Larry Hagman RIP

You might find this amusing that I am covering this; but Larry Hagman was a big part of my life in the 1980’s. You see, Dallas followed the Duke’s of Hazzard, which I watched every week.

The Story via Dallas News:

Larry Hagman, who played the conniving and mischievous J.R. Ewing on the TV show Dallas, died Friday at Medical City in Dallas, of complications from his recent battle with cancer, his family said.

He was 81.

“Larry was back in his beloved Dallas re-enacting the iconic role he loved most,” his family said in a written statement. “Larry’s family and close friends had joined him in Dallas for the Thanksgiving holiday. 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.”

The role of J.R. transformed Mr. Hagman’s life. He rocketed from being a merely well-known TV actor on I Dream of Jeannie and the son of Broadway legend Mary Martin, to the kind of international fame known only by the likes the Beatles and Muhammad Ali.

Mr. Hagman made his home in California with his wife of 59 years, the former Maj Axelsson. Despite obvious physical frailty, he gamely returned to Dallas to film season one and part of season two of TNT’s Dallas reboot.

Friends were in shock Friday, especially those who saw him only days ago. But those close to him say he knew the end was coming and he was glad to have his family in town for Thanksgiving.

One thing you have to know about Larry Hagman is this, he was no flunky actor, he was a professionally trained actor from the old school. He was a veteran of the Broadway stage long before he was ever a TV actor. He really knew his chops, and due to his southern upbringing, he took to the role of J.R. Ewing like a duck to water. The awesome thing about that role is that Larry Hagman made it absolutely believable. The show and JR Ewing were a part of the American culture in the 1980’s. Sure, it was Hollywood’s way of mocking the wealthy, but that was what Hollywood did; nothing hurtful or sinister, just harmless comedy and a bit drama on this show.

Larry Hagman, a great actor, and big part of American culture is now gone. Rest in Peace, Mr. Ewing, you have more than earned it.