Richard Evans obit

Richard “Dick” Evans Dies: Familiar Face On Iconic ’60s & ’70s TV Shows Was 86

 

He was not on the list.

Richard “Dick” Evans, who was a staple of 1960s and ’70s television, died on October 2 of cancer, his family announced today. He was 86.

In his 40-year career, Evans played opposite Mia Farrow as a series regular on Peyton Place, acted opposite George C. Scott in Islands in the Stream and starred in Jack L. Warner’s final movie, Dirty Little Billy.

And he was ubiquitous on dozens of classic shows such as Star Trek, Gunsmoke, S.W.A.T., Bonanza, The Mod Squad, Quincy ME, The A-Team, Hart to Hart, Gunsmoke and Lou Grant.

Acting in films, theatre and television led Evans to writing, producing and directing a number of films including The Mystery of Howard Hangar, Harry Monument, Shadow of Rain and Shuffle & Cut (A Question for Godard).

His theatrical directing credits include Wings of the Termite, Sliding Dog, Cats in the L.A. River, Angel City, Glengarry Glen Ross, American Buffalo, True West, Crime X 2, Club Ded, Orphans and his one-person show Off the Wall–An Evening with Richard Evans. His most recent directorial credit for theater was Frost/Nixon at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts. (Evans and his family made their home on Whidbey Island in Washington for 32 years after decamping from Los Angeles.)

Evans was also a prolific artist and author. He wrote several books of fiction, non-fiction and poetry, including his autobiography Fazkills. His final book, completed shortly before his death, is Ploys, a collection of plays to be performed free of rental fees when staged as fundraisers for the homeless.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Jo (nee Neff) Evans, a former casting director; son Paul Evans; grand-daughters Sarah Evans Eastlick, Madalyn Evans Ettles and Rachel Evans Wilson. Richard was pre-deceased by his son Mitchell Evans and parents Paul and Gertrude (nee Perkins) Evans.

Actor (88 credits)

 2016 The Emperor of Time (Short)

Eadweard Muybridge

 2007 Shadow of Rain

Angelo

 2005 The Brief (TV Series)

Judge Goodrich

- Forever on the Mind (2005) ... Judge Goodrich

 1994 Madonna: Innocence Lost (TV Movie)

Lee's House Band

 1992 Between the Lines (TV Series)

Punter

- Lies and Damned Lies (1992) ... Punter

 1991 Going Under

Shipyard Worker

 1987 Deadly Care (TV Movie)

Jim

 1986 The A-Team (TV Series)

Jack Stein

- Wheel of Fortune (1986) ... Jack Stein

 1981 Hart to Hart (TV Series)

Lazlo

- A Couple of Harts (1981) ... Lazlo

 1980 Lou Grant (TV Series)

Walker

- Blackout (1980) ... Walker

 1979 Quincy M.E. (TV Series)

Colonel Flanders

- Sweet Land of Liberty (1979) ... Colonel Flanders

 1979 When Hell Was in Session (TV Movie)

Lt. Alec Vardis

 1979 How the West Was Won (TV Series)

Druey

- The Slavers (1979) ... Druey

 1974-1978 Barnaby Jones (TV Series)

Lester / Brother Love / Deputy Jeremy Carter / ...

- Blind Jeopardy (1978) ... Lester

- Run Away to Terror (1977) ... Brother Love

- A Gathering of Thieves (1974) ... Deputy Jeremy Carter

- The Deadly Jinx (1974) ... Buck

 1977 Islands in the Stream

Willy

 1975 S.W.A.T. (TV Series)

Arly

- Blind Man's Bluff (1975) ... Arly

 1975 Mannix (TV Series)

Victor Valdek

- Bird of Prey: Part 2 (1975) ... Victor Valdek

- Bird of Prey: Part 1 (1975) ... Victor Valdek

 1975 Cannon (TV Series)

Bert Kelly

- Coffin Corner (1975) ... Bert Kelly

 1974 The Nickel Ride

Bobby

 1974 The Magician (TV Series)

Jack Quinn

- The Illusion of the Evil Spikes (1974) ... Jack Quinn

 1974 Honky Tonk (TV Movie)

 1974 Lotsa Luck! (TV Series)

Eddie Felke

- Do Me a Favor (1974) ... Eddie Felke

 1973 Cry Rape (TV Movie)

Dr. Lang

 1972 Original: Do Not Project

Inmate

 1970-1972 The F.B.I. (TV Series)

Collie Sampson / James Tate

- The Outcast (1972)

- Incident in the Desert (1970) ... Collie Sampson

- The Diamond Millstone (1970) ... James Tate

 1972 Dirty Little Billy

Goldie

 1972 Welcome Home, Johnny Bristol (TV Movie)

Franks

 1970 Macho Callahan

Mulvey

 1965-1970 Bonanza (TV Series)

John Carter / Billy Wilcox / Ellis Watson

- What Are Pardners For? (1970) ... John Carter

- Dark Enough to See the Stars (1967) ... Billy Wilcox

- The Other Son (1965) ... Ellis Watson

 1970 Kapitän Harmsen (TV Series)

Jeff

- Besuch aus England (1970) ... Jeff

 1969 The New People (TV Series)

Steppenwolf

- The Pied Piper of Pot (1969) ... Steppenwolf

 1969 Lassie (TV Series)

Jeff Treat / Luke Roberts

- No Margin for Error (1969) ... Jeff Treat

- To Catch a Crow (1969) ... Luke Roberts (as Richard Evans)

 1969 Lancer (TV Series)

Olin

- Zee (1969) ... Olin

 1969 The Virginian (TV Series)

Tom Kabe

- A Flash of Darkness (1969) ... Tom Kabe

 1969 Insight (TV Series)

Jed

- Snow in Summer (1969) ... Jed

 1968 Mod Squad (TV Series)

Timmy Gregar

- Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Starlet (1968) ... Timmy Gregar

 1968 The Guns of Will Sonnett (TV Series)

Ben Harper

- Home Free (1968) ... Ben Harper

 1968 The High Chaparral (TV Series)

Chad Stoner

- The Hair Hunter (1968) ... Chad Stoner

 1968 Star Trek (TV Series)

Isak

- Patterns of Force (1968) ... Isak

 1968 The Big Valley (TV Series)

Seth Campbell Jr.

- Shadow of a Giant (1968) ... Seth Campbell Jr.

 1960-1967 Gunsmoke (TV Series)

William Cole / Austin Boyle / Ab Benteen / ...

- The Prodigal (1967) ... William Cole

- Death Watch (1966) ... Austin Boyle

- The Storm (1965) ... Ab Benteen

- Moo Moo Raid (1960) ... Pete

 1966 Iron Horse (TV Series)

Will Bemis

- Town Full of Fear (1966) ... Will Bemis

 1966 The Felony Squad (TV Series)

Ben Tyler

- Between Two Fires (1966) ... Ben Tyler

 1966 Shane (TV Series)

J.D. Spicer

- An Echo of Anger (1966) ... J.D. Spicer

 1966 Operation Razzle-Dazzle (TV Movie)

 1966 Preview Tonight (TV Series)

- Somewhere in Italy... Company B! (1966)

 1965 The Farmer's Daughter (TV Series)

Sonny

- A Sonny Honeymoon (1965) ... Sonny

 1965 Perry Mason (TV Series)

Larry Dunlap

- The Case of the Hasty Honeymooner (1965) ... Larry Dunlap

 1965 The Return of Mr. Moto

Chief Inspector Marlow

 1965 Peyton Place (TV Series)

Paul Hanley

- Episode #1.68 (1965) ... Paul Hanley

- Episode #1.67 (1965) ... Paul Hanley (uncredited)

- Episode #1.66 (1965) ... Paul Hanley (uncredited)

- Episode #1.64 (1965) ... Paul Hanley

- Episode #1.63 (1965) ... Paul Hanley

1965 Synanon

Hopper

 1964 The Fugitive (TV Series)

Miguel

- The Cage (1964) ... Miguel

 1964 Dr. Kildare (TV Series)

Derek Gaer

- Man Is a Rock (1964) ... Derek Gaer

 1964 The Lieutenant (TV Series)

Co-Pilot

- To Kill a Man (1964) ... Co-Pilot

 1964 Channing (TV Series)

Alan Woods

- Wave Goodbye to Our Fair-Haired Boy (1964) ... Alan Woods

 1964 Ben Casey (TV Series)

Jonathan Taylor

- The Sound of One Hand Clapping (1964) ... Jonathan Taylor

 1964 Mr. Novak (TV Series)

Charlie Payne

- The Exile (1964) ... Charlie Payne

 1963 Redigo (TV Series)

David 'Davy' Porter

- The Blooded Bull (1963) ... David 'Davy' Porter

 1963 Temple Houston (TV Series)

Roan Chevenix

- The Twisted Rope (1963) ... Roan Chevenix

 1963 Empire (TV Series)

Monte Clifford

- The Tiger Inside (1963) ... Monte Clifford

 1963 Stoney Burke (TV Series)

Jess Hagen

- Image of Glory (1963) ... Jess Hagen

 1962 Ripcord (TV Series)

Billy

- Day of the Hunter (1962) ... Billy

 1962 The Eleventh Hour (TV Series)

Bennett Norbert

- Hooray, Hooray the Circus Is Coming to Town (1962) ... Bennett Norbert

 1962 The Law and Mr. Jones (TV Series)

Ed Donner

- My Worthy Colleague (1962) ... Ed Donner (as Richard R. Evans)

 1960-1962 Lawman (TV Series)

Billy Deal / Pete Goff

- Sunday (1962) ... Billy Deal

- The Town Boys (1960) ... Pete Goff

 1962 The New Breed (TV Series)

Keith Blessing

- Edge of Violence (1962) ... Keith Blessing

 1960-1962 The Rifleman (TV Series)

Bruce Henry / Shep Coleman

- A Young Man's Fancy (1962) ... Bruce Henry

- Sins of the Father (1960) ... Shep Coleman

 1961-1962 Hennesey (TV Series)

Graff / Seaman Tierney

- The Man in the Crow's Nest (1962) ... Graff

- The Stutterer (1961) ... Seaman Tierney

 1961 Checkmate (TV Series)

Mitch

- Through a Dark Glass (1961) ... Mitch

 1961 Cheyenne (TV Series)

Gilby Collins

- The Young Fugitives (1961) ... Gilby Collins

 1961 Sea Hunt (TV Series)

Chaz - Young Diver

- The Meet (1961) ... Chaz - Young Diver

 1961 Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series)

Eph

- Image of a Drawn Sword (1961) ... Eph

 1961 Laramie (TV Series)

Len Dixson

- Two for the Gallows (1961) ... Len Dixson

 1961 Outlaws (TV Series)

Lucky Davis

- The Daltons Must Die: Part 1 (1961) ... Lucky Davis

 1959-1960 The Detectives (TV Series)

Phil / Phil Russo

- Razor's Edge (1960) ... Phil

- Back-Seat Driver (1959) ... Phil Russo

 1960 Bourbon Street Beat (TV Series)

Acey Camson

- Deadly Persuasion (1960) ... Acey Camson

 1959-1960 The Rebel (TV Series)

Tony Parlio / Ezel

- In Memory of a Son (1960) ... Tony Parlio

- The Scavengers (1959) ... Ezel

 1960 The Alaskans (TV Series)

Roy Stevenson

- A Barrel of Gold (1960) ... Roy Stevenson

 1958-1960 Death Valley Days (TV Series)

Chris Gaunt / Lije

- The Strangers (1960) ... Chris Gaunt

- The Mystery of Suicide Gulch (1958) ... Lije

 1960 Too Soon to Love

Jim Mills

 1959-1960 Bronco (TV Series)

Tim Willis / Wes Maxton

- Masquerade (1960) ... Tim Willis

- The Devil's Spawn (1959) ... Wes Maxton (as Dick Evans)

 1959/II Kidnapped

Ransome, the cabin boy (uncredited)

 1959 Sugarfoot (TV Series)

Gitano / Led Wilkes

- The Gitanos (1959) ... Gitano (uncredited)

- Wolf (1959) ... Led Wilkes (as Dick Evans)

 1959 African Patrol (TV Series)

Dumb-Dumb

- Man and Beast (1959) ... Dumb-Dumb

 1959 Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series)

Harry

- I'll Take Care of You (1959) ... Harry

 1958 Wagon Train (TV Series)

1st Son

- The Bije Wilcox Story (1958) ... 1st Son

 1958 Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series)

Indian Boy

- White Indian (1958) ... Indian Boy (as Dick Evans)

 1958 The Lineup (TV Series)

Beatty

- The G.I. Shoe Case (1958) ... Beatty (as Dick Evans)