A cinema legend's passing rocked the industry this week.
Actress Joan Evans, best known for her roles in "On the Loose" and "Edge of Doom," died at age 89, Fox News reported. Her son, John Weatherly, confirmed the saddening news.
Evans hails from a family full of on and off-screen legends.
The late actress, who died in her Henderson, NV home, was Joan Crawfords' goddaughter. Her parents, Dale Eunson and Katherine Albert, were the screenwriters behind "On the Loose."
Evans was best known for her rise to stardom on the movie scene in the 1950s. She had many roles, but several memorable ones that fans still talk about.
Golden Age Star Joan Evans: A Tribute to Her Illustrious Career
Remembering the iconic 'On the Loose' actress and her remarkable journey in Hollywood pic.twitter.com/avQx39wHf9
— GoldBackedNews (@GoldBackedNews) November 2, 2023
Fox News noted:
Evans – who was named after Crawford – was a New York native born in 1934. Evans' mother was a Hollywood reporter for Photoplay magazine, where she often covered Crawford as she rose to fame.
During an interview, Evans recounted an especially scary moment in her early career when she was shot in the arm, on set, during the filming of "Roseanna McCoy." She said she was "accidentally shot very, very seriously" during the scene.
Another incredible story Evans told during the interview was the night she attended a party at Joan Crawford's home with then-boyfriend Kirby Weatherly. Crawford insisted the two tie the knot that very night.
"The head of publicity at Goldwyn had said to me, ‘Joan, I don’t care what you do, just don’t call me in the middle of the night and tell me you’re married,’" Evans recounted. "So, I called him in the middle of the night and told him I was married."
Evans was clearly loved and respected by fans around the world, and many posted tributes to the late actress on social media.
RIP Actress Joan Evans (1934-2023) pic.twitter.com/lEbtGbNeUf
— Ricardo (@Dutchfan33) October 29, 2023
I just saw Joan Evans passed away last week. Her parents were Hollywood scriptwriters who named her after close friend Joan Crawford. That friendship soured when Crawford facilitated Evans’ marriage at 18 against her parents wishes. The marriage lasted for life. RIP #tcmparty pic.twitter.com/EIku17qjPh
— 🧶KIM BRITT KNITS🧶 (@kphbritt) October 31, 2023
Fox News noted, "The couple share a son, John, and a daughter, Dale. Evans is also survived by her grandson, Chris."
