Born Linda Evenstad on November 18, 1942, in Hartford, Connecticut, Evans was raised in a Norwegian-American family and later moved to North Hollywood, California. She began acting in the early 1960s after studying drama and appearing in guest roles on various television series. While she also worked in television films and limited theatrical releases, long-running TV roles remained her primary focus.

After Dynasty ended, Evans stepped back from regular acting and chose a quieter life away from Hollywood. She later published the memoir Recipes for Life and won Hell’s Kitchen UK in 2009. Now living privately in the Pacific Northwest, Evans has spoken about prioritizing well-being, while her television legacy remains widely recognized.