Actor Larry Hagman of ‘Dallas’ and ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ Fame Dies at Age 81 in Texas from Complications of Cancer

Larry Hagman, the actor who played such iconic roles as Major Anthony Nelson and J.R Ewing of ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ and ‘Dallas’ fame, respectively, has passed away at the age of 81 due to complications of cancer. Hagman was surrounded by his family and friends in Texas and died peacefully as per a family statement. Never has an actor been so loved and hated as to the roles that Hagman portrayed. From the bumbling and comical character of astronaut Major Nelson and everyone’s dream to have a problem like how to deal with a Jeannie, Barbara Eden, to the ruthless, conniving and mischievous Dallas business man J.R. Ewing … Rest in Peace Larry Hagman.

Rest in Peace: (September 21, 1931 – November 23, 2012)

“Larry was back in his beloved hometown of Dallas, re-enacting the iconic role he loved the most. Larry’s family and closest friends had joined him in Dallas for the Thanksgiving holiday,” the family said in a statement that was provided to The Associated Press by Warner Bros., producer of the show.   The 81-year-old actor was surrounded by friends and family before he passed peacefully, “just as he’d wished for,” the statement said.

The original pilot of I Dream of Jeannie … Major Nelson meets Jeanie for the first time at 2:12 mark

For those of you who are too young to know that TV used to actually have fantastic drama programming, not ridiculous ‘reality” tv on every channel and before a DVR was ever heard of, Friday nights from 1978 to 1991  were reserved to watch ’Dallas’.   For those who think that the choosing of the Apprentice or who is the final one standing on Survivor, Dancing with the Stars or American Idol were events, it had nothing on the story line of “Who Shot J.R.” that captured the collective imagination and forever entered the American lexicon of individuals in the 1980′s.

On this day in 1980, 350 million people around the world tune in to television’s popular primetime drama “Dallas” to find out who shot J.R. Ewing, the character fans loved to hate. J.R. had been shot on the season-ending episode the previous March 21, which now stands as one of television’s most famous cliffhangers. The plot twist inspired widespread media coverage and left America wondering “Who shot J.R.?” for the next eight months.  The November 21 episode solved the mystery, identifying Kristin Shepard, J.R.’s wife’s sister and his former mistress, as the culprit.

Warner Bros.”Dallas” executive producers Cynthia Cidre and Michael M. Robin, and the show’s cast and crew released the following statement:

“Larry Hagman was a giant, a larger-than-life personality whose iconic performance as J.R. Ewing will endure as one of the most indelible in entertainment history. He truly loved portraying this globally recognized character, and he leaves a legacy of entertainment, generosity and grace. Everyone at Warner Bros. and in the “Dallas” family is deeply saddened by Larry’s passing, and our thoughts are with his family and dear friends during this difficult time.”