Andrea Evans, Celebrated Soap Opera Star, Passes Away at 66, Cause of Death Revealed
Celebrated actress Andrea Evans, famous for her iconic roles in daytime soap operas including "One Life to Live" and "The Young and the Restless," passed away Sunday at the age of 66 following a fierce struggle with breast cancer. Evans, who etched her place in the soap opera landscape, passed away peacefully at her residence in Pasadena, California, confirmed her representative, Nick Leicht.
"Andrea was a powerhouse of talent, an absolute delight to work with," stated Leicht, encapsulating Evans' extraordinary artistic journey. The soap opera veteran made her TV debut in 1978 with the NBC miniseries "The Awakening Land" before hitting the jackpot as Tina Clayton on "One Life to Live" the following year, a character she would reprise several times over the course of her career.
In addition to playing Patty Williams Abbott on "The Young and the Restless" and Tawny Moore on "The Bold and The Beautiful," Evans graced over 600 episodes of "Passions" as Rebecca Hotchkiss, earning her a reputation as a daytime drama legend.
Her career was marked with two Daytime Emmy nominations. In 1988, she was nominated for her portrayal of Tina Lord in "One Life to Live," and in 2015, she earned a nomination for her work in the series "DeVanity."
Evans was also a familiar face in TV movies and films, including "A Low Down Dirty Shame," "Ice Cream Man," and "Hit List." Despite her remarkable career, the actress took a hiatus from her role in "One Life to Live" during the 1990s after a horrifying stalking incident that she stated had "forever changed" her.
The soap opera world mourns the loss of this luminous talent. Frank Valentini, the former executive producer of "One Life to Live," paid tribute to the late star on Twitter, acknowledging her immense contribution to the industry. "A daytime legend who will be missed very much," he wrote, sending his sympathies to her loved ones.
Known for her enduring on-screen presence and engaging performances, Evans' return to "One Life to Live" in 2008 was greeted with overwhelming fan approval. She once expressed her enthusiasm for reprising the role of Tina, which she described as being "near and dear" to her heart.
Evans is survived by her husband Stephen Rodriguez, whom she married in 1998, and their daughter Kylie. As her fans and colleagues reminisce about her contributions to the world of soap operas, the legacy of Andrea Evans will forever be etched in the annals of daytime drama history.