Actor Larry Hagman, who played Dallas‘ much-hated J.R. Ewing, died on Friday, November 23 in a hospital in Dallas, Texas.   He was 81 years old.

Hagman was born in 1931 in Fort Worth, Texas, the son of movie and Broadway actress Mary Martin.  He began his entertainment career in live theater, and spent a year performing in the London production of South Pacific with his mother.  Hagman appeared several times on Broadway before making the move to television.  In 1965 he landed the role of Major Anthony Nelson in the highly successful TV show I Dream Of Jeannie.   He began playing the conniving businessman Ewing on Dallas in 1977, at the end of the show’s third season was the subject of the soon-to-be legendary question, “Who shot J.R.?”  The show was cancelled after 14 seasons, but Hagman reprised his famous role for TNT’s Dallas reboot in 2012.

A heavy drinker, Hagman suffered serious health problems and in 1995 received a liver transplant.  He was diagnosed with cancer in 2011; complications from the disease were the cause of his death.

The actor was able to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends prior to his passing.  His family issued the following statement:

“When he passed, he was surrounded by loved ones. It was a peaceful passing, just as he had wished for. The family requests privacy at this time.”

Hagman is survived by his wife of 60 years, Maj Hagman, and their children, Heidi and Preston.

Photo:  Eva Napp/WENN.com

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