Linda Evans , the iconic star of The Big Valley , appeared in
magazine multiple times across two decades. Her most notable features include: July 1971 Issue The Feature
: This was Evans' first appearance in the magazine. She was the cover subject and featured in a full nude pictorial. The Photographer : The photos were taken by her then-husband, director John Derek Background
: Evans later revealed that she agreed to the shoot to help Derek finance his film projects, including
starring a then-unknown Bo Derek. Despite the personal complications that followed, including their eventual divorce, Evans stated in a 2011 interview that she did not regret the shoot, as it helped revitalize her career and eventually led to her landing the role of Krystle Carrington on January 1982 Issue The Feature
: Evans appeared in a celebrity feature titled "John Derek's Wives".
: This issue showcased the women Derek had been married to and photographed, including Evans alongside Ursula Andress June 1986 Issue
Playboy January 1982 Ursula Andress, Linda Evans, Bo Derek - eBay
Linda Evans , best known for her iconic role as Krystle Carrington on Dynasty, appeared in Playboy magazine's July 1971 issue. The photo shoot has a unique history, as the images were originally taken for personal use by her then-husband, photographer and actor John Derek. Feature Highlights
The 1971 Debut: Evans agreed to publish the intimate photos to help her husband fund a film project during a period of financial difficulty. She has stated she has no regrets about the decision, noting that the exposure helped shape her career trajectory. linda evans playboy photos
Republication: Due to her massive popularity on Dynasty, Playboy republished the photos in 1982 and again in June 1986.
Photography Style: The July 1971 feature was shot by John Derek, known for his distinct cinematic and romantic photography style. Where to Find Issues & Memorabilia
Collectors can find original issues and related memorabilia through various online marketplaces: Linda Evans Playboy Photos - Etsy
Report: Overview of Linda Evans' Playboy Appearances This report summarizes the history and context of actress Linda Evans' appearances in Playboy magazine. Best known for her role as Krystle Carrington on the 1980s soap opera Dynasty, Evans’ involvement with the publication spanned several decades, primarily driven by her personal relationship with her first husband, John Derek. 1. Primary Appearances
July 1971 Issue: Evans first appeared in the July 1971 issue. The photographs were taken by her husband at the time, actor and photographer John Derek.
June 1986 Issue: At the height of her Dynasty fame, Evans appeared in the June 1986 issue. This issue often features her alongside other celebrities of the era, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and included nude pictorials. 2. Motivation and Context
Financial Necessity: Evans has stated that she never originally intended for the photos—which Derek took as private portraits—to be published. However, when Derek faced financial difficulties while trying to fund a new film project in 1971, Evans agreed to sell the photos to Playboy to support his career.
No Regrets: In later interviews, Evans expressed that she had no regrets about the pictorials, noting that the exposure helped define her career trajectory and stating, "They made me who I am today". 3. Content and Legacy
Photography Style: The photos are frequently described as "intimate shots" taken by John Derek, who was known for his highly stylized photography of his wives (including Ursula Andress and Bo Derek). Linda Evans , the iconic star of The
Collectibility: Copies of the July 1971 and June 1986 issues remain popular items in the memorabilia market, often sold through platforms like eBay and Etsy. Classic Retrovision Milestones - Facebook
Linda Evans , best known for her role as Krystle Carrington on the TV series Dynasty, appeared in Playboy magazine twice: once in the early 1970s and again in the mid-1980s. History of Appearances
July 1971 (Volume 18, Issue 7): Evans first posed for a nude pictorial at the behest of her then-husband, director and photographer John Derek. These photos were originally taken for personal use, but Evans agreed to their publication to help fund a film project Derek was working on.
June 1982: After Evans achieved massive stardom on Dynasty, Playboy reprinted her 1971 pictorial.
June 1986: Evans appeared on the cover of this issue, which also featured a pictorial titled "The Prime Time of Linda Evans". Content and Context PLAYBOY MAGAZINE July 1971 - John Cassavetes; Woody Allen
PLAYBOY MAGAZINE July 1971 - John Cassavetes; Woody Allen; Linda Evans; Vargas.
Feature Article: The Unveiling of a Dynasty How Linda Evans’ Decision to Pose for Playboy in 1971 Redefined Her Career and Cemented Her Status as a Television Icon
It was 1971, and Linda Evans was on top of the world. As Krystle Carrington, she was the beating heart of the decade’s biggest television phenomenon, Dynasty. Yet, the image of the polished, diamond-clad wife of a Denver oil tycoon was not the first introduction audiences had to Evans' beauty. A decade prior, before the shoulder pads and the catfights, Evans made a bold decision that would forever alter the trajectory of her career: she posed for Playboy magazine.
In an era where the line between "serious actress" and "glamour model" was drawn with indelible ink, Evans’ photoshoot was a gamble. But looking back, it stands as a defining moment of empowerment, proving that a woman could own her sexuality and still be taken seriously as an artist. It was 1971, and Linda Evans was on top of the world
The immediate reaction was a mix of shock and admiration. While some agents worried she had "ruined" her image, the public disagreed. The spread demonstrated that Evans possessed a confidence and allure that went far beyond the ranches of The Big Valley.
This transition was pivotal. By shedding the constraints of her earlier typecasting, Evans opened the door to more mature roles. She starred in films and television movies throughout the 1970s, but the true vindication of her choice came in 1981.
When Aaron Spelling cast her in Dynasty, the world was ready for a mature, complex Linda Evans. The show didn't shy away from her beauty; it weaponized it. The hourglass figures and high fashion of Dynasty were a natural evolution of the glamour she had first embraced in that 1971 photoshoot. Had she remained trapped in the "innocent girl" box, it is unlikely she could have commanded the screen with the gravitas required to play Krystle Carrington opposite John Forsythe and Joan Collins.
By 1991, Linda Evans was 48 years old. In Hollywood, that is traditionally the age where leading ladies are shuffled off to "mom" roles or character parts. Dynasty had ended its run in 1989, and Evans—like many stars of the era—was trying to figure out what came next.
The Playboy shoot was a gamble. At the time, the public gasped. Here was America’s classy, conservative soap queen posing for the same magazine that featured centerfolds. Critics called it desperate. Tabloids ran headlines about a "midlife crisis."
The immediate reaction was mixed. Some Dynasty fans felt betrayed; they didn’t want to see Krystle Carrington without her signature diamond chokers. However, the issue sold out rapidly, proving that the public was, in fact, curious.
Looking back through a modern lens, Evans’ Playboy shoot feels oddly ahead of its time. Today, we have Instagram models and OnlyFans creators over 50 owning their sexuality without apology. We have the "Hot Girl Walk" for all ages. In 1991, a 48-year-old woman celebrating her body was considered a scandal. Today, it’s a trend.
Evans herself later reflected on the shoot with mixed feelings. In her memoir, Recipes for Life: My Memories, she noted that while she doesn’t regret the photos, she wishes she had understood the long tail of the internet—that those images would follow her forever in a way a magazine wouldn’t.