Linda Evans: The Timeless Beauty of ‘The Big Valley’ and ‘Dynasty’
Linda Evans (full name: Linda Evenstad) was born on November 18, 1942, in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. As of February 27, 2026, she is 83 years old (she celebrated her 83rd birthday in November 2025) and is a retired American actress who remains an enduring icon of television.
Profession: Actress, primarily known for her work in television series and films, with occasional involvement in fitness, writing, and wellness advocacy.
Evans began her career in the early 1960s with guest roles on shows like The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and Bachelor Father. Her breakthrough came in 1965 when she starred as Audra Barkley in the classic Western series The Big Valley (1965–1969), playing the strong-willed daughter of Barbara Stanwyck’s Victoria Barkley. This role established her as a glamorous and capable leading lady in the Old West setting.
She achieved global superstar status in the 1980s as Krystle Carrington in the iconic primetime soap opera Dynasty (1981–1989). Opposite John Forsythe and in legendary rivalries with Joan Collins’ Alexis Colby, Evans brought elegance, grace, and quiet strength to the role, earning five Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a TV Drama Series (1982–1986) and becoming one of the highest-paid actresses on television at the time.
Other notable credits include films like Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), Twilight of Honor (1963), and later appearances in TV movies such as The Gambler Returns (1991). She reprised her Dynasty role in the 1991 miniseries Dynasty: The Reunion. In recent years, she appeared in Swan Song (2021) and has focused on personal pursuits, including authoring a memoir (Recipes for Life: My Memories, 2011), promoting health and spirituality, and living a quieter life in the Pacific Northwest.
Linda Evans has no recorded death—she is very much alive and occasionally shares inspiring updates with fans.
Here are some photos showcasing Linda Evans across her career:
From her youthful Western days in The Big Valley to the glamorous Dynasty era and her elegant presence in recent years, Linda Evans continues to inspire with her timeless beauty, strength, and grace!
