PRODUCER · BORN 1930 · DIED 2019
Robert Evans
- Born
- 29 June 1930, New York City, New York, USA
- Died
- 26 October 2019
- Known for
- The Godfather (1972)
20 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Robert Evans (29 June 1930 – 26 October 2019) was a producer best known for The Godfather.
20 Interesting Facts About Robert Evans
Interesting Facts (6)
- #001
Robert Vaughn's character in Blake Edwards's 1981 satire S.O.B. was inspired by Robert Evans, a measure of his status as one of Hollywood's legendary figures.
- #002
As Paramount's head of production, Robert Evans delivered huge hits like Love Story (1970) and The Godfather (1972) but got no share of their profits, so he persuaded Charlie Bluhdorn, chairman of Paramount's parent company Gulf+Western, to let him produce films himself. Having turned the studio from a money-loser into Hollywood's most envied, he had Bluhdorn's trust, and the deal let him produce the neo-noir classic Chinatown (1974).
Robert Evans: behind the scenesImage: Wikimedia Commons · NBC Television, Public domain - #003
According to Robert Evans's autobiography, Sharon Tate had invited him to her home the night she was murdered, but he couldn't go, so she invited Jay Sebring instead, a tragedy Evans deeply regretted.
- #004
Henry Kissinger was a frequent VIP guest at Robert Evans's mansion, where he played tennis with champion Jimmy Connors, a sign of how far Evans's social circle reached beyond film into politics and sport.
Robert Evans: portraitImage: Wikimedia Commons · European Parliament Multimedia Centre, European Parliament - #005
Robert Evans went to Super Bowl X at the Miami Orange Bowl with Raquel Welch, while eleven cameras filmed the live crowd and game footage for Black Sunday (1977), a bold and innovative move.
- #006
In 1967, Robert Evans went to the first Super Bowl with his friend Clint Eastwood.
Behind the Scenes (5)
- #007
Robert Evans's older brother, Charles Evans, founded the women's clothing brand Evan-Picone. This brand provided a large part of Robert's financial resources and gave him the opportunity to advance in Hollywood as an independent producer. His brother's success in business allowed Robert to focus on his film career.
- #008
Robert Evans had a son named Josh Evans from his marriage to Ali MacGraw. Josh Evans followed in his father's footsteps, working as both an actor and a director. The father and son stood out as two important figures representing different generations of Hollywood.
- #009
Throughout his career, Robert Evans turned down many major productions. He declined offers to produce box-office hits such as Airport (1970), The French Connection (1971) and Jaws (1975).
- #010
Robert Evans's parents were Archie and Florence Shapera. His father, Archie, ran one of the country's first racially integrated dental clinics. This shows the social awareness and progressive views of Evans's family. The environment in which Evans grew up contributed to his later development of an outlook in Hollywood that was open to different cultures.
- #011
Robert Evans's seventh wife, Lady Victoria White, filed for divorce on June 16, 2006, citing irreconcilable differences. The marriage can be seen as an indication of instability in Evans's personal life. Evans's repeated marriages and divorces reflect the difficulties in his personal life.
Characters & Cast (1)
- #012
Stanley Motss, Dustin Hoffman's character in Wag the Dog (1997), was based on Robert Evans: Hoffman copied his work habits, mannerisms, quirks, dress sense and hairstyle down to the big square-framed glasses. After seeing the film, Evans reportedly said of himself, "I'm magnificent in this movie!"
Deeper Meaning (1)
- #013
Robert Evans's luxurious Beverly Hills mansion, "Woodland," once belonged to screen legend Greta Garbo.
Career & Awards (3)
- #014
Robert Evans survived three near-fatal strokes, yet kept working and remained one of Hollywood's legends.
- #015
According to producer David Brown's autobiography, his partner Richard D. Zanuck offered Evans the lead in Lawrence of Arabia (1962) as a practical joke.
- #016
Robert Evans was offered Monroe Stahr in The Last Tycoon (1976), a character inspired by Irving Thalberg, but turned it down; curiously, he had started his film career playing Thalberg.
Life & Family (4)
- #017
Robert Evans was named in, but never charged over, the so-called "Cotton Club murder." As producer of The Cotton Club (1984), he had dealt with theater impresario Roy Radin as a potential investor, and his name came up in the investigation into Radin's killing, one of the most controversial chapters of his career.
- #018
Robert Evans's 1998 marriage to Catherine Oxenberg lasted just ten days, one of many marriages and divorces in an eventful private life.
- #019
Robert Evans's son Josh and his wife, singer Roxy Saint, had a son, Jackson, in 2010.
- #020
Robert Evans had a sister named Alice, though little else is known about his family.
Related pages
- The Winds of War — Robert Evans comes up in the facts on that page
- Jack Lemmon — Robert Evans comes up in the facts on that page
- Roman Polanski — Robert Evans comes up in the facts on that page
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Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work