Robert Evans was a prominent American film producer, widely recognized for his significant contributions to some of Hollywood's most acclaimed films. His notable works, spanning the late 1960s and early 1970s, include the iconic horror film "Rosemary's Baby" (1968), the deeply moving romantic drama "Love Story" (1970), the critically acclaimed crime saga "The Godfather" (1972), and the neo-noir masterpiece "Chinatown" (1974).
1926: Birth of Charles Evans
Robert Evans's brother, Charles Evans, was born in 1926.
June 29, 1930: Birth of Robert Evans
Robert J. Shapera, later known as Robert Evans, was born on June 29, 1930.
November 6, 1956: Discovery at The Beverly Hills Hotel
On November 6, 1956, Robert Evans was spotted by actress Norma Shearer at The Beverly Hills Hotel, which led to his film debut.
1956: Norma Shearer Discovers Robert Evans
During a business trip in 1956, Robert Evans was spotted by actress Norma Shearer, who saw in him the potential to portray her late husband, Irving Thalberg.
1957: Film Debut in "Man of a Thousand Faces"
Robert Evans made his film debut in 1957, portraying Irving Thalberg in "Man of a Thousand Faces."
1957: Casting in "The Sun Also Rises"
Robert Evans was cast as Pedro Romero in the 1957 film adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises," despite objections from Ava Gardner and Hemingway himself.
1959: Appearance in "The Best of Everything"
Robert Evans appeared in "The Best of Everything" alongside Hope Lange, Diane Baker, and Joan Crawford in 1959.
1961: Marriage to Sharon Hugueny
Robert Evans married actress Sharon Hugueny in 1961.
1962: Transition to Film Production
Leveraging his wealth from the clothing business, Robert Evans transitioned from acting to film production in 1962.
1962: Divorce from Sharon Hugueny
Robert Evans's marriage to Sharon Hugueny ended in 1962.
1964: Marriage to Camilla Sparv
Robert Evans married actress Camilla Sparv in 1964.
1966: Purchase of Rights to "The Detective"
In 1966, Robert Evans purchased the rights to the novel "The Detective," taking a significant step towards becoming a film producer.
1967: Divorce from Camilla Sparv
Robert Evans's marriage to Camilla Sparv ended in divorce in 1967.
1967: Appointed Head of Paramount Pictures
Robert Evans's meteoric rise in Hollywood culminated in his appointment as the head of Paramount Pictures in 1967.
1968: Release of "The Detective"
Robert Evans produced "The Detective," starring Frank Sinatra and a stellar cast, in 1968.
1968: Release of "Rosemary's Baby"
Robert Evans produced the critically acclaimed horror film "Rosemary's Baby" in 1968.
1969: Marriage to Ali MacGraw
Robert Evans married actress Ali MacGraw in 1969.
1970: Release of "Love Story"
Robert Evans produced the romantic drama "Love Story" in 1970, achieving both commercial and critical success.
1972: Independent Production Deal with Paramount
Robert Evans negotiated a deal with Paramount in 1972, allowing him to produce films independently while remaining an executive.
1972: Release of "The Godfather"
Robert Evans produced "The Godfather" in 1972, a critically acclaimed masterpiece that became a landmark achievement in cinema.
1973: Divorce from Ali MacGraw
Robert Evans's marriage to Ali MacGraw ended in 1973.
1974: Steps Down as Head of Paramount Pictures
After a successful tenure, Robert Evans decided to step down as the head of Paramount Pictures in 1974 to focus on independent film production.
1974: Release of "Chinatown"
Robert Evans further cemented his legacy in Hollywood by producing the neo-noir masterpiece "Chinatown" in 1974.
1976: Start of Independent Production Streak
Between 1976 and 1980, Robert Evans, as an independent producer, delivered a string of successful films, including "Marathon Man," "Black Sunday," "Popeye," and "Urban Cowboy."
1977: Marriage to Phyllis George
Robert Evans married former Miss America Phyllis George in 1977.
1978: Divorce from Phyllis George
Robert Evans's marriage to Phyllis George was short-lived, ending in divorce in 1978.
1980: Cocaine Trafficking Conviction
Robert Evans was convicted of cocaine trafficking in 1980 and entered a guilty plea for a misdemeanor.
1980: Guilty Plea in Cocaine Trafficking Case
Robert Evans's life and career took a downturn in 1980 when he pled guilty to cocaine trafficking charges.
1982: Charles Evans Produces "Tootsie"
Charles Evans, Robert's brother, was involved in producing the comedy classic "Tootsie" in 1982.
1983: Alice Shure Produces "Without a Trace"
Robert Evans's sister, Alice Shure, was an associate producer on the mystery film "Without a Trace" in 1983.
1983: Murder of Roy Radin
Roy Radin, who was involved in financing "The Cotton Club," was murdered in 1983, leading to a sensational trial that implicated individuals connected to the film.
1984: Release of "The Cotton Club"
Robert Evans produced "The Cotton Club" in 1984, marking his return to film production after a period of legal troubles, but the film unfortunately flopped.
1988: Charles Evans Produces "Monkey Shines"
Charles Evans produced the horror film "Monkey Shines" in 1988.
May 1989: Robert Evans Invokes Fifth Amendment
Robert Evans, following his lawyer's advice, invoked the Fifth Amendment during a preliminary hearing in May 1989 in connection with the Roy Radin murder case.
1990: Release of "The Two Jakes"
Robert Evans produced "The Two Jakes," a sequel to "Chinatown," in 1990, but it failed to replicate the success of its predecessor.
1991: Testimony of Karen Greenberger
During her 1991 trial, Karen Greenberger, who was convicted in the Roy Radin murder case, claimed that Robert Evans was not involved.
1993: Robert Evans's New York Times Interview
Robert Evans gave an interview to The New York Times in 1993.
1993: Resurgence of Film Production
Robert Evans ramped up his film production activities in 1993, experiencing both successes and failures.
1994: Interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer
In a 1994 interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Robert Evans expressed his frustration over the lasting impact of his cocaine trafficking conviction on his public image.
1995: Charles Evans Produces "Showgirls"
Charles Evans was involved in producing the controversial film "Showgirls" in 1995.
1995: Release of "Jade"
Robert Evans produced the erotic thriller "Jade" in 1995, which unfortunately flopped at the box office.
May 6, 1998: Robert Evans Suffers Stroke at Wes Craven Dinner Party
On May 6, 1998, during a dinner party held in honor of director Wes Craven, Robert Evans experienced a major health scare. While delivering a toast, Evans suffered a stroke and was immediately transported to the nearby Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. His condition was so severe that he flatlined in the ambulance, only to be resuscitated. Unfortunately, this was only the first of three consecutive strokes that left Evans paralyzed on his right side and completely unable to speak.
1998: Annulment of Marriage to Catherine Oxenberg
Robert Evans's marriage to Catherine Oxenberg in 1998 was annulled after just nine days.
2002: Marriage to Leslie Ann Woodward
Robert Evans married Leslie Ann Woodward in 2002.
2003: Voice Acting in "Kid Notorious"
Robert Evans lent his voice to his animated counterpart in the 2003 series "Kid Notorious."
2003: Release of "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days"
Robert Evans produced the romantic comedy "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" in 2003, marking his last film credit.
2004: Host of "In Bed with Robert Evans"
Robert Evans hosted the Sirius Satellite Radio show "In Bed with Robert Evans" in 2004.
2004: Divorce from Leslie Ann Woodward
Robert Evans's marriage to Leslie Ann Woodward ended in 2004.
August 2005: Marriage to Victoria White
Robert Evans married his seventh wife, Victoria White O'Gara, in August 2005.
June 16, 2006: Divorce from Victoria White
Robert Evans's seventh marriage to Victoria White ended in divorce on June 16, 2006, due to irreconcilable differences.
2007: Death of Charles Evans
Robert Evans's brother, Charles Evans, passed away in 2007.
2009: Film and TV Projects in Development
In 2009, Robert Evans was involved in discussions to produce a film about John DeLorean and an HBO miniseries titled "The Devil and Sidney Korshak."
2013: Evans Adapts and Returns to Producing
By 2013, while still dealing with the effects of the 1998 stroke, Evans had returned to producing. To manage his limited mobility, he began using a cane for shorter walks.
July 2019: End of Contract with Paramount
Paramount did not renew its contract with Robert Evans Productions in July 2019, marking the end of a long-standing relationship.
October 26, 2019: Death of Robert Evans
American film producer Robert Evans passed away on October 26, 2019.