She once walked among Hollywood’s elite, starring in hit films and attending glamorous events. But decades later, she was searching for a place to sleep, with her family’s belongings packed into bags. The life she had built was slipping away, and there was little she could do to stop it.
She found fame at a young age, appearing in films and television shows that made her a recognizable face. As the sister of a Hollywood legend, she seemed destined for lasting success. But Hollywood can be unforgiving, and the work eventually slowed down.
Without steady income, she struggled to stay afloat, but it got worse when her daughter fell seriously ill. Medical bills drained her savings, and when she could no longer afford rent, she lost her home. With nowhere else to go, she was left relying on the kindness of strangers.
Hollywood Beginnings: A Career in the Spotlight
Born on March 1, 1946, she was introduced to the entertainment industry at an early age. She made her film debut as a child in “The Searchers” (1956), where she played the younger version of a character portrayed by her older sister.
With her dark hair and striking Slavic features, she quickly caught the attention of casting directors. By the 1960s, she had established herself in television. She landed a recurring role as Sandy Webber on “Peyton Place,” a drama series that was one of the most-watched shows of its time.
Her striking looks and undeniable screen presence set her apart, opening doors to bigger opportunities. In 1971, she took on what would become one of her most recognizable roles — as the glamorous and flirtatious Plenty O’Toole in the James Bond film “Diamonds Are Forever.”
The role solidified her status as a Hollywood beauty, and she became known for playing seductive, confident women. Over the years, she appeared in numerous films and television shows, including guest roles in “Mission: Impossible,” “Bonanza,” “The Fugitive,” and “Starsky & Hutch.”
Despite her busy career, she was often linked to her famous sister, a beloved Hollywood star whose reputation overshadowed hers. Even so, she remained a familiar face in film and television throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.
The Turning Point: Career Decline and Financial Struggles
By the mid-1980s, her once-thriving career had begun to stall. Although she had appeared in more than 50 films and television shows between the 1950s and early 1980s, the roles became fewer and further apart.
Hollywood was changing, and for aging actresses, opportunities were increasingly limited. Unlike some of her peers who transitioned into producing or directing, she struggled to stay relevant. For more than two decades, from 1985 to 2008, she faced a prolonged period of professional inactivity.
The once sought-after actress now faced challenges that nothing could have prepared her for. The steady paychecks she had once relied on were gone, and she had little financial security to fall back on. With no new roles and no savings, she had to find other ways to make ends meet.
To regain stability, she briefly worked behind the scenes in the entertainment industry, taking a job as a director of development. But it was a far cry from the success she had once known, and it wasn’t enough to provide long-term financial security.
While she eventually returned to acting in the late 2000s, taking on smaller roles in independent films, her financial troubles had already taken a toll. Her struggles would only intensify when a personal crisis forced her to put everything else aside.
Her Daughter’s Illness and a Mother’s Unwavering Support
Amid her financial troubles, a far more pressing crisis emerged — her daughter, Evan, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The illness required aggressive treatment, including radiation therapy, which caused lasting damage to her lungs.
Although Evan initially believed she had beaten the cancer, the effects of the treatment led to severe complications. She developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which made
With Evan’s health declining steadily, the former Hollywood star became her daughter’s full-time caregiver. Every day revolved around doctor’s appointments, medications, and managing the challenges of Evan’s breathing condition.
The actress, who was already struggling with arthritis and high blood pressure, pushed her own health concerns aside. “It’s nothing next to what my daughter goes through,” she said. The medical bills quickly overwhelmed them, draining what little money they had left.
Evan’s husband worked tirelessly to support the family, but his job didn’t pay enough to cover both medical costs and household expenses. As rent prices climbed, they found themselves slipping further into financial instability.
Homelessness: A Family Without a Home
In 2017, after years of struggling to afford rent and mounting medical expenses, she and her family were evicted from their home of seven years. They had been renting without a formal lease, living on a month-to-month agreement.
When the landlord gave them a 10-day notice to vacate, they had no savings to secure another place. Desperate, the actress searched for affordable housing, but options were limited, and landlords were hesitant to rent to someone with an eviction on record.
With nowhere else to turn, she, Evan, Evan’s husband, and their three children moved into a cramped motel room outside Los Angeles. The tiny space, meant for short-term stays, now had to function as a home for six people.
Privacy was nonexistent, and meals consisted of whatever they could store in a small fridge and microwave. Cooking was prohibited, so fast food became their only option. “It has been very difficult for the kids,” she admitted. “They feel like they have no privacy.”
