Thanks to Larry Hagman, Americans couldn’t stop asking “Who shot J.R.?” The late actor was a hit back when swarthy studs dominated the boob tube. As the son of actress Mary Martin, Larry majored in dance and drama at New York’s Bard College. But after a year, the sexy student dropped out to serve abroad in the army and, once home, perform on stage (The Taming of the Shrew, South Pacific). Yet with his good looks, the 6’1” stunner was born to be on camera. As such, he popped up in first-rate flicks, such as Otto Preminger’s In Harm’s Way (1965) with John Wayne; Paul Mazursky’s Harry and Tonto (1974); The Eagle Has Landed (1976) with Michael Caine; Richard Donner’s Superman (1978) with Marlon Brando and Christopher Reeve; Blake Edwards’s S.O.B. (1981) with William Holden; and Mike Nichols’s Primary Colors (1998) with John Travolta. Early in his career, Larry appeared on soap operas (The Edge of Night, Search for Tomorrow) and primetime shows (Night Gallery, Sea Hunt, The West Point Story). But Mr. Hagman hit it big when he was cast as Major Nelson on NBC’s I Dream of Jeannie (1965-1970). The fantasy sitcom features Barbara Eden, Bill Daily, and Larry’s fit physique. We enjoyed viewing the hunk in bathing trunks! Of course, Larry is best known for donning a 10-gallon hat as J.R. Ewing on Dallas (1978-1991), Knots Landing (1980-1982), and Dallas: J.R. Returns (1996). Is that a cowboy hat or is Mr. Man just happy to have seen Mr. Hagman?
