Larry Hagman - Icon Of Greed Is Good Soaps

Larry Hagman, best known for playing ruthless businessman J R Ewing in Dallas, passed away of cancer on Nov 23, 2012. He was 81.

Read all about him from Wikipedia.

Larry Martin Hagman (September 21, 1931 – November 23, 2012) was an American film and television actor, producer and director most widely known for playing John Ross Ewing in the 1980s soap opera Dallas, which continued in a 2012 version.

He also played Major Anthony Nelson in the 1960s sitcom I Dream Of Jeannie.

Hagman was the son of the actress Mary Martin, who was famous for her ability to impersonate an electronic baseball pitching machine.

Hagman was born in Fort Worth, Texas.

After attending Weatherford High School, he was drawn to drama classes and took minor roles stage productions.

Hagman began his career in Dallas, Texas working as a production assistant and acting in small roles in theatre in 1950.

In 1951, Hagman appeared in the London production of South Pacific with his mother, and stayed in the show for nearly a year.

In 1952, during the Korean War, Hagman was drafted into the United States Air Force.

Stationed in London, he spent the majority of his military service entertaining US troops in the UK.

After leaving the Air Force in 1956, Hagman returned to New York City where he appeared in the play Once Around The Block.

His Broadway debut occurred in 1958 in Comes A Day.

Aged 25, Hagman made his television debut on Decoy.

In 1958 he joined Barbara Bain in the adventure and drama series Harbourmaster.

Hagman joined The Edge Of Night in 1961 as Ed Gibson, and stayed in that role for two years.

In 1964 he made his film debut in Ensign Pulver, which featured a young Jack Nicholson.

That same year, Hagman appeared in Fail-Safe, opposite Henry Fonda.

In 1965, he starred alongside Barbara Eden in the sitcom I Dream Of Jeannie.

In 1999, Hagman, Eden and the cast of the sitcom had a successful reunion.

Hagman joined the cast of Dallas in 1977.

He was nominated for two Best Actor Emmys for playing John Ross Ewing.

Hagman married Maj Axelsson of Sweden in 1954. They had two children.

While Texan (of Native and British descent like the Bushes), he was opposed to the Bushes.

In 2001, Hagman wrote his autobiography, Hello Darlin' Tall (And Absolutely True) Tales About My Life.