Who Is Robert Evans? Age, Biography and Wiki
Robert Evans, born on June 29, 1930, in New York City, was a prominent American film producer who left an indelible mark on Hollywood. He passed away on October 26, 2019, but his influence continues to be felt in the film industry, especially through the classic films he produced such as Chinatown and The Godfather. Evans was not just a producer; he was also an actor and a studio executive, known for his charismatic personality and exceptional talent in storytelling.
Occupation | Film Producer |
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Date of Birth | June 29, 1930 |
Age | 89 Years |
Birth Place | New York City, U.S. |
Horoscope | Cancer |
Country | U.S |
Date of death | 26 October, 2019 |
Died Place | Beverly Hills, California, U.S. |
Popularity
Robert Evans's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific measurements are less emphasized in regards to his professional contributions, Robert Evans was known for his striking looks during his youth, standing at approximately 6 feet tall. His charismatic presence was complemented by a well-maintained physique, typical of leading men in Hollywood during the height of his career.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Robert Evans had a complex personal life that included multiple marriages. He was married to actress Phyllis George from 1971 to 1974 and later wed actress Catherine Oxenberg in 1998. His relationships were often in the spotlight, and he was known to have dated several high-profile women throughout his lifetime. As of 2025, while Evans can't have a dating status due to his passing, his past relationships continue to be a topic of interest among fans and historians alike.
Evans began his career in a successful business venture with his brother Charles Evans, selling women's apparel. In 1956, while on a business trip, he was by chance spotted by actress Norma Shearer, who thought he would be right to play the role of her late husband Irving Thalberg in Man of a Thousand Faces (1957).
Thus he began a brief film acting career. In 1962, Evans went into film producing instead, using his accumulated wealth from the clothing business, and began a meteoric rise in the industry. He was made head of Paramount Pictures in 1967.
While there, he improved the ailing Paramount's fortunes through a string of commercially and critically acclaimed films. In 1974, he stepped down to produce films on his own. In 1980, Evans's career, and life, took a downturn after he pled guilty to cocaine trafficking.
Over the next 12 years, he produced only two films, both financial flops: The Cotton Club (1984) and the Chinatown sequel The Two Jakes (1990). In 1993, he produced films on a more regular basis, with a mixed track record that included both flops (such as Jade in 1995) and hits (such as How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days in 2003, his final film credit).
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his death, Robert Evans had an estimated net worth of around $100 million. His career spanned decades, and his contributions to the film industry included successful projects that garnered substantial box office returns. Despite the fluctuations in Hollywood earnings, his legacy as a talented producer has solidified his financial status.
Dissatisfied with his financial compensation and desiring to produce films under his own banner, Evans struck a deal with Paramount in 1972 that enabled him to stay on as executive vice president of worldwide production while also working as an independent producer on five films.
Other producers at Paramount felt this gave Evans an unfair advantage. After the huge critical and commercial success of the Evans-produced Chinatown, he stepped down as production chief, which enabled him to produce films on his own.
From 1976 to 1980, working as an independent producer, he continued his streak of successful films with Marathon Man, Black Sunday, Popeye and Urban Cowboy. After 1980, his film output became both more infrequent and less critically acclaimed. He produced only two films over the next twelve years: The Cotton Club and The Two Jakes.
From 1993 to 2003 he produced the films Sliver, Jade, The Phantom, The Saint, and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
Career, Business and Investments
Robert Evans began his career as an actor before transitioning to producing in the 1960s. He became the head of production at Paramount Pictures, where he produced some of the most iconic films of all time. His innovative approach to filmmaking and keen eye for talent allowed him to thrive in an industry that often favored conformity.
Beyond films, Evans ventured into various business investments, including real estate and book publishing, increasing his influence and financial success. His memoir, The Kid Stays in the Picture, was both a bestseller and a documentary that further solidified his legacy in the entertainment industry.
In his early years, he did promotional work for Evan-Picone, a fashion company founded by his brother Charles. After high school, he did a variety of voice work on radio. With a clear, deep voice as a teenager and a knack for foreign accents, by his estimation he performed in more than 300 radio shows before he turned 18. This included a leading role on The Aldrich Family situation comedy.
Social Network
Though Robert Evans was not active on social media during his lifetime, his influence remains strong in celebrity culture discussions and documentary features. His work is frequently celebrated in film retrospectives, and his name continues to trend on social media platforms whenever classic movies or Hollywood history are discussed.
Robert Evans (born Robert J. Shapera; June 29, 1930 – October 26, 2019) was an American film producer who worked on Rosemary's Baby (1968), Love Story (1970), The Godfather (1972), and Chinatown (1974).
Education
Robert Evans attended New York University but left before graduating to pursue a career in acting. His later experiences in the film industry served as the primary education that honed his skills in storytelling, production, and management. The lessons learned during his early years on the Hollywood lot equipped him with the unique perspective that would define his career.
As The Cotton Club film financing was being arranged, the 33-year-old Radin was murdered in 1983. Contract killer William Mentzer was among four people sentenced for shooting Radin multiple times in the head and using dynamite to make identification by authorities more challenging.
At the trial, Greenberger was convicted of second-degree murder and kidnapping. Her involvement was said to be over a fear of being cut out of a producer's role and potential profits from the film. As a result, the trial was dubbed the "Cotton Club" murder trial.