Larry Hagman, famed for 'Dallas' role, dies at 81
BY LYNN ELBER Associated Press
Sunday, November 25, 2012
11/25/12 at 4:29 AM
J.R. Ewing was a business cheat, faithless husband and bottomless well of corruption. Yet with his sparkling grin, Larry Hagman masterfully created the charmingly loathsome oil baron - and coaxed forth a Texas-size gusher of ratings - on television's long-running and hugely successful nighttime soap "Dallas."
Although he first gained fame as nice guy Major Tony Nelson on the fluffy 1965-70 NBC comedy "I Dream of Jeannie," Hagman earned his greatest stardom with J.R. The CBS serial drama about the Ewing family and those in their orbit aired from April 1978 to May 1991 and broke viewing records with its "Who shot J.R.?" 1980 cliffhanger that left unclear if Hagman's character was dead until the following season.
The actor, who returned as J.R. in a new edition of "Dallas" this year, had a long history of health problems and died Friday due to complications from cancer, his family said.
"Larry was back in his beloved hometown of Dallas, re-enacting the iconic role he loved the most. Larry's family and closest friends had joined him in Dallas for the Thanksgiving holiday," the family said in a statement. The 81-year-old actor was surrounded by friends and family before he passed peacefully, "just as he'd wished for," the statement said.
Linda Gray, his on-screen wife and later ex-wife in the original series and the sequel, was among those with Hagman in his final moments in a Dallas hospital, said her publicist, Jeffrey Lane.
"He brought joy to everyone he knew. He was creative, generous, funny, loving and talented, and I will miss him enormously. He was an original and lived life to the fullest," the actress said.
Years before "Dallas," Hagman had gained TV fame on "I Dream of Jeannie," in which he played an astronaut whose life is disrupted when he finds a bottle containing a comely genie, portrayed by Barbara Eden, and takes her home to live with him.
Hagman also starred in two short-lived sitcoms, "The Good Life" (NBC, 1971-72) and "Here We Go Again" (ABC, 1973). His film work included well-regarded performances in "The Group," "Harry and Tonto" and "Primary Colors."
But it was Hagman's masterful portrayal of J.R. that brought him the most fame. And the "Who shot J.R.?" story twist fueled international speculation and millions of dollars in betting-parlor wagers. It also helped give the series a place in ratings history.
When the answer was revealed in a November 1980 episode, an average 41 million U.S. viewers tuned in to make "Dallas" one of the most-watched entertainment shows of all time, trailing only the "MASH" finale in 1983 with 50 million viewers.
It was J.R.'s sister-in-law, Kristin (Mary Crosby) who plugged him - but others had equal motivation.
Ten episodes of the new edition of "Dallas" aired this past summer and proved a hit for TNT. Filming was in progress on the sixth episode of season two, which is set to begin airing Jan. 28, the network said.
There was no immediate comment from Warner or TNT on how the series would deal with Hagman's loss.
The Fort Worth, Texas, native was the son of singer-actress Mary Martin, who starred in such classics as "South Pacific" and "Peter Pan." Martin was still in her teens when he was born in 1931 during her marriage to attorney Ben Hagman.
Original Print Headline: Larry Hagman, famed for J.R. Ewing role, dies at 81
Associated Images:
Actor Larry Hagman is seen during a 2008 visit to Southfork Ranch, the Parker, Texas, estate made famous in the television series "Dallas." Hagman, who for more than a decade played villainous oilman J.R. Ewing on the TV primetime soap "Dallas," has died at the age of 81. Associated Press file
Larry Hagman and co-star Barbara Eden appear in a scene from the television series "I Dream of Jeannie," which aired on NBC from 1965 to 1970. NBC Archives/Courtesy
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