Larry Hagman, known for his iconic portrayal of JR Ewing in Dallas, has died. He was 81.
Larry Hagman died from complications due to throat cancer, Reuters reports.
The actor who's iconic role of the unscrupulous and power hungry Dallas oil baron JR Ewing in a cowboy hat enthralled generations of TV viewers - in an original series which ran for decades, followed by several made-for-TV movies, as well as a new TV series which started this year - suffered from liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver in the nineties after decades of drinking.
Reuters reports that Larry Hagman died on Friday in hospital. His co-star Linda Gray who played his long-suffering wife Sue-Ellen was at his bedside. Patrick Duffy who played his TV brother Bobby was also present.
Dallas came along in 1978 just after the start of television in South Africa in 1976. The advent of television and the growth in sales of TV sets - a new a buzzworthy technology for South Africans who up until that time were only used to radio, drive-in cinema and movie theatres, were enthralled by the glitzy and outrageous primetime soap broadcast on TV on Tuesday nights.
So big was the appeal, that restaurants and other public establishments in South Africa started to close on Tuesday nights when Dallas was on. South Africans stayed home en masse and watched or watched with neighbours who had television to follow the outrageous and terrible actions of JR Ewing from the Southfork Ranch in Texas who wheeled and dealed to get his way along with characters such as Miss Ellie, Bobby and Pamela.
When the conniving and villaineous JR Ewing got shot in the final episode of the second season, it was a hot on television that rang out across the world. Viewers across the globe were shocked and enthralled. The plot and last seconds moment not only gave rise to the coined-phrased "Who shot JR?" but essentially created the modern TV trope: to end a TV season of a massive cliffhanger which will keep viewers buzzing and guessing about a sudden, shocking plot point until the start of a new season.
An updated version of Dallas started earlier this year with the first season shown in South Africa on M-Net. And again, in a homage to the iconic show with its iconic theme music, on a Tuesday. Although South Africans will never stay home again for a TV show - any TV show - and restaurants will never empty again for television, Dallas recaptured viewers attention again to a degree with the new show which reunited several members from the original cast and introducing a whole new generation.
Larry Hagman has already filmed part of the second season of the new Dallas. Six of the second season's 15 episodes had already been filmed by Larry Hagman at the time of his death.
A statement released by the actors family: "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."
Warner Bros. Television and the new Dallas' executive producers Cynthia Cidre and Michael Robin, says in a jointly released statement: "Larry Hagman was a giant, a larger-than-life personality whose iconic performance as J.R. Ewing will endure as one of the most indelible in entertainment history. He truly loved portraying this globally recognized character, and he leaves a legacy of entertainment, generosity and grace. Everyone at Warner Bros. and in the Dallas family is deeply saddened by Larry's passing, and our thoughts are with his family and dear friends during this difficult time."
The TNT TV channel which is showing the new Dallas in the US says in a statement: "All of us at TNT are deeply saddened at the news of Larry Hagman's passing. He was a wonderful human being and an extremely gifted actor. We will be forever thankful that a whole new generation of people got to know and appreciate Larry through his performance as J.R. Ewing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time."
Says Linda Gray in a statement: "Larry Hagman was my best friend for 35 years. He was the Pied Piper of life and brought joy to everyone he knew. He was creative, generous, funny, loving and talented, and I will miss him enormously. He was an original and lived life to the fullest ... The world was a brighter place because of Larry Hagman."
Says M-Net in a statement which is showing Dallas in South Africa: "Larry Hagman was a legendary actor who, with his passionate portrayal of JR Ewing, created the benchmark for TV villains. We salute him for the way in which he captured the imagination of millions of people around the world and turned fictional television story lines into newsworthy events. We're glad that he was a part of the recent new installment of Dallas and that M-Net on channel 101 could bring the series to our South African viewers. Larry Hagman and ol' JR will live on in television memory, but it's sad to know that the real man won't be there any more."
The actor who's iconic role of the unscrupulous and power hungry Dallas oil baron JR Ewing in a cowboy hat enthralled generations of TV viewers - in an original series which ran for decades, followed by several made-for-TV movies, as well as a new TV series which started this year - suffered from liver cancer and cirrhosis of the liver in the nineties after decades of drinking.
Reuters reports that Larry Hagman died on Friday in hospital. His co-star Linda Gray who played his long-suffering wife Sue-Ellen was at his bedside. Patrick Duffy who played his TV brother Bobby was also present.
Dallas came along in 1978 just after the start of television in South Africa in 1976. The advent of television and the growth in sales of TV sets - a new a buzzworthy technology for South Africans who up until that time were only used to radio, drive-in cinema and movie theatres, were enthralled by the glitzy and outrageous primetime soap broadcast on TV on Tuesday nights.
So big was the appeal, that restaurants and other public establishments in South Africa started to close on Tuesday nights when Dallas was on. South Africans stayed home en masse and watched or watched with neighbours who had television to follow the outrageous and terrible actions of JR Ewing from the Southfork Ranch in Texas who wheeled and dealed to get his way along with characters such as Miss Ellie, Bobby and Pamela.
When the conniving and villaineous JR Ewing got shot in the final episode of the second season, it was a hot on television that rang out across the world. Viewers across the globe were shocked and enthralled. The plot and last seconds moment not only gave rise to the coined-phrased "Who shot JR?" but essentially created the modern TV trope: to end a TV season of a massive cliffhanger which will keep viewers buzzing and guessing about a sudden, shocking plot point until the start of a new season.
An updated version of Dallas started earlier this year with the first season shown in South Africa on M-Net. And again, in a homage to the iconic show with its iconic theme music, on a Tuesday. Although South Africans will never stay home again for a TV show - any TV show - and restaurants will never empty again for television, Dallas recaptured viewers attention again to a degree with the new show which reunited several members from the original cast and introducing a whole new generation.
Larry Hagman has already filmed part of the second season of the new Dallas. Six of the second season's 15 episodes had already been filmed by Larry Hagman at the time of his death.
A statement released by the actors family: "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."
Warner Bros. Television and the new Dallas' executive producers Cynthia Cidre and Michael Robin, says in a jointly released statement: "Larry Hagman was a giant, a larger-than-life personality whose iconic performance as J.R. Ewing will endure as one of the most indelible in entertainment history. He truly loved portraying this globally recognized character, and he leaves a legacy of entertainment, generosity and grace. Everyone at Warner Bros. and in the Dallas family is deeply saddened by Larry's passing, and our thoughts are with his family and dear friends during this difficult time."
The TNT TV channel which is showing the new Dallas in the US says in a statement: "All of us at TNT are deeply saddened at the news of Larry Hagman's passing. He was a wonderful human being and an extremely gifted actor. We will be forever thankful that a whole new generation of people got to know and appreciate Larry through his performance as J.R. Ewing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this very difficult time."
Says Linda Gray in a statement: "Larry Hagman was my best friend for 35 years. He was the Pied Piper of life and brought joy to everyone he knew. He was creative, generous, funny, loving and talented, and I will miss him enormously. He was an original and lived life to the fullest ... The world was a brighter place because of Larry Hagman."
Says M-Net in a statement which is showing Dallas in South Africa: "Larry Hagman was a legendary actor who, with his passionate portrayal of JR Ewing, created the benchmark for TV villains. We salute him for the way in which he captured the imagination of millions of people around the world and turned fictional television story lines into newsworthy events. We're glad that he was a part of the recent new installment of Dallas and that M-Net on channel 101 could bring the series to our South African viewers. Larry Hagman and ol' JR will live on in television memory, but it's sad to know that the real man won't be there any more."
