Larry Haghman

Biography for Larry Haghman

The son of a legendary actress (Mary Martin) and a district attorney, Larry Hagman was born Larry Hageman in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 21, 1931. After his parents' divorce, he moved to Los Angeles to live with his grandmother. When he was 12, his grandmother died and he moved back to his mother's place, who had remarried and was launching a Broadway career. After attending Bard College in New York State, he decided to follow his mother's acting road. His first stage tryout was with the Margo Jones Theatre-in-the-Round in Dallas, Texas. He then appeared in the New York City Center production of "Taming the Shrew," followed by a year in regional theater. In his early-to-mid twenties, Larry moved to England as a member of the cast of his mother's stage show, "South Pacific", and was a member of the cast for five years. After that, he enrolled in the U.S. Air Force, where he produced and directed several series for members of the service. After completing his service in the Air Force, Larry returned to New York City for a series of Broadway and off-Broadway plays, esp. "Once Around the Block", "Career", "Comes A Day", "A Priest in the House", "The Beauty Part", "The Warm Peninsula", "The Nervous Set" among many others. He began his television career in 1961 with a number of guest appearances on shows as "The ALCOA Hour". He was later chosen to be in the popular daytime series "The Edge of Night" (1956), in which he starred for 2 years. But that was his start, he later went on to become the friendliest television star in the NBC sitcom "I Dream of Jeannie" (1965), in which he played the amiable astronaut, Anthony Nelson. In the series, his life was endangered by this gorgeous blonde bombshell genie played by Barbara Eden. The series ran for 5 years and after that, he continued his success in "The Good Life" (1971) and "Here We Go Again" (1973), as well as a number of guest-starring roles on many series. He was also with Lauren Bacall in the television version of the hit Broadway musical Applause (1973) (TV). In 1977, "Dallas" (1978) came aboard and Larry's career was secured. He credits "Superchick" for convincing him to do the show. This program of an excessively rich Texas family, was one of the best, beloved, most-watched shows of all time as he portrayed the role of the evil yet perverted millionaire J.R. Ewing, the man who loved to be hated. The series ran for an amazing 14 1/2 seasons and the "Who shot J.R.?" episode remains the second highly-rated television show in the history of the satellite. Since his name was familiar with Texas, it was suiting that he hosted "Lone Star" (1985), an eight-part documentary series related to the history of Texas, for the Public Television Stations. That aired while celebrating the 150th anniversary of Texas as an independent republic. In the spring of 1987, Kari-Lorimar released "Larry Hagman--Stop Smoking for Life:. Proceeds from this home video were donated to the American Cancer Society. In July 1995, he needed a liver transplant in order for him to regain his life back after years of strong drinking that led to cirrhosis. He went over to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for this where he spent 7 weeks in the hospital, and an operation took 16 hours but saved his life. In July 1996, 1 year after he had a new liver, he served as the National Spokesperson for the 1996 U.S. Transplant Games presented by the National Kidney Foundation and, on November 2, he later received the Award for his efforts in escalating public awareness of the concept of organ donation. Today, he continues to serve as an advocate of organ donation and transplantation. In November 1996, he starred in Dallas: J.R. Returns (1996) (TV), a 2-hour movie in which the ratings were a huge success for CBS, as well as in the network's one-hour, drama series "Orleans" (1997) when his role of Judge Luther Charbonnet gave him some of the best reviews of his 36-year-career. When he was feeling better than he had for so many years, he completed his 2 movie projects: The Third Twin (1997) (TV), a four hour mini-series based on the author's best selling novel, that aired on CBS, and Mike Nichols's Primary Colors (1998), a film based on the best-selling book by a journalist, Joe Klein. Starring in that film were John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates and Adrian Lester. Larry played Governor Picker, an antipolitics politician who stands a grave danger crisis to the governor's bid for office. Primary Colors was his second presidential film having also appeared in Oliver Stone's Nixon (1995). Following these movies, his second Dallas reunion movie, Dallas: War of the Ewings (1998) (TV), aired on CBS. He also served as Executive Producer. Away from films, Larry is actively involved in a series of civic and philanthropic events. An adamant non-smoker, he served as the chairperson of the American Cancer Society's "Great American Smokeout", from 1981 to 1992.

Son of Broadway Star Mary Martin.

Larry Hagman was an American actor known for his role in the television series "Dallas" in which he interpreted J.R. Ewing, a controversial and manipulative character. Hagman is also known to have played in the series "I Dream of Jeannie", in which he embodied the character of Tony Nelson.

Hagman was born on September 21, 1931 in Fort Worth, Texas. He grew up in Weatherford, Texas, where he attended the Weatherford High School. After graduating, he studied dramatic art at the University of Texas in Austin.

Hagman began his acting career in the early 1950s. He played in several plays, notably in "The Taming of the Shrew" and "South Pacific". His first appearance on television dates back to 1955, in a series entitled "Goodyear Playhouse". In the 1960s, he played in several television series, including "The Edge of Night" and "The Beverly Hillbillies".

In 1965, Hagman obtained the role that would become his most famous performance: that of Tony Nelson in the series "I Dream of Jeannie". The series was a success and Hagman won an Emmy Award in 1966 for his performance. After the end of the series in 1970, Hagman continued to work in the world of entertainment, appearing in films and television series.

In 1978, Hagman was chosen to play J.R. Ewing in the series "Dallas". The series was very successful and became one of the most popular of the time. Hagman played in the series for 13 seasons and won two Golden Globe Awards for his role. The series was broadcast worldwide and contributed to Hagman's celebrity.

Hagman died on November 23, 2012, at the age of 81. His death was announced by his family, who said he died of liver cancer. His acting career was praised by his colleagues and he is considered one of the most talented and popular actors of his generation.

Photos

Filmography

Trivia

• Broke his collar bone when he was a child.
• Loves motorcycles, and owns a Harley.
• Offered to pay for drug rehab for Robert Downey Jr. in 1996, after Downey asked to borrow $100,000 from him.
• Has a ring made from the gallstones that were removed during his liver transplant.
• Served in the U.S. Air Force.
• He met his wife while he was stationed in England, UK.
• He refuses to speak one day a week, simply as a test of his self discipline.
• Had a liver transplant. [1996]
• Earned a reported $75,000 to $100,000 an episode for "Dallas" (1978) in 1980.
• Requires autograph seekers to sing a song for him or tell him a joke before giving his autograph. He says that he does it so he gets something back from his fans.
• Attended Bard College in Anandale-on-the-Hudson, New York for one year
• He produced and directed shows for servicemen while he was stationed in the U. S. Air Force.
• Chairman of the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout
• Enjoys skiing, backpacking, fishing, sailing, and touring in his personally designed custom motorhome
• Collects canes, hats and flags
• Is a huge supporter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
• Used to live next door to Burgess Meredith in the early 1980s.
• Is a vegetarian.
• Is a long-time friend of the late 'Carroll O'Connor (I)', and spoke at O'Connor's funeral on 26 June 2001. O'Connor gave Hagman's daughter, Heidi Hagman, a part in "Archie Bunker's Place" (1979) in the early 1980s.
• His Ojai, California ranch is called Heaven.
• Turned down the starring role on the short-lived sitcom "The Waverly Wonders" in favor of "Dallas" (1978).
• The Malibu house in which he used to live is now owned by the singer Sting.
• Was best friends with legendary Who drummer Keith Moon whom he met on the set of the movie Stardust (1974).
• Although he still requires autograph seekers to sing him a song or recite a poem, he no longer ask for them to tell him a joke because the fans would tell him dirty jokes.
• Made his stage debut as a Seabee in the London production of "South Pacific", which starred his mother. In 1989, Mary Martin would recall, "Larry could really sing, too. Still can, but he doesn't like to". Another Seabee, also making his stage debut in the production, was Sean Connery.
• Was one of the few players on "Dallas" (1978) to stay on for the entire series.
• Holds the record for the greatest number of consecutive appearances by a leading actor in an hour-long prime time dramatic series, for his 357 appearances on "Dallas" (1978).
• Is the only actor to appear in all 357 episodes of "Dallas" (1978).
• Is good friends with Donna Mills. She starred with him as his wife in a short-lived 1971 sitcom, just 9 years before she starred with him again on, "Knots Landing" (1979).
• Is an avid fan of "The Sopranos" (1999).
• Bears a striking resemblance to professional wrestling announcer Jim Ross. Ross is often simply referred to as "J.R."
• Best remembered by the public for his starring roles as J.R. Ewing in Dallas (1978) and as Major Tony Nelson in I Dream of Jeannie (1965).

Quotes

"I've been on some loony shows in my time, but this one takes the cake." - when appearing on the BBC's Shooting Stars, February 2002.

"I made money. Enough so I don't have to work again. But I'd like to, I really would. But I'd want to do something interesting like Santa Claus - or God."

"Barbara Eden is the most beautiful girl in the world."

"I spent five years in England, I went over there with my mother in the show South Pacific and I just love it. I go back there three or four times a year. I joined the American airforce because the Korean war was going on at one time and I got my call up papers and I was supposed to report back to the United States and get my ass shot off in Korea which I didn't think was a smart idea and not only that I couldn't understand what the war was all about, I guess a lot of people could at that time but I still can't even more than I can the Vietnam war, so anyhow I enlisted in the American airforce and I was stationed in London for four years which was pretty good because I never gave up my civilian apartment in St Johns Wood. I got married, met a Swedish girl there, we've been married 46 years now."

(On the infamous "Who Shot J.R?" episode): "Before that fateful shot rang out, I was merely bemused by the success of the character. Villainy could be fun, and that's how I played it. And if it worked. I mean I couldn't go down to the corner to pick up my copy of the Sunday New York Times without running into some nubile creature with "J.R. for President" emblazoned across her chest. Now a higher, shriller note had been added. People who once merely wanted J.R.'s autograph demanded to know who shot him as if it were their birthright, and were angry and upset when I told them, truthfully, that I didn't know."

"I was born with success. Lucky for me I am able to handle it. Also, I damn well deserve it!"

"People I meet really want me to be J.R., so it's hard to disappoint them."

About co-star Linda Gray after her divorce: Maj and I kind of adopted her. She was here at the house nearly every day. We'd call her first thing in the morning to make sure she was alright, we'd make sure she had dinner every night.

Family

• Spouse : Maj Axelsson (18 December 1954 - present) 2 children
• Son of Mary Martin.
• Son is Preston Hagman. Daughter, Heidi Hagman, appeared in "All in the Family" spinoff.
• Daughter, Kristina Mary Heidi Hagman, born 17 February 1958.
• Son, Preston Hagman, born 2 May 1962.
• Is Bridget Fonda's godfather.
• His wife is from Sweden, and they own a house in her old hometown Sundsvall, that they visit every year.
• Granddaughters: Noelle, Rebecca, and Tara.

Author of the card

• Creation date: 10/12/2007 by KITT69