Dallas Actors who have passed away: a cast guide
Although the show debuted for nearly four decades ago, there have fortunately not been many Dallas Actors who have passed away. First showing in 1978 and running until 1991 with 14 seasons focused on the Texas-set conflict between sworn enemies the Ewing and Barnes families, Dallas is the CBS prime-time soap opera. Oil tycoon J.R. Ewing ( Larry Hagman) takes front stage as the show runs on, but every character has plenty of screen time to have an influence.
Though Dallas was revived in 2012 for three seasons, the original program is the one most fondly remembered. Dallas lacks a huge cast of characters unlike other comparable soap operas. Though it's definitely a big ensemble, it's not tough to keep every actor straight, and, save from a few legendary TV episodes like when J.R. gets shot, there aren't the same dramatic exits and reentrances of characters that soaps are known for. This makes the Dallas characters a little more approachable, which makes it all the more sad that numerous of the show's performers have Died.
Larry Hagman serves J.R. Ewing.
Actor Larry Hagman left a major legacy even though he Died on November 23, 2012, at the age of 81, following complications from acute myeloid leukemia. Apart from his leading performance in Dallas, Hagman starred in I Dream of Jeannie as Major Anthony Nelson and Orleans as Judge Luther Charbonnet. Nixon is Jack Jones in his film titles; Harry and Tonto is Eddie; and Primary Colors is Governor Fred Picker.
Character: Dallas's ostensibly leading man is J.R. Ewing. Constantly plotting and manipulating people to increase his wealth and guarantee his rivals remain under his control, he is an immensely rich oil baron. Though he has a sympathetic place for his family, J.R. is egotistical and merciless in business transactions. Towards the end of the series, he spends more time reflecting on his behavior.
Miss Ellie Ewing Farlow, Barbara Bel Geddes
performer: Stage, TV, and film performer Barbara Bel Geddes had a distinguished career prior to her August 8, 2005, death at 82 from lung cancer. As Miss Ellie Ewing Farlow, Geddes was nominated for two Emmys and three Golden Globes; she won once each year. Her other television credits are minor such as Sybilla Meade in Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Maggie in Spencer's Pilots. The Todd Killings as Mrs. Todd and Vertigo as Marjorie "Midge" Wood comprise Geddes' film credits.
Character: Miss Ellie Ewing Farlow is the Farlows' family matriarch and a caring, protective presence in their life. She is trustworthy and proud, but she also tries her best to strike a balance between a moral code based on integrity and protection of her family.
Kevin Kercheval As Cliff Barnes
Actor: Ken Kercheval starred regularly in the Dallas revival before his death on April 21, 2019, at the age of 83 from pneumonia. Among his other noteworthy television roles are those of Deputy D.A. Clayburn in Starsky and Hutch and Archie Borman in The Secret Storm. The film credits of Kercheval feature Buffalo Bill Cody in Calamity Jane, Charlie in Surviving in L.A., and Merrill Grant in Network.
Kercheval portrays Cliff Barnes, one of the main Barnes family members and J.R.'s personal arch-enemy in Dallas. Cliff, a bureaucrat and lawyer, is a clumsy sad sack who only sporadically beats J.R. but generally ruins his chances with his inexperience and poor negotiating ability in the ruthless oil business.
Jim Davis acting as Jock Ewing
Actor Jim Davis, 71, passed unexpectedly in his house on April 26, 1981; he was a prolific TV and film actor, having recent roles in Dallas. On TV, Davis starred regularly as Matt Clark in Stories of the Century, Wes Cameron in Rescue 8, and Marshal Bill Winter in The Cowboys. Among his noteworthy movie credits are Come a Horseman as Julie Blocker and The Parallax View as George Hammond.
Character: J.R.'s father, Jock Ewing, started the family's enormous riches and is the Ewing patriarch. Young Jock started oil drilling alongside Willard "Digger" Barnes (David Wayne and Keenan Wynn). Digger's drinking and unreliability finally caused a falling out between the two, although Digger always blamed Jock for pilfering his business.
Dallas Supporting Cast and Character List
George Kennedy portrayed Carter McKay, a Colorado rancher arriving in Dallas in later seasons, on Dallas. An award-winning film actor who received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as Dragline in Cool Hand Luke Kennedy passed away on February 28, 2016, at the age of 81 from a heart condition. Additionally nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance as Joe Patroni in the movie Airport was he He appeared as Bumper Morgan on The Blue Knight as well.
Dack Rambo, who passed away on March 21, 1994, at 52 from complications stemming from AIDs, portrayed Jack Ewing, J.R.'s cousin who travels from Alaska to assist the Ewings in battling the Barnes family. On the shows The Guns of Will Sonnett and Dirty Sally, Rambo starred as Jeff Sonnett and Cyrus Peake respectively. His film credits Terry Love in Which Way to the Front and David Webb in Nightmare Honeymoon.
Donna Reed as Miss Ellie Ewing Farlow: At sixty-four, Donna Reed died on January 14, 1986 from pancreatic cancer. She replaced Geddes one season on Dallas, playing Miss Ellie while the original actor recovered from emergency quadruple bypass surgery. Playing Alma "Lorene" Burke in From Here to Eternity, Reed took home a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award. Her lead performance as Donna Stone on The Donna Reed Show got her a Golden Globe and four Emmys as well.
