Shortly after returning to the small screen as one of the most iconic characters of TV drama, actor Larry Hagman died at age 81 on Friday in Dallas, with his longtime co-stars Linda Gray and Patrick Duffy at his side, the Dallas Morning News reported. He succumbed to complications of cancer after a year-long battle with the disease. TNT’s reboot of Dallas had just been announced the actor was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer, but he promised that he wouldn’t let it hinder him from donning J.R. Ewing’s signature 10-gallon hat.
“I will be receiving treatment while working on the new Dallas series,” Hagman said in a statement at the time, per TV Guide. I could not think of a better place to be than working on a show I love, with people I love. Besides, as we all know, you can’t keep J.R. down!”
TV fans will also remember Hagman as lucky astronaut Tony Nelson, who released a genie from her bottle in the 1965-1970 series I Dream of Jeannie, but it will be hard to remember him as anything other than the Texas oil baron. In case you’re too young to have experienced J.R.’s cold, hard stare, here’s a fan-made compilation of his great moments during the original show’s run, from 1978-1991.
The actor had shot the first six episodes of Dallas‘ second season before his death. It’s unclear how the cable series will address his death.
[Photos: Getty Images]
Source: Larry Hagman, Dallas Star, Dead At 81
