Evelyn Finley

Personal Info

Known For Crew

Gender Female

Birthday 1916-03-11

Deathday 1989-04-07 (73 years old)

Place of Birth Douglas, Arizona, USA

Evelyn Finley

Biography

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.

Known For

Crew

1985
Silverado

as Stunts

1960
1955
Blood Alley

as Stunts

1954
Elephant Walk

as Stunts

1953
Ambush at Tomahawk Gap

as Stunt Double

1953
The Man from the Alamo

as Stunt Double

1953
1952
Scaramouche

as Stunts

1951
Across the Wide Missouri

as Stunt Double

1951
1950
Mule Train

as Stunt Double

1949
1945
Along Came Jones

as Stunt Double

1944
1944
Ghost Guns

as Stunts

1944
Take It Big

as Stunt Double

1944
Sundown Riders

as Stunts

1943
1943
Jack London

as Stunts

1942
Cowboy Serenade

as Stunt Double

1942
Home in Wyomin'

as Stunt Double

1942
Man from Cheyenne

as Stunt Double

1941
Jesse James at Bay

as Stunt Double

1941
Red River Valley

as Stunt Double

1939
1936
The Texas Rangers

as Stunt Double

Actor

1974
Freebie and the Bean

as Old Lady in Bed (uncredited)

1957
The Guns of Fort Petticoat

as Blonde in Combat Practice (uncredited)

1956
Perils of the Wilderness

as Donna Blaine (as Eve Anderson)

1953
The Diamond Queen

as Slave Girl

1951
Westward the Women

as Pioneer Woman (uncredited)

1948
Gunning for Justice

as Winnie Stewart

1948
1945
Prairie Rustlers

as Helen Foster

1944
Ghost Guns

as Ann Jordan

1944
Take It Big

as Violet Thompson (uncredited)

1944
Valley Of Vengeance

as Helen Miller

1944
Sundown Riders

as Donna Frazier

1943
Black Market Rustlers

as Linda Prescott

1943
Cowboy Commandos

as Joan Cameron

1942
Trail Riders

as Mary Rand

1941
Dynamite Canyon

as Midge Reed

1940
Arizona Frontier

as Honey Lane