Born Robert Shapera in New York City; raised on Manhattan's upper west side (his father was a dentist with a thriving practice in Harlem). Former child actor who at age 21 became a successful clothing manufacturer before returning to the screen to play Irving G. Thalberg in MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES (1957). Evans moved into production in the 1960s, becoming vice president in charge of production at Paramount Pictures in 1966 and acting as executive vice president, worldwide production, from 1971-75. He supervised such box-office hits as BAREFOOT IN THE PARK (1967), ROSEMARY'S BABY (1968), GOODBYE, COLUMBUS (1969), LOVE STORY (1970) and the first two installments of the GODFATHER saga before becoming an independent producer in 1974. Other producing credits include CHINATOWN (1974), MARATHON MAN (1976), BLACK SUNDAY (1977), PLAYERS (1979), URBAN COWBOY and POPEYE (both 1980), THE COTTON CLUB (1984), THE TWO JAKES (1990), SLIVER (1993), JADE (1995), THE PHANTOM (1996), THE SAINT (1997), THE OUT-OF-TOWNERS (1999), HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS (2003), TRIGGERFISH (2007), and WEDDING SEASON and NICE GIRLS DON'T GET THE CORNER OFFICE (both announced for 2009). His autobiography, The Kid Stays in the Picture, has been printed in 12 languages, and its film version premiered at Sundance Film Festival, January 2002. Formerly married to actresses Sharon Hugueny, Camilla Sparv, Ali MacGraw, Catherine Oxenberg (for 10 days), and TV sports commentator Phyllis George. In 2003, Evans divorced his sixth wife, former model Leslie Ann Woodward after less than a year of marriage. He married Lady Victoria White in 2005; they have filed for divorce. Son (by MacGraw) is actor-director Josh Evans (b. 1971).  Nominated for Best Picture 1974: CHINATOWN - Producer 1 nomination