Few TV dramas left a mark like Dallas. The prime-time soap ran from 1978 to 1991, built around the wealthy Ewing family, oil money, betrayals, and constant power struggles in Texas. The series delivered 14 seasons and three TV movies, then returned with a TNT revival from 2012 to 2014. Several stars from the original cast came back for the reboot. Here is a closer look at the first six major actors tied to the series and what happened after their years at Southfork.
Larry Hagman Turned J.R. Ewing Into a TV Icon
Actor Larry Hagman played J.R. Ewing, the ruthless eldest son who ran Ewing Oil with cold precision. Before that, he had already built a television career, but Dallas made him a household name. Hagman kept acting in film and television after the original run and even returned for the TNT revival. He had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2011 and died on November 23, 2012, at age 81. His long marriage also stood out: he and wife Maj were together for 58 years, a rare Hollywood record.
Patrick Duffy and Linda Gray Stayed Close to the Franchise
Actor Patrick Duffy played Bobby Ewing, J.R.’s younger brother and often the moral counterweight in the family business. After his breakout on the series, he starred in Step by Step for seven years and later joined The Bold & The Beautiful. He also reprised Bobby in the reboot. Actress Linda Gray played Sue Ellen, J.R.’s wife, a former beauty queen battling alcoholism through much of the story. Gray later took on more screen roles and also returned for the TNT continuation, keeping one of the soap’s central relationships alive.
Victoria Principal Brought Pamela Ewing Her Strong Moral Core
Actress Victoria Principal played Pamela Ewing, whose marriage to Bobby often put her in the middle of the Ewing-Barnes feud. Pamela’s strong values made her one of the few characters willing to challenge both J.R. and Bobby. Principal had launched her screen career in the early 1970s and earned a Golden Globe nomination for The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean. She later appeared in films including The Naked Ape and Earthquake. Smaller parts followed before Dallas gave her the role that changed her career.
Jim Davis and Charlene Tilton Rounded Out the Ewing Story
Actor Jim Davis played family patriarch Jock Ewing, the oil baron who built the empire and shaped every conflict around him. His character died in a helicopter crash after Davis was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer during production; he died in 1981 at age 72. Actress Charlene Tilton completed the first six core names with her role as Lucy Ewing, the fiery young member of the clan whose personal drama added another layer to the family saga. Together, these performers helped turn the series into one of television’s enduring hits.
