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1 | Her ex-Dallas (1978) co-star, Victoria Principal, used to live not too far from him. Before the series began, they were actually lifelong friends. |
2 | He was most widely known to be a social butterfly. |
3 | His widow, Maj Axelsson was 3 yrs. his senior. |
4 | Maj Axelsson Hagman of Los Angeles, California, died May 31st, 2016. The loving wife of Actor Larry Hagman, she was known as an amazing hostess and mainstay of the family. Born in May, 1928 in Eskilstuna, Sweden, she was the eldest of four sisters. Her father, who had a car dealership in Sweden, told his daughter to "reach for the stars in order to get to the treetops" and Maj followed his advice moving to London and becoming an accomplished dress designer. In London she met the love of her life, a young serviceman named Larry Hagman, who had recently performed in the cast of the Broadway import musical "South Pacific," with his mother, the acclaimed New York musical theater star Mary Martin. Mag moved to New York City as a military bride and supported her husband Larry by designing and sewing costumes for night club singers while Larry worked in the New York theater. When Larry landed a starring role in the early 1960s on Hollywood's "I Dream of Jeannie," Mag turned her considerable talents to supporting Larry's ascending career while continuing to design clothes, build extraordinary homes and even custom-design Jacuzzis. Mag later shared in the joys and successes of Larry Hagman's success as "JR Ewing" on the popular hit television series "Dallas" that ran from the late 1970s through the 1980s. The couple supported philanthropic causes from the Dallas and Ojai Symphonies to organ donations and solar energy. The couple traveled the world together over five and a half decades of their marriage until Larry passed away in 2012. In the end, she surpassed the treetops and touched the stars. Maj and Larry are survived to their two children and five grandchildren. |
5 | Before his future Dallas (1978) co-star, Charlene Tilton, co-starred opposite Hagman in the series, as a little girl, she used to visit Hagman's dear friend, Richard Dawson off- the set of Hogan's Heroes (1965), where Dawson used to give her gum and candy, all the while, he took her around and watch him rehearse. |
6 | Was a longtime friend of Richard Dawson. He used to play Frisbee at Hagman's house in Malibu, where he was living at the time. |
7 | After Dallas (1978) and until Barbara Bel Geddes's death, he did not keep in touch with her. |
8 | On Dallas (1978), his character drank heavily, in real-life, he also drank heavily, which led him to receiving a liver transplant in 1995, though it didn't damage the organ, when it weakened his immune system. |
9 | On an episode of Dallas (1978), his character read the letter from his late TV father, in real-life, he lost his own father, years before the series started. |
10 | Carcinoma ran in his family. |
11 | Next to his Dallas (1978) co-star, Linda Gray, his favorite actress from that same serial was Deborah Rennard. |
12 | His Dallas (1978) co-stars, Patrick Duffy and Sasha Mitchell co-starred on the popular 1990s sitcom, Step by Step (1991), also produced by Lorimar (now Warner Bros. Television). |
13 | When he wanted to audition for one of the male lead roles as J.R. Ewing in Dallas (1978), his character from I Dream of Jeannie (1965) nearly prevented him from accepting it, because he might've been typecasted, but David Jacobs didn't mind him doing a soap opera. |
14 | Once stated that (before Dallas (1978)) young viewers often confused him with Dick York (or Dick Sargent) and DeForest Kelley. |
15 | Was known to throw parties for the cast and crew at his home whenever tensions ran high on set. |
16 | His character J.R. Ewing was so hated that Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceauescu allowed ''Dallas'' to be one of the few series shown in his country and paid Hagman to show his image throughout the country as he saw his character as epitomizing the very worst of American capitalism and hoped it would turn people against the idea. |
17 | Was close friends with Hunter von Leer. |
18 | Was 1 month younger than his I Dream of Jeannie (1965) co-star Barbara Eden. |
19 | He played the same character (J.R. Ewing) on three different series: Dallas (1978), Knots Landing (1979) and Dallas (2012). |
20 | Acting mentor and friends of Patrick Duffy, Victoria Principal, Charlene Tilton and Sheree J. Wilson. |
21 | Used to live in the same area as Michael Landon. |
22 | On I Dream of Jeannie (1965), he played an astronaut who was a member of the United States Air Force, in real-life, Hagman served in the United States Air Force. |
23 | Just before his death, his Dallas (1978) co-star, Linda Gray, played host to him at his 81st birthday luncheon at a restaurant in Dallas, Texas. |
24 | Was raised largely by his maternal grandmother while his mother became a famous stage actress. |
25 | Met a young, unfamiliar actor Patrick Duffy in the movie, Hurricane (1974), before Hagman co-starred with him on Dallas (1978), opposite Hagman as his younger brother. |
26 | He was not David Jacobs's first choice to audition for the male lead role of J.R. Ewing on Dallas (1978), when Robert Foxworth had been offered the role. Knowing he would not play a character that was absolutely unsympathetic, Hagman immediately came in and won the role. |
27 | His show Dallas (1978) was canceled at the end of the fourteenth season because of low ratings. |
28 | Before he was a successful actor, he used to dance with Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara, on the opening night of South Pacific at the Savoy in London, England. |
29 | Before he was a successful actor, he met and used to work with a young unfamiliar actor Carroll O'Connor, who was working as an assistant stage manager for the Broadway play 'God and Kate Murphy,' in which Hagman starred. |
30 | Was also a solar power enthusiast. |
31 | In order for Hagman to get the role of Maj. Anthony Nelson in I Dream of Jeannie (1965), he did the voice-over in Russian for the show The Rogues (1964). He was also convinced to get the role when Gig Young was unavailable, hence, Hagman won the role. |
32 | Had worked with Joan Van Ark in episodes of two different series: Dallas (1978) and its spin-off Knots Landing (1979). |
33 | Began his career appearing in Broadway plays and musicals in 1950. |
34 | His family moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1938, when young Larry was only 7. |
35 | Was reunited with ex-I Dream of Jeannie (1965) co-star, Barbara Eden on both series: A Howling in the Woods (1971) and Dallas (1978). |
36 | While temporarily moving back to Connecticut with his mother and stepfather, Hagman continued drinking heavily again, therefore, Mary Martin had no choice other than to kick him out of the house much due to the fact that Hagman was suffering from alcohol poisoning. |
37 | His parents were divorced when he was only 5 years old. |
38 | A cowboy buff. |
39 | His parents were Mary Martin, who was a popular Broadway actress and Benjamin Hagman, a lawyer. |
40 | His ex-Dallas (1978) co-star and friend Joan Van Ark attended his 80th birthday party in 2011, despite not being a regular castmember. |
41 | Met Donna Mills on The Good Life (1971), where the two remained best friends for 41 years until Hagman's death in 2012. |
42 | Had guest-starred on the second episode of Dallas (1978)'s spin-off series Knots Landing (1979), as JR Ewing. |
43 | His Dallas (1978) co-star, Ken Kercheval, said Hagman's character, JR Ewing was the total opposite of Hagman, in real-life. |
44 | He appeared on Live with Kelly and Michael (1988) five times. |
45 | At the beginning of the second season of the revised Dallas (2012) series, he reduced his appearances because he needed to undergo chemotherapy. |
46 | His show Dallas (1978) was filmed at Southfork Ranch, the same place that is located in real-life. |
47 | Upon his death he was cremated; his ashes were scattered at the Southfork Ranch in Parker, Texas. |
48 | He said his favorite show to date was Dallas (1978). |
49 | His children Preston Hagman and Heidi Hagman both appeared on various episodes of Dallas (1978). |
50 | When his mother Mary Martin was diagnosed with cancer in 1989, Martin was a Kennedy Center Honoree that year. At the awards show, Hagman gave a funny and poignant tribute to his mother, who was in the audience. |
51 | His mother Mary Martin had died on the day she got married, 60 years ago in 1990. |
52 | His grandfather, Preston Martin, had died in 1938, when young Larry was only 7. |
53 | His son Preston Hagman was named after his grandfather and great-grandfather, Preston, who died when his father was only 7. |
54 | Did not reprise his role in 2 I Dream of Jeannie (1965) reunion movies, because he was busy starring in Dallas (1978), and was taking a vacation with his family. |
55 | His father, Ben Hagman, had a massive stroke and was in a coma, who died on July 15, 1965. |
56 | Played Barbara Bel Geddes's son in Dallas (1978), in real-life, Hagman was 9 years Bel Geddes's junior. |
57 | The reason he wanted to stay on Dallas (1978) is because he wanted to work with Barbara Bel Geddes, who starred as his mother. |
58 | Owned 5 Toyota Prius Hybrids. |
59 | During the last 3 seasons of Dallas (1978), when he became the co-executive producer of the show, he went to England and had Holland and Holland gave him a shotgun. |
60 | Had originally wanted to be a cowboy. |
61 | When I Dream of Jeannie (1965) began, a crisis cropped up right away: Series star Barbara Eden was pregnant. This forced the quick filming of 10 episodes. Problems developed immediately between him, who was determined to make the show, the best it could be, and director Gene Nelson, who insisted that they follow the script to the letter. Each man wanted the other fired. Due to NBC's preference, Larry prevailed. |
62 | Before he was a successful actor, he worked for oil field-equipment maker Antelope Tool Company and witnessed the eldest son of the company founder win a battle to succeed him, one summer. |
63 | Just before his death, he reprised his role as JR Ewing in Dallas (2012). |
64 | Had screen tested for the role of Maj. Anthony Nelson in I Dream of Jeannie (1965). He even beat out Robert Conrad for a co-starring role, opposite Barbara Eden as her master. |
65 | Always asked Sidney Sheldon questions about the difficulty in scripts for I Dream of Jeannie (1965). |
66 | According to ex-Dallas (1978) co-star, Charlene Tilton, after his death, she said in an interview, while she was a teenager, she lived with her single mother, before Hagman came in to become her surrogate father, while starring in Dallas (1978), who taught her how to behave professionally. |
67 | Larry Hagman passed away on November 23, 2012. This was just 1 month before he would've celebrated his 58th Wedding Anniversary to Maj Axelsson. |
68 | His final guest-starring role was on Desperate Housewives (2004). |
69 | Alongside Norman Lloyd, William Daniels, Ernest Borgnine, Mickey Rooney, Betty White, Angela Lansbury, Dick Van Dyke, Charlotte Rae, Marla Gibbs, William Shatner, Adam West, Florence Henderson, Shirley Jones and Alan Alda, Hagman was one of the few actors in Hollywood who lived into their 80s and/or 90s without ever either retiring from acting or having stopped getting work. |
70 | Former neighbor of Tom Brokaw. |
71 | He played the same character (J.R. Ewing) in three different series: Dallas (1978), Knots Landing (1979) and Dallas (2012). |
72 | As of 2012, his wife Maj Axelsson has advanced Alzheimer's disease and lives in a rented flat near his house. She is attended to by five live-in nurses. |
73 | Due to health reasons, he quit drinking, smoking, and eating meat and dairy products. |
74 | When Barbara Bel Geddes took a medical leave on Dallas (1978), at the end of the eighth season, at one point, he suggested his real-life mother (Mary Martin) in replacing Bel Geddes' as Miss Ellie. |
75 | Graduated from Weatherford High School in Weatherford, Texas in 1949. |
76 | In high school, he fell in love with the stage in particular with the warm reception he got for his comedic roles. |
77 | Received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1560 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. |
78 | Lived in the same area of his ex-Dallas (1978) co-star, Steve Kanaly. |
79 | Of Swedish descent by his grandparents, as is his wife. |
80 | With the encouragement of Dallas (1978) co-star, Patrick Duffy, he quit smoking and drinking after over 45 years. Hagman began drinking as a teenager. |
81 | Was a spokesperson of American Cancer Society of the 1980s, who encouraged people to quit smoking. |
82 | His mother, Mary Martin, died on November 3, 1990, just 1 month before her 77th birthday. |
83 | His future Dallas (1978) co-star, Charlene Tilton, was said to be a childhood television hero before she co-starred with him in the series. |
84 | Did not get along with his stepfather at all, before Richard Halliday's death in 1973. |
85 | Was reunited with I Dream of Jeannie (1965) series' lead, Barbara Eden, for the final season of Dallas (1978). |
86 | Always refused to talk about his role on I Dream of Jeannie (1965) until 2001. |
87 | Successfully talked Patrick Duffy into returning to Dallas (1978) for the show's tenth season. |
88 | Before he was a successful actor, he was digging ditches and bailing hay in his hometown of Weatherford, Texas. |
89 | His idol when he was very young was Jim Davis, who in turn played his TV father on Dallas (1978), until Davis's death in 1981. Had the portrait of his idol, hanging in his house until the day he died. He and the rest of his Dallas (1978) co-stars, attended the funeral of his idol, Jim Davis, on 1 May 1981. |
90 | Each and every year, he always bestowed his ex-Dallas (1978) co-star Cathy Podewell flowers on the day of her birthday. |
91 | Was a Democrat. |
92 | Dated Joan Collins while in England. |
93 | Was diagnosed with Stage 2 throat cancer in June 2011, was cancer free for nearly the entire year in 2012, until he died. |
94 | At his wife's suggestion, he auditioned for the lead role of J.R. Ewing in Dallas (1978). Fortunately, he won the role. |
95 | According to Dallas (1978) co-star, Linda Gray, she said in an interview Hagman reconciled with his mother, after the loss of his stepfather. |
96 | His ex-Dallas (1978) co-star, Charlene Tilton, was the only member of the cast to attend his 70th birthday party in 2001. |
97 | Out of the original cast members of Dallas (1978), he was the only one that is originally from the state of Texas. Susan Howard, who later joined the cast as Donna Culver, is also from Texas. |
98 | Friends with: Shirley Jones, David Cassidy, Bea Arthur, Florence Henderson, Barbara Eden, David Jacobs, Michael Filerman, Jamie Farr, Wink Martindale, Anne Francis, Karl Malden, Michael Douglas, Buddy Ebsen, Lee Meriwether, Victor French, Michael Landon, Melissa Gilbert, Carroll O'Connor, Michele Lee, Donna Mills, Joan Van Ark, Susan Sullivan, Linda Evans, Lorenzo Lamas, Jim Davis, Barbara Bel Geddes, Howard Keel, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy, Kevin Dobson, Randolph Mantooth, Mary Crosby, Quinn Martin, Regis Philbin, Robert Conrad, Larry Manetti, Jackie Cooper, Brian Keith, Adam West, James Drury, Doug McClure, Clu Gulager, Denny Miller, Robert Young, Dick Van Patten, George Kennedy, Harold Gould, Shelley Berman, Richard Donner, Dick Sargent, Richard Mulligan, Lloyd Bridges, Richard Dawson, Peter Fonda, Tom Brokaw, Mickey Rooney, Joan Collins and Bill Daily. |
99 | Remained good friends with Patrick Duffy, during and after Dallas (1978). |
100 | He was inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame in March 2009 in Austin, Texas. |
101 | Just before his future Dallas (1978) co-star, Patrick Duffy was born, Hagman would frequently visit Duffy's parents' home, as a teenager. Years later, he suggested to Patrick, he audition for a role on Dallas (1978), and didn't know who Hagman was at the time. |
102 | Spent much of his childhood in Weatherford, Texas. |
103 | His mother called him Lukey when he was a child. |
104 | Lived in Ojai, California. |
105 | Attended the Dublin Races in 2008. |
106 | 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). |
107 | Bore a striking resemblance to professional wrestling announcer Jim Ross. Ross is often simply referred to as "J.R.". |
108 | Was an avid fan of The Sopranos (1999). |
109 | Was 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). |
110 | The only actor to appear in all 357 episodes of Dallas (1978). |
111 | 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). |
112 | Was one of the few players on Dallas (1978) to stay on for the entire series. |
113 | 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. |
114 | Son of Mary Martin. |
115 | Was best friends with legendary Who drummer Keith Moon whom he met on the set of the movie Stardust (1974). |
116 | The Malibu house in which he used to live is now owned by the singer Sting. |
117 | Granddaughters: Rebecca, Nora, Tara, Kaya, and Noel. |
118 | Turned down the starring role on the short-lived sitcom The Waverly Wonders (1978) in favor of Dallas (1978). |
119 | His wife is from Sweden, and they owned a house in her old hometown Sundsvall, that they visited every year. |
120 | Bridget Fonda's godfather. |
121 | Son, Preston Hagman, born 2 May 1962. |
122 | Daughter, Kristina Mary Heidi Hagman, born 17 February 1958. |
123 | His Ojai, California ranch is called Heaven. |
124 | Was a longtime friend of the late Carroll O'Connor, 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. |
125 | Was a vegetarian. |
126 | Used to live next door to Burgess Meredith in the early 1980s. |
127 | Was a huge supporter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation |
128 | His idols were: Jack Benny, John Wayne, Jim Davis, Dick Powell, and his future Dallas (1978) leads Barbara Bel Geddes and Jim Davis. |
129 | Enjoyed hunting, skiing, backpacking, fishing, sailing, collected canes, hats and flags, collecting art, golfing, drinking and touring in his personally designed custom motorhome. |
130 | Was once Chairman of the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout. |
131 | He produced and directed shows for servicemen while he was stationed in the United States Air Force. |
132 | Attended Bard College in Anandale-on-the-Hudson, New York for one year |
133 | Required autograph seekers to sing a song for him or tell him a joke before giving his autograph. He said that he did it so he got something back from his fans. |
134 | Earned a reported $75,000 to $100,000 an episode for Dallas (1978) in 1980. |
135 | [1995] Had a liver transplant. |
136 | Father of: Preston Hagman and Heidi Hagman, who appeared in the "All in the Family" spinoff, Archie Bunker's Place (1979). |
137 | He refused to speak one day a week, simply as a test of his self discipline. |
138 | He met his wife while he was stationed in England, UK. |
139 | Served in the United States Air Force. |
140 | Had a ring made from the gallstones that were removed during his liver transplant. |
141 | Offered to pay for drug rehab for Robert Downey Jr. in 1996, after Downey asked to borrow $100,000 from him. |
142 | Loved motorcycles and owned a Harley. |
143 | Broke his collar bone when he was a child. |
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