Arlene Evenstad: What Happened To Linda Evans’ Mother?

Arlene Evenstad is the mother of American actress, speaker, and author Linda Evans. Arlene’s daughter Linda is known primarily for her roles on television. For her portrayal of Krystle Carrington in Dynasty, Linda won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Drama Series and was subsequently nominated every year from 1982 to 1985. She has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Arlene Evenstad: Bio Summary

Who Was Linda Evans’ Mother, Arlene Evenstad?

Arlene Evenstad (née Dart) also known as Arleen Cecilia Dart Evenstad was a professional dancer who is famous as the mother of actress Linda Evans born Linda Evenstad. Arlene was welcomed into the world on the 17th of April 1917, in Moorhead, Clay County, Minnesota, USA. She was born to her parents Fredrick Allen Malcolm Dart and Viola Mary Dart.

Whether Arlene Evenstad was the only child of her parents or not is unknown. She was married to Alba Evenstad who was also a professional dancer. They are said to have married on 2 January 1939, in Moorhead, Clay, Minnesota, United States. Arlene and her husband Alba had three children, all girls. Their daughters are Carol Davidson, Linda Evenstad (Linda Evans), and Kathy Evenstad.

Arlene Evenstad and her family moved from Hartford to North Hollywood. Her husband Alba passed away in 1958. Arlene loved and cared for her family. She was a great cook and she handed down some recipes to her daughter Linda Evans who included them in her memoir, “Recipes for Life.” Speaking of her mother’s hotdog stew recipe, Linda said:

“The thing is when I was young, my father died when I was 15 and we didn’t have a lot of money and mom was very clever in how she would cook and that’s also why I wanted to do this book where it had recipes that were simple, not expensive and tasty as well as complex as well as expensive. So I’ve given something about everything I’ve learned about food for the last forty years.”

“The hotdog stew recipe shocks people because when they actually make it and try and use fancy chicken hotdogs or you know the things that aren’t old fashioned hotdogs, it has so much flavor when you put the tomatoes in it and the peppers and onions and everything, you can’t believe it. You can’t have any left over, people just adore it.”

ALSO, READ: Alba Evenstad: How Did Linda Evans’ Father Die?

Arlene Evenstad lived a low-key life. Her daughter Linda Evans is an actress. She played Audra Barkley in the Western television series The Big Valley (1965–1969) and Krystle Carrington in the 1980s ABC primetime soap opera Dynasty, a role she played from 1981 to 1989. She “became one of the most celebrated female television stars of the 1980s,” per her website.

Linda has several fans not just for her performance as an actress but also for her looks and personal life. “She has dined with queens and presidents, been romanced by the rich and famous, and today, what Linda treasures most is the wisdom she has gained along the way” her website reveals. She has been married and divorced twice.

Linda Evans’ first marriage was to John Derek, an actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and photographer. Linda and John’s marriage lasted from 1968 to 1974. They had no children. Her second marriage was to Stan Herman, a property executive. This marriage lasted from July 4, 1975, to 1979. They had no children.

Apart from her two marriages, Linda has been involved in other romantic relationships. Speaking of her single life, Linda told Closer Weekly in 2021 when she was asked if she is dating: “No. And you know why? Because I am so happy. I never knew being alone could be so delightful. I’m rich because I have family and friends living all around me. My sister is on one side.”

“My nephew is on the other. One of my dearest friends just moved one block away. We don’t have to have a man, to be happy — not that you couldn’t be with a man — but I’m just happy.”

ALSO, READ: Carol Davidson: Where Is Linda Evans’ Sister Now?

What Happened To Linda Evans’ Mother?

Arlene Evenstad died on 16 October 1970, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States, at the age of 53, and was buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States. Her husband Alba Evenstad also died at age 53, on 24 June 1958, in Los Angeles County, California, USA.