
Evelyn Finley
Personal Info
Known for
Crew
Gender
Female
Birthday
1916-03-11
Day of Death
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
Acting
(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)
The Sheriff of Medicine Bow
as Nan Prentiss
(1945)
Prairie Rustlers
as Helen Foster
(1944)
Take It Big
as Violet Thompson (uncredited)
(1944)
Valley Of Vengeance
as Helen Miller
(1944)
Ghost Guns
as Ann Jordan
(1944)
Sundown Riders
as Donna Frazier
(1943)
Cowboy Commandos
as Joan Cameron
(1943)
Black Market Rustlers
as Linda Prescott
(1942)
Trail Riders
as Mary Rand
(1941)
Dynamite Canyon
as Midge Reed
(1940)
Arizona Frontier
as Honey Lane
Crew
(1985)
Silverado
Stunts
(1964)
(1960)
Swiss Family Robinson
Stunts
(1955)
Blood Alley
Stunts
(1954)
Elephant Walk
Stunts
(1954)
(1953)
Ambush at Tomahawk Gap
Stunt Double
(1953)
The Man from the Alamo
Stunt Double
(1953)
One Girl's Confession
Stunts
(1952)
Scaramouche
Stunts
(1952)
(1951)
Westward the Women
Stunts
(1951)
Across the Wide Missouri
Stunt Double
(1950)
Mule Train
Stunt Double
(1949)
The Cowboy and the Indians
Stunt Double
(1948)
(1945)
Along Came Jones
Stunt Double
(1944)
Sundown Riders
Stunts
(1944)
Ghost Guns
Stunts
(1944)
Take It Big
Stunt Double
(1944)
Valley Of Vengeance
Stunts
(1943)
Jack London
Stunts
(1943)
Cowboy Commandos
Stunts
(1942)
Home in Wyomin'
Stunt Double
(1942)
Cowboy Serenade
Stunt Double
(1942)
Man from Cheyenne
Stunt Double
(1941)
Red River Valley
Stunt Double
(1941)
Jesse James at Bay
Stunt Double
(1939)
The Light That Failed
Stunts
(1936)
The Texas Rangers
Stunt Double