Evelyn Finley

Crew · Acting

Born March 11, 1916, Douglas, Arizona, USA

Evelyn Ruth Finley was known as the most accomplished stunt rider in the western genre. Famous director William A. Wellman was one of many who regarded her as the best in the business. She worked with horses from early childhood and grew up a tomboy on her father's ranch. Her dad had promised 'to put her into pictures', but how she eventually arrived in Hollywood is unclear. Winning a beauty contest as 'Miss Albuquerque' might have helped. The year was 1936 and her first picture was as stunt double to Jean Parker. By 1940, Evelyn was under contract at Monogram where her skills in the saddle quickly promoted her to leading lady opposite the likes of Tex Ritter, Tom Keene, Johnny Mack Brown and Buster Crabbe. As blonde Eve Anderson, she got to star in one of the last serials made at Columbia, Perils of the Wilderness (1956). However, Evelyn preferred the stunt work to acting, often doubling on horseback for glamorous stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Loretta Young. She remained involved in her area of expertise, either actively or as technical adviser, well into the 1980's. When not working in the film industry, she toured as an equestrian performer at different circuses. Evelyn was inducted into the Stuntmen's Hall of Fame.

Filmography

• 1985Silverado — Stunts
• 1974Freebie and the Bean — Old Lady in Bed (uncredited)
• 1964Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte — Stunts
• 1960Swiss Family Robinson — Stunts
• 1957The Guns of Fort Petticoat — Blonde in Combat Practice (uncredited)
• 1956Perils of the Wilderness — Donna Blaine (as Eve Anderson)
• 1955Blood Alley — Stunts
• 1954Elephant Walk — Stunts
• 1954The Adventures of Hajji Baba — Stunts
• 1953Ambush at Tomahawk Gap — Stunt Double
• 1953One Girl's Confession — Stunts
• 1953The Diamond Queen — Slave Girl
• 1953The Man from the Alamo — Stunt Double
• 1952Scaramouche — Stunts
• 1952Woman of the North Country — Stunts
• 1951Across the Wide Missouri — Stunt Double
• 1951Westward the Women — Pioneer Woman (uncredited), Stunts
• 1950Mule Train — Stunt Double
• 1949The Cowboy and the Indians — Stunt Double
• 1948Gunning for Justice — Winnie Stewart
• 1948The Sheriff of Medicine Bow — Nan Prentiss, Stunts
• 1945Along Came Jones — Stunt Double
• 1945Prairie Rustlers — Helen Foster
• 1944Ghost Guns — Ann Jordan, Stunts
• 1944Sundown Riders — Donna Frazier, Stunts
• 1944Take It Big — Violet Thompson (uncredited), Stunt Double
• 1944Valley Of Vengeance — Helen Miller, Stunts
• 1943Black Market Rustlers — Linda Prescott
• 1943Cowboy Commandos — Joan Cameron, Stunts
• 1943Jack London — Stunts
• 1942Cowboy Serenade — Stunt Double
• 1942Home in Wyomin' — Stunt Double
• 1942Man from Cheyenne — Stunt Double
• 1942Trail Riders — Mary Rand
• 1941Dynamite Canyon — Midge Reed
• 1941Jesse James at Bay — Stunt Double
• 1941Red River Valley — Stunt Double
• 1940Arizona Frontier — Honey Lane
• 1939The Light That Failed — Stunts
• 1936The Texas Rangers — Stunt Double