What happened to Joan Evans?

Joan Evans, a shining star from Hollywood’s Golden Era and the chosen goddaughter of Joan Crawford, passed away on October 21. She was 89 years old.

Her death in Henderson, Nevada, was confirmed by her son, John Weatherly, although the cause remains unspecified. Known for her role in “On the Loose,” Evans was the offspring of notable screenwriters Dale Eunson and Katherine Albert. The latter also wore the hat of a journalist, penning numerous articles about her daughter, thus playing a pivotal role in shaping Evans’ career.

Taking her first steps in the cinematic world, Evans inked a contract with Samuel Goldwyn at the tender age of 14. However, a traumatic incident occurred during the filming of “Roseanna McCoy” in 1949. A misfired gunshot wounded her arm, necessitating urgent surgery and a hospital stay.

Born on July 18, 1934, in New York, Evans’ life was as captivating off-screen as on. On the day of her 18th birthday, right after the clock struck midnight, she wed Kirby Weatherly. Recalling an amusing incident, Evans once mentioned, “The head of publicity at Goldwyn told me, ‘Joan, whatever you do, don’t surprise me with a midnight marriage announcement.’ So, at midnight, that’s precisely what I did.”

This union caused a rift between her and her parents, leading to a permanent estrangement. Joan and Kirby Weatherly’s bond remained unbroken until his demise earlier this year on January 1.