RIP: Larry Hagman dies at 81

[operalover21]

The Dallas Morning News reports that the longtime "Dallas" star Larry Hagman has died at the age of 81 following a long battle with cancer. His iconic J.R. Ewing was one of the great characters in TV history and defined the great era of guilty pleasure nighttime soaps in the 1970s and 80s. RIP.

[Irtwo]

Wow, you're fast. You reported it before a lot of the big news sources did.

 

Interesting that in the headlines he's remembered more as the "Dallas" star rather than from "I Dream of Jeannie".

[Kevin Slater]

Interesting that in the headlines he's remembered more as the "Dallas" star rather than from "I Dream of Jeannie".

 

Dallas ran for 14 seasons to Jeannie's five, and "Who shot JR" was one of the highest watched events in TV history.

 

Kevin Slater

[adriano46]

Together with his major roles on TV in "I dream of Jeannie" and "Dallas," I remember too his mother who was a person whose every recording I grew up listening to, the late great Mary Martin, who planted in my young mind a love of Rogers and Hammerstein and so many other Broadway classics that marked my childhood. I used to feel a twinge of jealousy that Larry was her son, and probably got to see so many of her performances live (I never saw her aside from TV appearances late in her life). And I admit feeling some slight early teen twinges of interest in Larry Hagman's character in "I Dream of Jeannie" but had no idea at the time why (ah, yeah, a guy in a uniform!)

[operalover21]

Wow, you're fast. You reported it before a lot of the big news sources did.

 

Interesting that in the headlines he's remembered more as the "Dallas" star rather than from "I Dream of Jeannie".

 

Not a surprise at all. "I Dream of Jeanie" is a footnote in TV history. "Dallas" was epic. There are three true iconic characters in TV history: Archie Bunker, Columbo, and J.R. Ewing. They're all gone now.

[+ WilliamM]

I briefly met Larry's wife and sister at a tribute to Mary Martin at the Shubert Theater in NY in 1985. Larry recorded a video introducting his mom's concert because he was directing an episode of "Dallas" in LA that week. Martin was only 17-years old when Larry was born. It wasn't until her long Broadway career ("South Pacific," "Peter Pan," "The Sound of Music") wound down that they because great friends and truly monther & son. She died in 1990, a year after receiving the Kennedy Center Honors.Too bad I shall never got to see Larry in person. I'll miss him.

 

[leigh.bess.toad]

I was sorry, but not surprised, to hear the news about Larry Hagman's passing. Of course JR was an iconic role and will go down in TV history. However, I'd forgotten that he was Mary Martin's son.

 

According to news reports, Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy were at his side when he passed.

 

For so many memories, both in I Dream of Jeannie and Dallas, thank you Mr. Hagman. May you rest in peace.

[Irtwo]

And I admit feeling some slight early teen twinges of interest in Larry Hagman's character in "I Dream of Jeannie" but had no idea at the time why (ah, yeah, a guy in a uniform!)

 

Lol. Same here, my first "crush" as a kid.

[bcohen7719]

JR was a role model....

 

BC

 

[video=youtube;rYg3IYB8B90]

[bcohen7719]

JR was a role model....

 

BC

 

[video=youtube;rYg3IYB8B90]

 

EMERGENCY FOLLOW-UP: Embedding was disabled. Click twice to get to the "Youtube" website

to watch. (Thanks, T.!)

 

BC

[josephga]

JR was a role model....

 

BC

 

[video=youtube;rYg3IYB8B90]

 

 

LOL one of sue ellens best lines. ive been as faithful to our marriage vows as you darling

[Jaker27]

I guess now they could do a final "who shot JR" scene on the current Dallas.

 

He nearly died back in 95 before he got his liver transplant.

[Decatur Guy]

Gosh, I might have to order the first few seasons of "Dallas" on Netflix. (Didn't care much for the series as it went along, but the first few seasons were great).

 

Tony Nelson was always one of my fantasy tops.

[bcohen7719]

Here's another clip...If embedding is disabled, click twice on the video.

 

BC

 

[video=youtube;BPr681cwvaY]

[josephga]

I've seen every episode from start to finish 3 times and seen every episode of knots landing and falcon crest

[adriano46]

I briefly met Larry's wife and sister at a tribute to Mary Martin at the Shubert Theater in NY in 1985. Larry recorded a video introducting his mom's concert because he was directing an episode of "Dallas" in LA that week. Martin was only 17-years old when Larry was born. It wasn't until her long Broadway career ("South Pacific," "Peter Pan," "The Sound of Music") wound down that they because great friends and truly monther & son. She died in 1990, a year after receiving the Kennedy Center Honors.Too bad I shall never got to see Larry in person. I'll miss him.

 

 

WilliamM - so glad and appreciative you found that clip from Mary Martin's Kennedy Center Honors. To me, she is the epitome of what American musical theatre always was and should always be.

[bcohen7719]

Guys, here's a quick collage of JR Ewing....

 

BC

 

[video=youtube;GZV3365a7Ew]

[operalover21]

I think my all-time favorite exchange between J.R. and Sue Ellen was the one in which they've had a fight and he storms out of the bedroom late at night. As he walks out the door, the following is said:

 

Sue-Ellen: "Which slut are you going to be with tonight?"

J.R.: "whichever one it is, it'll be better than the slut I'm looking at right now."

[josephga]

this was one of my favorite scenes between them. sue ellens exit from the show

[video=youtube;3U4GZ5W9sJ0]

[bigvalboy]

Thanks BC...excellent and fun to watch. Thanks for the memories.