Profile of Larry Hagman on Famous Like Me

Larry Hagman, born Larry Martin Hageman on September 21, 1931, is an American actor who is most famous for playing J.R. Ewing in the television soap opera Dallas. Hagman was born in Fort Worth, Texas to Ben Hagman and his wife, legendary stage actress Mary Martin. He has been married to Swedish-born Maj Axelsson since 1954, and they have two children. They live in Ojai, California.

Career

Hagman served in the United States Air Force in the entertainment unit and began his own acting career shortly after his service ended.

In addition to his role on Dallas, Hagman is well known for his role as "Major Tony Nelson" on the popular television sitcom I Dream of Jeannie (1965-1970), in which he co-starred opposite Barbara Eden. He also directed several episodes of the show. In the years after the series, Hagman severely distanced himself from Jeannie, refusing to speak about it until 2001, the year his tell-all book was published, even though he invited former co-star Eden to appear on Dallas.

After Jeannie was cancelled, Hagman had two other short-lived series in the 1970s: Here We Go Again and The Good Life. He did guest appearances on television shows like Love American Style, Medical Center, and McCloud. He also appeared in such television films as Getting Away From It All (1972), Sidekicks (1974), The Return Of The World's Greatest Detective (1976), Intimate Strangers (1977), and Checkered Flag Or Crash (1977). Hagman also appeared in the theatrical films Harry And Tonto (1974), The Eagle Has Landed (1977), Superman: The Movie (1978), and Primary Colors (1998). He also directed a low-budget horror film in 1972 called Beware The Blob! Some have jokingly called this "the film that JR shot."

Larry Hagman chose to break his typecast role as a "nice guy" when he accepted the leading role in Dallas, which became television's first prime time soap opera. The show is the saga of the Ewings, a rich oil family. Hagman portrayed the central character, John Ross (J.R.) Ewing, one of television's greatest villains.

Hagman won wide praise for his performance as the charismatic antihero. At the conclusion of the 1979-1980 season, J.R. was shot by an unknown assailant and the burning question that summer all over the United States was, "Who shot J.R.?" When the culprit was finally revealed on November 21, 1980, the show received the highest ratings in television history at that time. Larry Hagman stayed with Dallas through 357 episodes until it was cancelled in 1991.

In January 1997, Larry starred in a short lived TV series named Orleans as Judge Luther Charbonnet. It lasted only eight episodes.

Health

In 1996, Hagman underwent a lifesaving liver transplant after admitting he had been a heavy drinker. He was also a heavy smoker as a young man, but a terrifying cancer scare was the catalyst for cessation. Hagman was so shaken by this incident that he immediately became strongly against smoking. He has recorded several public service announcements pleading with smokers to quit and urging non-smokers never to start. Hagman was the chairman of the American Cancer Society's annual Great American Smokeout for many years, and also worked on behalf of the National Kidney Foundation.

These health struggles have actually been turned into a running joke on Jim Rome's radio show, where e-mailers routinely send e-mails signed by "Larry Hagman's liver", usually in reference to things that have failed.

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