Bonnie and Clyde star and widow of acclaimed director John Frankenheimer passes away at 91

Evans Evans in Bonnie and Clyde
-Credit: (Image: No credit)


Evans Evans has passed away at the age of 91, with her obituary confirming her death on June 16, 2024, though the cause pf death has not been shared.

The Hollywood star is remembered by many for her iconic role in the classic film Bonnie and Clyde, where she portrayed the kidnap victim Velma Davis. Evans was also the other half of late director John Frankenheimer, having married him on December 13, 1963 as his third wife.

She appeared in his movies Grand Prix and Dead Bang, with the acclaimed director passing away back in July 2002. Evans, who was born in 1932 in West Virginia and lived in Sherman Oaks, California until her death, began her career with television appearances on shows like The Donna Reed Show, Wagon Train, Death Valley Days, Twilight Zone, and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

While she also performed on stage, appearing in Broadway performance The Dark at the Top of the Stairs back in 1957 as character Flirt Conroy.

With tributes now pouring in for the star, a Facebook fan fondly remembered her, posting: "RIP - met her at the USA Film Festival the year of our Frankenheimer tribute, she was lovely (and quite amused when I told her that my Vandy film professor Bob Baldwin told us that he had once dated her)."

The fan added a cheeky note, saying her reaction made them "to wonder if [her relationship with Bob Baldwin] had happened more than once."

Frank Sinatra With director John Frankenheimer
Frank Sinatra With director John Frankenheimer

Evans achieved her breakthrough role in the iconic film Bonnie and Clyde, starring alongside Gene Wilder in the iconic flick, with Gene playing the character of Eugene in the motion picture. In a memorable scene, they were caught mid-smooch when they spotted thieves trying to steal Eugene's car.

The duo made a dash to scare off the culprits. But their plan went pear-shaped and just as they were about to retreat, they were nabbed by Bonnie, Clyde, and the notorious Barrow Gang.