Richard Evans(1935-2021)

His filmography reads like an A-list of iconic 60s and 70s TV shows. The prolific Richard Evans could be found playing a host of gauche rancher's sons and junior officers or beady-eyed gunslingers and ne'er-do-wells on prime-time classics like 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), to name but a few. On the popular soap Peyton Place (1964) he was a season regular as an English literature professor. On the big screen, he co-starred as saloon-owning gambler and killer Goldie, mentor to Billy the Kid (played by Michael J. Pollard) in Stan Dragoti's unromantic western Dirty Little Billy (1972). He was also the ex-Marine sidekick of George C. Scott (whom he considered his favourite actor to work with) in Islands in the Stream (1977).

Evans was born on January 23, 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri. His family was affected by the Dust Bowl, a severe drought which impacted the Southern Plains and amplified the effects of the Great Depression. Some of his early childhood was spent in pre-war Japan. Many years and travels later, a circuitous route led to his first acting gig at a California community playhouse where he was noticed by a talent agent. Initially billed as 'Dick Evans', he made his television debut in 1958. In addition to screen acting, Evans also worked in local theatre (latterly on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound), acting, writing and directing. Influenced by the French New Wave, he also wrote, produced and directed several unambitious indie movies. In 2018, Evans published an autobiographical book ("Fazkils") of recollections and reminiscences about family history, Hollywood and his battle with cancer.