The soap opera community has lost another beloved icon. Actress Andrea Evans, best known as Tina Lord on One Life to Live, passed away on July 9, 2023 at the age of 66. Evans is survived by her husband Stephen Rodriguez and their daughter Kylie.
Andrea Evans rise to soap opera fame
Aurora, Illinois native Evans was born on June 18, 1957. Her first acting role came in the 1978 film The Fury, and it wasn’t long before the actress garnered the attention of One Life to Live casting director Mary Jo Slater. Evans debuted as Tina in 1978, her character was the half-sister of beloved heroine Viki Lord.
In 1981, Evans left the soap opera and soon landed the role of Patty Williams on The Young and the Restless. But Evans returned to One Life to Live in 1985, and Tina found love with Cord Roberts, and the pair became one of the show’s super-couples.
Evans’ second run as Tina would last until 1990. After her departure from the show, Evans disappeared from the public spotlight following a frightening incident with a stalker.
Evans returned to daytime TV in 1999 as Tawny Moore, Amber Moore’s scheming and money-hungry mother on The Bold and the Beautiful. Evans would play Tawny off and on from 1999 until her final appearance in 2011.
Evans next iconic soap role came as Rebecca Hotchkiss on Passions from 2000 to 2008. In recent years, the actress’ credits included the internet soap operas The Bay and DeVanity.
Andrea Evans co-stars react to her death
After news spread of Evans’ passing, her former co-stars paid tribute tot he late actress. Erika Slezak, who played Evans sister Viki on One Life to Live said in a statement,
“I am absolutely shocked and devastated by this news and I send love and deepest sympathies to Steve and Kylie – they were her whole life. Andrea and I worked together for so long – on her first day at work, she was living 1 block away from me and I walked her to work. She was just a child- never been to NYC_ so sweet and kind and loving- amazing that she playedsuch a complicated, confused, and selfish character so well. When she and Steve got married and then got Kylie, it seemed her life was finally complete. She was so happy. So very very sad.”
Liza Huber, who played Evans daughter Gwen Hotchkiss on Passion, paid tribute to her onscreen mom on Instagram.
“Searching for the right story to share or the right words to post that would convey how much Andrea Evans meant to me. What a spectacular human she was and what a tremendous impact she had on my life.”
John Loprieno, who played Cord Roberts, said in statement to People that “working with Andrea was one of the highlights of my acting career.”
“From the day she first welcomed me to the set of One Life to Live, through the final reunion episodes that we shot when the show was ending, Andrea continued to be a generous, blissfully comedic, and insightful scene partner.”
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