggles. Years earlier, she endured a slipped disc that caused excruciating pain, so severe that she admitted she once considered suicide.
She explained that the agony was so overwhelming, she finally understood why some people felt that simply being alive was unbearable. Cortisone treatments damaged her hair, forcing her to wear a wig for a time, and she also battled waves of depression.
A low point
In 2014, another low point came when she was pulled over in Washington state and cited for reckless driving. She insisted she hadn’t been drinking or using drugs, but admitted she was in intense pain and shouldn’t have been on the road.
Later, she explained that her blood test only showed traces of a prescribed sleeping pill she had taken the night before. For Linda, that scary incident became a wake-up call about the importance of making better choices when struggling physically.
Thankfully, she eventually found relief. After undergoing laser treatment and multiple surgeries, she said she was finally pain-free for the first time in years. Her hair grew back, and so did her resilience.
Linda Evans today
Today, at 82 years old, Linda Evans lives quietly, far from the spotlight, but her legacy still glows. Whether remembered as Audra Barkley in The Big Valley or Krystle Carrington in Dynasty, she remains an icon of elegance, strength, and authenticity.
After selling her massive 12,000-square-foot villa in the Pacific Northwest, she downsized to a cozy estate near Olympia. Nestled on 70 acres with a large garden and even deer roaming nearby, her cottage-style home is warm, personal, and filled with charm. She also has a special storage space for her Dynasty wardrobe, though she admits it overwhelms her and she rarely goes inside.
Linda has spoken openly about why she left the Hollywood scene. She said she wanted an inner journey, to find herself and discover if there was more to life than fame and success. For her, that meant moving away, living quietly, and embracing her true self.
Some stars are made. Others, like Linda Evans, are destined.
Linda Evans didn’t just survive Hollywood — she transcended it. And that’s why, decades later, we’re still talking about her.
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