Since the late 1950s, we have all come to love the wide-brimmed, Stetson-wearing Texan Larry Hagman, mostly known for playing the villainous J.R. Ewing in Dallas (spanning from 1971-2012). Unfortunately, this talented star passed away this past Friday.
Larry Hagman started his acting career with small roles in various television series, until Hagman landed the role of Major Anthony “Tony” Nelson in I Dream of Jeannie in 1965 alongside Barbara Eden. This role was the one that really kick started his acting career and give him better exposure to the American television audience.
As Hagman was becoming more and more popular, he landed the roles of Albert Miller in The Good Life (1971-1972), Richard Evans in Here We Go Again (1973), and his well-known role of J.R. Ewing in Dallas (1978-1991, 2012)
Apart from his acting career, Hagman was an advocate of solar alternative energy, and became the spokesperson for SolarWorld in 2010. With this position, Hagman starred as his J.R. Ewing character in various advertisements for the SolarWorld company.
On Friday November 23rd, 2012, Larry Hagman passed away at the age of 81 after suffering a battle with throat cancer. Many fans of Hagman’s work (including other celebrities) have left their respects via Twitter:
Very sad to hear that Larry Hagman has died. His JR Ewing character was the greatest TV villain of them all. Wonderful actor. #RIP
Larry Hagman captured childlike innocence and craven malevolence and made impossible worlds seem credible. An extraordinary actor. RIP
I will miss Larry Hagman very talented and nice guy RIP
RIP Larry Hagman! You will be missed. My grandma and me loved you as J. R. Ewing in Dallas. One of the best portrayed characters ever.
I’m shocked. Larry Hagman was a dear man who had an incredible career. He helped me to stop smoking. He really was a very special person.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Larry Hagman. My best, Bill