Evelyn Finley

Born: 1916-03-11

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.


Placeholder

Westward the Women

as Pioneer Woman (uncredited)
Released: 1951-12-16

There's a deficit of good, honest women in the West, and Roy Whitman wants to change that. His...

Movie page

Black Market Rustlers

as Linda Prescott
Released: 1943-08-27

In this WW II film meant to discourage the purchase of black market beef, the Range Busters are...

Movie page

The Guns of Fort Petticoat

as Blonde in Combat Practice (uncredited)
Released: 1957-04-01

Opposing his commanding officer's decision to attack a group of innocent Indians and wipe them...

Movie page

Prairie Rustlers

as Helen Foster
Released: 1945-11-07

Billy Carson is accused of the crimes committed by his dead-ringer, outlaw cousin Jim Slade, and...

Movie page

Ghost Guns

as Ann Jordan
Released: 1944-11-17

Supernatural events on the range prompt an investigation by cowboy Brown in this western.

Movie page

Trail Riders

as Mary Rand
Released: 1942-12-04

In the 18th entry of Monogram's 24 "Range Buster" films, the bank of Gila Springs is robbed by...

Movie page

Sundown Riders

as Donna Frazier
Released: 1944-01-01

This film was produced and released in 1944 by Film Enterprises for the 16mm...

Movie page

Cowboy Commandos

as Joan Cameron
Released: 1943-06-04

The Range Busters investigate sabotage at a mining community and uncover a gang of Nazi spies.

Movie page

Perils of the Wilderness

as Donna Blaine (as Eve Anderson)
Released: 1956-01-06

In the 56th (and next-to-last serial) made by Columbia Pictures, Montana Deputy Dan Lawson,...

Movie page

Take It Big

as Violet Thompson (uncredited)
Released: 1944-06-09

Jack Haley plays Jack North, the nether end of a vaudeville horse act who inherits a western...

Movie page

Valley Of Vengeance

as Helen Miller
Released: 1944-05-05

Billy Carson arrives in King City looking for two men and kills them both. Caught by the Marshal...

Movie page

Gunning for Justice

as Winnie Stewart
Released: 1948-11-06

Three fellows band together to help a woman find her uncle's cache of gold in this western. All...

Movie page

Arizona Frontier

as Honey Lane
Released: 1940-08-19

A government agent uncovers the truth behind a series of raids on a freight company.

Movie page

Dynamite Canyon

as Midge Reed
Released: 1941-08-07

In this western, the bad guy kills a rancher and a Texas ranger so that the location of a copper...

Movie page

The Sheriff of Medicine Bow

as Nan Prentiss
Released: 1948-10-02

Movie page