Dallas Star Larry Hagman Dies Aged 81

He’ll probably be renowned for one of television’s most iconic super villains a part he played for over a decade and to reprise it once again this year,Jr Ewing played by Texan born actor Larry Hagman who sadly died aged 81.

The actor had been suffering from cancer and cirrhosis of the liver and was surrounded by family along with close friends at Dallas Hospital. The actor died yesterday, Friday 23rd November with larryhagman.com the actor’s official website making announcement of his death public today.

Hagman shot to stardom away back in 1978 as the scheming Texan Oil rig tycoon Jr Ewing in Dallas, a role he would play in 1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s. The World wide success of the primetime show was phenomenal at it’s peak boasting over 300 million viewers worldwide, feat no other television show has been able to toppled.

Those figures where all thanks to ‘who shot Jr?’ 1980 storyline that gripped every nation the show aired including the UK, the show ran March to November that year. All fingers pointed at Jr’s long suffering alcoholic wife Sue Ellen but 21st November 1980 in the episode ‘Who Done it’ it wasn’t Sue Ellen but her sister Kristen Shepherd!

Larry Hagman‘s made an name for himself mostly on the small screen but he did make a few appearances on the big screen with Primary Colours and Superman.

It was September this year on Channel 5 when Larry Hagman was back in his beloved Dallas, re-enacting the iconic role he loved most, Jr becoming the villain viewers just loved to hate. With season one just recently finished filming a 2nd season with it due to be shown Summer 2013 on Channel 5 (or this January in USA).

Linda Gray who played Sue Ellen said in a statement: “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.