Linda Evans

Tall, blonde American actress with a whispery voice and a perennial expression of slight concern. Born November 18, 1942, after she began her TV career in soft-drink commercials, Evans received her big break when she won the role of Audra Barkley, the requisite youthful romantic interest, on the popular Western series, "The Big Valley" (1965-69). In the 1970s Evans landed a supporting role in the feature "The Klansman" (1974) and leads in the so-so "Mitchell" (1975) and the fairly disastrous "Avalanche Express" (1979). Her career turnaround came in 1981 with her casting as Krystle Carrington, wife of tycoon Blake (John Forsythe), in the hugely popular primetime TV soap, "Dynasty". Playing a devoted wife who was not above the occasional catfight with Blake's bitchy ex (Joan Collins), Evans brought her mild, soft charm and mature elegance to the part and achieved tremendous popularity during the show's run, particularly among women viewers who appreciated her proudly middle-aged brand of attractiveness. She also appeared in such TV-movies as "The Frontier" (1986) and "I'll Take Romance" (1990) and became a spokesperson both for Clairol and for several environmental causes. Evans was formerly married to actor-director John Derek, who directed her in "Childish Things" (1969).