- Born
- Died
- Birth nameEugene Barton Evans
- Height6′ 1½″ (1.87 m)
- Gene Evans was born in Holbrook, Arizona, on July 11, 1922, and was raised in Colton, California. He served in the Army during World War II as a combat engineer, and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for bravery in action. He began his acting career there, performing in a theatrical troupe of GIs in Europe. After the war, he went to Hollywood, where he made his film debut in 1947's Under Colorado Skies (1947). The rugged, red-headed character actor was a familiar face in such westerns as Cattle Queen of Montana (1954), The War Wagon (1967), Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969), The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970) and Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973). He also starred in the war films The Steel Helmet (1951) and Fixed Bayonets! (1951) and co-starred with future first lady Nancy Reagan (before she became Nancy Reagan) in Donovan's Brain (1953). His other major films include Park Row (1952), The Giant Behemoth (1959), Operation Petticoat (1959) and Walking Tall (1973). He became well known in the 1950s on television, playing the father in My Friend Flicka (1955). He remained active in films and television through the 1980s. Evans subsequently retired to a farm near Jackson, Tennessee. He was a popular guest at the Memphis Film Festival for the past decade.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Harris Lentz III
- SpousesMary Elaine Hert(August 14, 1968 - April 23, 1971) (her death)Patti Powers(January 14, 1956 - ?) (divorced)
- Served in the US Army during World War II, during which he received a Purple Heart for wounds received in battle and a Bronze Star for bravery.
- Although he often played tough, snarling sergeants, gunslingers or cops, in reality Evans had very poor eyesight and could barely see without his glasses. Only in Donovan's Brain (1953) did his character, a scientist, get to wear glasses, and Evans at the time remarked that it was a revelation for him to be able to actually see the actors he was working with.
- When director Samuel Fuller interviewed Evans for a part in The Steel Helmet (1951), the director had an M-1 carbine lying across his desk. Fuller threw the rifle at him and told him to "Rack it back," which he did. That was his audition, and Evans got the part.
- Right after The Steel Helmet (1951), was finished, director Samuel Fuller was flush with money. During a Christmas party at his house, invited guest Evans was certain he'd get something valuable. He was initially disappointed, though, that all he was given was the steel helmet with a bullet hole in it from the movie. Decades later film historian Arthur Knight staged a retrospective of Fuller's work at USC. Evans was invited to attend as a surprise guest unknown to Fuller. The two old friends had not seen each other for ten or 15 years at that point. When Evans returned the helmet to Fuller, the director was very touched and so moved that he couldn't even talk.
- Gene's parents owned a neighborhood grocery store in Colton, CA. called Evans Market.
- [on Samuel Fuller] Sammy was a funny guy to go around with. He could be in his own world; you know, in a fog about things other people found very normal.
- [on Ace in the Hole (1951)] It was beautifully done, but did not do well because it turned people off.
- I was never a movie star. A star's like the world champion, who fights once or twice a year because that's all he has to do. I was more like a club fighter, who had to fight at least once a month or he will starve to death.
- When [The Steel Helmet (1951)] came out with me in the leading role, Billy Wilder bumped into me at the studio and said, "You did it, you son of a gun--I knew you could or I never would have recommended you".
- There weren't a lot of redheaded people working in pictures. The cinematographers had a hell of a lot to say about things, and they liked guys with dark hair, eyes and skin because they photographed better in black-and-white . . . But one night a guy came to the theater and said, "I like your work and think I can get you work in pictures". I had a red beard and red hair, and Republic had just gone to Trucolor . . . they needed a guy for the part of Red in Under Colorado Skies (1947). It was a small part but I was paid $40 a day and I thought, "Where has this been all my life?"
- Fixed Bayonets! (1951) - $2,500 /week
- The Steel Helmet (1951) - $1,000
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