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Richard Evans's filmography reads like a who's who of iconic 1960s and 1970s TV shows. A prolific actor, Evans often portrayed awkward ranchers' sons, junior officers, sharp-eyed gunslingers, and ne'er-do-wells on prime-time classics such as Gunsmoke (1955), Bonanza (1959), Star Trek (1966), The Virginian (1962), The F.B.I. (1965), Mannix (1967), Lou Grant (1977), and Quincy, M.E. (1976), among others. He was a regular cast member for a season on the popular soap Peyton Place (1964), playing an English literature professor. On the big screen, he co-starred as Goldie, a saloon-owning gambler and killer who mentored Billy the Kid (played by Michael J. Pollard) in Stan Dragoti's unromantic western Dirty Little Billy (1972). He also played the ex-Marine sidekick to George C. Scott—whom Evans regarded as his favorite actor to work with—in Islands in the Stream (1977).
Born on January 23, 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri, Evans's family was affected by the Dust Bowl, a severe drought that struck the Southern Plains and worsened the Great Depression. He spent part of his early childhood in pre-war Japan. After years of travel and varied experiences, he landed his first acting role at a community playhouse in California, where he was discovered by a talent agent. Initially credited as 'Dick Evans,' he made his television debut in 1958. Beyond screen acting, Evans was active in local theatre, particularly later in life on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound, where he acted, wrote, and directed. Influenced by the French New Wave, he also wrote, produced, and directed several modest independent films. In 2018, Evans published an autobiographical book titled "Fazkils," sharing memories of his family history, Hollywood career, and his battle with cancer.
