Obituary for Richard Rodell Evans
Richard Evans
January 23, 1935 ~ October 2, 2021
Richard Evans, actor, artist, writer, director and producer, changed locations on October 2, 2021, leaving a prodigious body of work and a community where he was beloved.
Born Richard Rodell Evans, January 23, 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri, he was the only child of Paul Lawrence Evans and Gertrude Emma Perkins. Richard spent his early years in Japan, where his parents taught at the American Embassy School. They next lived for a time in California then moved to Ohio where his father taught math at Kent State University and his mother started a school for children with disabilities.
At age 16, Richard met Madalyn ”Jo” Neff, and began a relationship that lasted 70 years. They married young and, in 1951, moved to California, to an area Richard enjoyed in his youth. When Richard’s parents retired, they moved West to join them.
One of Richard’s early jobs was at Hughes Aircraft, where his boss noticed his propensity for talking and his enthusiastic energy; he suggested Richard get involved in a local theater group. His performances quickly caught the attention of a talent agency, which was the beginning of a 33-year career in Hollywood with over 200 film and TV roles.
Richard’s movie roles included parts in Jack L. Warner’s final film, Dirty Little Billy, The Nickel Ride, Too Soon to Love, and Islands in the Stream. His television appearances included Star Trek, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Mod Squad, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Mr Novak, Hart to Hart, and Mannix, and an ensemble role on the Peyton Place series.
His acting on stage, TV and film lead him to create a breadth of original works, including the film, Toys on a Field of Blue, a powerful 20-minute anti-war film that starred his two young sons, Mitchell and Paul.
Richard wrote and produced two plays in Los Angeles: “Sliding Dog” and “Cats in the LA River.” He was also struck by the art bug. Starting in Glendale California with a neighborhood gallery in their three-car garage, the Richard Evans Gallery soon opened in a beautiful storefront on Glendale Blvd. But the business never caught fire, and so …
After Jo retired as a commercial casting director, the couple moved to Whidbey Island, where Richard found his perfect niche among people who were open, friendly, and creative – excited to be in his wildly idiosyncratic plays and films. Here in the Pacific Northwest, Richard wrote, directed, and produced two musicals (Wings Of The Termite and Club DED) and a succession of films: Harry Monument, Shadow of Rain, Shuffle and Cut, Original Do Not Project, The Mystery of Howard Hanger, Varner Rides Again, and Eurydice Meets the Air Conditioned Man. He also directed several local plays including, Angel City, Glengarry Glen Ross, American Buffalo, True West, Crime x 2, Orphans, Frost/Nixon, and his one-person show, Off the Wall: An Evening with Richard Evans.
Back in his own garage again (this time in Clinton), Richard delighted in creating art from found objects repurposed into whimsical and thought-provoking pieces, expressing his quirky sense of humor and love of wordplay. The Bayview Front Room Gallery held several of his art shows.
In the last four years, as he battled cancer, Richard never stopped creating. He wrote 10 books, including a memoir, Fazkils and 9 books of poetry and prose.
In keeping with the essence of his creative spirit, Richard resonated with the quote: “Nepantla — not a safe space but a magical place, a place for Transformation.”
Richard Evans was proceeded in death by his son, Mitchell Conrad Evans. He is survived by his wife, Jo Evans; son Paul Anthony Evans; grand daughters Sarah Evans (Aaron Eastlick), Madalyn Evans Ettles (Joey), and Rachel Evans Wilson (Geoff ); two nephews, Rick and Tom Clifford, and niece Mary Piller. He also leaves behind many, many friends , who he cherished.
Please no flowers at this time.
January 23, 1935 ~ October 2, 2021
Richard Evans, actor, artist, writer, director and producer, changed locations on October 2, 2021, leaving a prodigious body of work and a community where he was beloved.
Born Richard Rodell Evans, January 23, 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri, he was the only child of Paul Lawrence Evans and Gertrude Emma Perkins. Richard spent his early years in Japan, where his parents taught at the American Embassy School. They next lived for a time in California then moved to Ohio where his father taught math at Kent State University and his mother started a school for children with disabilities.
At age 16, Richard met Madalyn ”Jo” Neff, and began a relationship that lasted 70 years. They married young and, in 1951, moved to California, to an area Richard enjoyed in his youth. When Richard’s parents retired, they moved West to join them.
One of Richard’s early jobs was at Hughes Aircraft, where his boss noticed his propensity for talking and his enthusiastic energy; he suggested Richard get involved in a local theater group. His performances quickly caught the attention of a talent agency, which was the beginning of a 33-year career in Hollywood with over 200 film and TV roles.
Richard’s movie roles included parts in Jack L. Warner’s final film, Dirty Little Billy, The Nickel Ride, Too Soon to Love, and Islands in the Stream. His television appearances included Star Trek, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Mod Squad, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Mr Novak, Hart to Hart, and Mannix, and an ensemble role on the Peyton Place series.
His acting on stage, TV and film lead him to create a breadth of original works, including the film, Toys on a Field of Blue, a powerful 20-minute anti-war film that starred his two young sons, Mitchell and Paul.
Richard wrote and produced two plays in Los Angeles: “Sliding Dog” and “Cats in the LA River.” He was also struck by the art bug. Starting in Glendale California with a neighborhood gallery in their three-car garage, the Richard Evans Gallery soon opened in a beautiful storefront on Glendale Blvd. But the business never caught fire, and so …
After Jo retired as a commercial casting director, the couple moved to Whidbey Island, where Richard found his perfect niche among people who were open, friendly, and creative – excited to be in his wildly idiosyncratic plays and films. Here in the Pacific Northwest, Richard wrote, directed, and produced two musicals (Wings Of The Termite and Club DED) and a succession of films: Harry Monument, Shadow of Rain, Shuffle and Cut, Original Do Not Project, The Mystery of Howard Hanger, Varner Rides Again, and Eurydice Meets the Air Conditioned Man. He also directed several local plays including, Angel City, Glengarry Glen Ross, American Buffalo, True West, Crime x 2, Orphans, Frost/Nixon, and his one-person show, Off the Wall: An Evening with Richard Evans.
Back in his own garage again (this time in Clinton), Richard delighted in creating art from found objects repurposed into whimsical and thought-provoking pieces, expressing his quirky sense of humor and love of wordplay. The Bayview Front Room Gallery held several of his art shows.
In the last four years, as he battled cancer, Richard never stopped creating. He wrote 10 books, including a memoir, Fazkils and 9 books of poetry and prose.
In keeping with the essence of his creative spirit, Richard resonated with the quote: “Nepantla — not a safe space but a magical place, a place for Transformation.”
Richard Evans was proceeded in death by his son, Mitchell Conrad Evans. He is survived by his wife, Jo Evans; son Paul Anthony Evans; grand daughters Sarah Evans (Aaron Eastlick), Madalyn Evans Ettles (Joey), and Rachel Evans Wilson (Geoff ); two nephews, Rick and Tom Clifford, and niece Mary Piller. He also leaves behind many, many friends , who he cherished.
Please no flowers at this time.