What Happened To The Cast Of The 1978 TV Show Dallas?

Lengthy earlier than the Roys of New York or the Sopranos of New Jersey, one household dominated tv: the Ewings of “Dallas.” The genre-shaking cleaning soap opera aired for 14 seasons from 1978 to 1991, chronicling the dramatic, twist-filled epic saga of the Ewing Oil dynasty. 

On a picturesque ranch in Dallas, Texas, the household used their cash, connections, and crafty to bat away threats from outdoors (just like the Barnes household, whose decades-old beef with the Ewings propels a lot of the sequence’ drama) and inside. No matter threats that rival oilman, spurned lovers, or wannabe politicians suppose they will pose, “Dallas” all the time reminds us that there is nothing stronger — or extra harmful — than household. 

Over 30 years have handed because the remaining episode of the unique sequence, and there is been effectively over 10 years of silence from this world following a short revival on TNT. As such, many are interested in what occurred to the forged of “Dallas,” so we tracked down as a lot details about its huge ensemble forged as we might. 

For all 13 seasons of “Dallas,” Larry Hagman performed John Ross “J.R.” Ewing, the eldest son of the three Ewing boys, whose expertise for underhanded, “detestable however mandatory” enterprise maneuvers made him one of the compelling tv characters ever written. When his character was famously shot on the finish of the present’s third season, the following rabid viewers curiosity licensed “Dallas” because the once-in-a-lifetime cultural phenomenon it was (maybe solely the eventual “death” of Jon Snow or the finale of “The Sopranos” come shut).

After “Dallas” led to 1991, Hagman’s subsequent main mission got here within the type of the 1995 characteristic movie “Nixon,” a non secular successor of types to director Oliver Stone’s earlier hit political thriller “JFK.” Hagman performed the fictional Jack Jones, a wealthy businessman not in contrast to J.R. who represented the disgraced U.S. President’s (Anthony Hopkins) dealings with numerous rich elites. In contrast to “JFK,” Nixon was an unmitigated monetary failure (and the president’s portrayal may have been better in “Dick” anyway). In 1997, he led the primary season of an ill-fated CBS drama sequence known as “Orleans,” through which he starred as a decide. A yr after, he performed Florida Governor Fred Picker within the Mike Nichols dramedy “Main Colours,” starring John Travolta and Emma Thompson.

Like most members of the “Dallas” forged, Hagman acted in a number of follow-up initiatives to the sequence, together with the TV motion pictures “Dallas: J.R. Returns” and “Dallas: Struggle of the Ewings.” In 2012, he returned to the function of J.R. as soon as extra for the TNT revival of the sequence, throughout which he handed away on the age of 81 attributable to issues from throat most cancers.

Contrasting J.R. Ewing’s near-sociopathic want for skilled victory is Robert “Bobby” Ewing, his youngest brother (the third, center Ewing Gary solely appeared in just a few episodes of “Dallas,” however was one of many essential characters of the spin-off sequence “Knots Touchdown”). Bobby is sturdy however empathetic man who tries his greatest to carry onto his personal ethical compass, regardless of his household’s dealings.

Along with the varied “Dallas” continuations, Duffy landed a number one function on the ABC household sitcom “Step by Step,” which ran for seven seasons and 160 episodes, regardless of being panned by critics (a few of the animosity got here from the sequence barely even remixing or updating the premise of “The Brady Bunch”). It led to 1998. 

Duffy proceeded to guest-star in a variety of TV reveals (just about every part from “Analysis Homicide” and “Reba” to “Justice League” and “Household Man”) and appeared in numerous TV motion pictures. In 2006, he joined the forged of the daytime cleaning soap “The Daring and the Lovely” as Stephen Logan, and has made appearances on this system as lately as 2023. In 2016, Duffy participated within the artwork movie “Resort Dallas,” which examined how the sequence’ reputation ostensibly modified the political trajectory of Romania, contributing to the cultural local weather that led to the 1989 Romanian Revolution. In 2024, he recurred on the Carl Weber BET sequence “The Household Enterprise.”

“Dallas” kicks off with the revelation that Bobby Ewing will not be solely returning to the Southworth household ranch to take a extra energetic hand in Ewing Oil, however he’s doing so with a brand new bride — Pamela Barnes, a member of the rival Barnes clan, performed by Victoria Principal. She’s one of many smartest characters on the present, although her potential as an asset to the Ewing household is undermined by their suspicions of her true loyalty.

Like co-star Patrick Duffy, Principal’s post-“Dallas” run started with a string of TV motion pictures, in addition to a supporting function within the 1992 miniseries “Burden of Proof.” She guest-starred on a litany of well-known sequence together with “Dwelling Enchancment,” “Chicago Hope,” and “The Observe,” and she or he additionally performed a fictionalized model of herself on an episode of HBO’s meta speak present comedy “The Larry Sanders Present” (it is quietly one of the best series the network has ever produced). She additionally reprised her function from “Dallas” in a voice cameo on “Household Man.” Her most up-to-date (and probably remaining( performing function was within the short-lived TV sequence “Titans” (to not be confused with the DC Comics sequence of the identical identify).

Principal has semi-retired from performing to concentrate on different ventures. In 1991, she based the anti-aging skincare model Principal Secret. She additionally works with weak and displaced animals at her personal ranch in California.

Ewing household patriarch John “Jock” Ewing was performed by Jim Davis. Jock spent most of his time on the sequence attempting to juggle his dysfunctional youngsters, whereas nursing his bitter rivalry with the Barnes household.

Davis performed Jock Ewing up till his loss of life in 1981. Reporters on the time have been not sure of his precise age — the actor’s recorded delivery date on the time (obtainable to the general public in “biographical materials”) apparently had him at 65 years of age; different sources alleged he was 72 when he handed. The consensus now seems to be that he was 71. Leonard Katzman, government producer and quasi-showrunner of “Dallas,” informed retailers shortly after Davis’ loss of life that they’d no intention of recasting Jock, and he even utilized for a waiver from the hanging Writers Guild, so he and his group might modify future storylines. It’s finally revealed in a season 5 episode that Jock died in a helicopter crash.

Jock Ewing’s spouse Ellie (performed by Barbara Bel Geddes) typically represented the present’s singular ethical core. Her household owned the Southfork ranch that the Ewings name residence at first of the sequence, and her marriage to Jock, partially, precipitated her desperation to save lots of her ancestral residence.

Ellie Ewing was the ultimate function Geddes performed earlier than she retired in 1990. She was written out of the sequence forward of its remaining episodes by means of Miss Ellie discovering on a visit all over the world that, understandably, she needs nothing extra to do together with her youngsters or the household enterprise. She leaves the ranch to her youngest son Bobby (Patrick Duffy) and does not look again. 

Geddes appears to have spent her retirement quietly, and she or he handed away in 2005 on the age of 82 attributable to issues from lung most cancers.

Charlene Tilton performed Lucy Ewing, the daughter of Gary Ewing (performed first by David Ackroyd, then by Ted Shackleford for a majority of the franchise) and his ex-wife Valene (Joan Van Ark). Firstly of the sequence, Lucy is underneath the care of the Ewings, having been successfully kidnapped by J.R. from her mom, who was fleeing an abusive Gary throughout the nation (Gary, in the meantime, had dropped off the face of the earth).

Following her remaining look on “Dallas” in 1990, Tilton loved an unlimited and various profession that included a shocking variety of raunchy comedies. She featured prominently in “Completely Blonde,” “Dickie Roberts: Former Youngster Star,” “Superhero Film,” and a laundry record of different titles within the style (she additionally guest-starred on sitcoms like “Married… with Youngsters” and “Malcolm within the Center”). Tilton additionally reprised her function as Lucy Ewing for six episodes of the “Dallas” sequel sequence.

A very despicable side of J.R. Ewing’s character is his therapy of his spouse, former Miss Texas, Sue Ellen Ewing (Linda Grey). Regardless of his neglect, philandering, and abusive therapy of her, Sue Ellen tries (not less than at first) to push her husband to compete extra successfully together with his brother Bobby. (They’ve a toddler, John Ross Ewing III, who’s performed by Josh Henderson within the TNT sequel sequence.)

The identical yr “Dallas” ended, Grey performed Roxanne within the Sylvester Stalone comedy movie “Oscar.” She then went on to star in numerous TV motion pictures (in addition to guest-star on “Melrose Place” and “Lovejoy”) earlier than she started main the “Melrose Place” spin-off cleaning soap opera sequence “Fashions Inc.” Her character (the mom of Heather Locklear’s Amanda Woodward) manages a fast-paced modeling company with an intense clientele. The sequence ran for just below 30 episodes earlier than ending in 1995. In 1999, she landed one other outstanding movie function as Linda Trask in “Star of Jaipur.” For six episodes from 2005-2006, she had a storyline on “The Daring and the Lovely.”

Curiously sufficient, considered one of Grey’s most up-to-date credit is as a performer within the blockbuster online game “Starfield.”

After replacing Suzanne Sommers on “Three’s Company,” Jenilee Harrison was forged as Jamie Ewing on “Dallas.” Jamie is the daughter of Jock Ewing’s older brother Jason, making her J.R. and Bobby’s cousin. She seems as a right away menace to the previous Ewing brother, because the loss of life of her father offers her a major authorized declare to the household enterprise (issues get even worse when she begins relationship the inheritor to the Barnes share of the corporate as effectively).

Except for a 2017 reunion with the surviving cast members of “Three’s Company,” Harrison hasn’t acted in a movie or tv present since 2002. After “Dallas,” she too guest-starred on a handful of high-profile sequence together with “Homicide She Wrote” and “The ’70s Present,” and briefly recurred on “The Love Boat.” Nevertheless, she quickly determined to divert her attention to other business ventures.

Across the similar time Jamie Ewing appeared, her brother Jack Ewing (Dack Rambo) popped up too. Whereas Jamie flirted (actually) with breaking apart Ewing Oil and ending the household enterprise as they knew it, Jack collaborated with J.R. and Bobby to attempt to cease her.

Rambo and his character left “Dallas” in 1987, after which he principally guest-starred on numerous common tv applications earlier than becoming a member of the forged of the cleaning soap opera “One other World.” Nevertheless, in 1991, the actor examined constructive for HIV. This impressed him to debate his bisexuality and sickness overtly, however he retired instantly from the leisure business. In statements after the actual fact, he implied that “Dallas” artistic personnel have been conscious of his sexuality and have been diminishing his presence on the present in consequence. He handed away in 1994 on the age of 53 attributable to issues from the virus.

When Sheree J. Wilson joined “Dallas” in 1986, she was principally recognized for starring in Sam Raimi’s most misunderstood film, “Crimewave.” She discovered extra mainstream success on Southfork ranch, whereby she performed April Stevens, the previously estranged ex-wife of Jack Ewing. At first, her main aim is to make good on a court docket order that grants her half of the earnings from Jack’s shares of Ewing Oil (in true Ewing vogue, he finds a method to cheat his means out).

Wilson stayed with “Dallas” by means of to its finish. After guest-starring spots on “Matlock” and “Renegade,” she struck oil as soon as extra by touchdown a significant function on “Walker, Texas Ranger.” Within the Chuck Norris-led sequence, Wilson performed Assistant District Legal professional Alexandra Cahill. She is the first romantic curiosity of Norris’ Cordell Walker. Almost 200 episodes and several other TV motion pictures saved Wilson fairly busy for the higher a part of a decade, and she or he has since continued to behave in lower-budget movies like 2011’s “The Gundown.”

April Stevens had a sister — Michelle Stevens, performed by Kimberly Foster. Her character joined the present later than the previous Stevens sister, and she or he was at first motivated by getting as near the Ewing household (and their cash) as doable. Nevertheless, after a private tragedy, she turns into a self-sustaining pressure of vengeance keen to collaborate with anybody to take down the Ewings.

Foster had just a few supporting and guest-starring roles in movies and tv reveals after “Dallas,” together with on “Quantum Leap.” She ultimately joined the forged of “All My Youngsters” as Liz Sloan in 1994, showing in 14 episodes of the cleaning soap earlier than seemingly retiring from performing.

Unsurprisingly, the wedding of J.R. and Sue Ellen Ewing will not be constructed to final. Throughout his first divorced-dad period, J.R. is compelled into marrying Cally Harper, a waitress whom he has a one night time stand with. This relationship does not final too lengthy (although maybe longer than one may count on), and Cally stays a recurring presence within the sequence till its finale. She was performed by Cathy Podewell.

After “Dallas” ended, Podewell took guest-starring roles on “Homicide She Wrote,” “Beverly Hills 90210,” and “Walker, Texas Ranger,” however she quickly took a hiatus from performing for unknown causes. She returned to the function of Cally Harper Ewing for an episode of TNT’s “Dallas,” however she has in any other case seemingly targeted on her private life. Podewell nonetheless attends style conventions the place she interacts with followers and infrequently seems on podcasts to speak about her work.

As soon as a featured actor in “Dillinger,” one of the best mob movies out there, Steve Kanaly was a part of the unique forged of “Dallas” throughout its first season. He performed the lascivious ranch hand Ray Krebbs, whose prior affair with Pamela Barnes creates pressure between him and Bobby Ewing. To complicate issues additional, he additionally occurs to be sleeping with the excessive school-aged Lucy (yikes) — who, later, is revealed to be his niece, after it involves gentle that Ray’s organic father is Jock Ewing (double yikes).

Kanaly’s most outstanding post-“Dallas” is taken into account to be Hank Madden within the little-known drama “Sliding Dwelling.” He additionally had outstanding roles within the sequence “Okavango: The Wild Frontier” and “All My Youngsters” (as Seabone Hunkle) and guest-starred on an episode of “Walker, Texas Ranger.” His most up-to-date job was recurring on TNT’s “Dallas” sequel sequence, reprising the function of Ray Krebbs.

The spouse of highly effective Texas politician, Donna Culver (Susan Howard) curiously chooses to almost upend her whole life by moving into mattress with Ray Krebbs. When her husband dies, she waits a respectful period of time (and, in fact, dates somebody with the final identify Barnes) earlier than lastly marrying Ray.

Donna was written out of the present in 1987, having left Ray for Senator Andrew Dowling (Jim McMullan). Howard has acknowledged in years since that she believes this choice was made in retaliation for her elevating objections to the present’s abortion storylines, considered one of which concerned her character selecting whether or not or to not abort a being pregnant after discovering out the kid would have Down syndrome. Howard didn’t act between the years of 1987 and 2024, although she did briefly co-host “The 700 Membership” throughout Pat Robertson’s run on the presidency in 1988.

Jock Ewing’s archrival Willard “Digger” Barnes was performed by David Wayne. The pair have been as soon as shut associates and companions within the oil enterprise, although bitter emotions bubbled up when Jock started slicing Digger out of earnings for worry of his dependancy dysfunction. The 2 males additionally each vied for the center of Ellie Ewing (then Southworth), together with her remaining choice leaving Digger with a wound he would carry for the remainder of his life.

Regardless of being thought-about a part of the present’s core ensemble, Digger solely appeared on “Dallas” 4 instances within the first two seasons. After his final look, Wayne joined the forged of the sequence “Home Calls.” He performed an aged curmudgeon of a physician who runs a hospital. He additionally guest-starred on reveals like “Homicide She Wrote,” “St. Elsewhere,” “Newhart,” “The Love Boat,” and “Golden Women.” He handed away in 1995 on the age of 81.

The one surviving son of Willard Barnes, Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval) is a lawyer who has passionately inherited his household’s mistrust of the Ewings. He holds a specific animosity for J.R. Ewing, the 2 of them sustaining a steady feud all through the sequence that just about all the time ends in J.R.’s favor.

After “Dallas,” Kercheval appeared on numerous tv sequence together with “L.A. Legislation,” “Homicide She Wrote,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” “ER,” “Analysis Homicide.” His final main function was as Cliff Barnes within the “Dallas” revival. He handed away in 2019 on the age of 83.

Not wanting to interchange Jim Davis as Jock Ewing however lacking the character’s regular, fatherly presence within the sequence, “Dallas” introduced in Howard Keel as Clayton Farlow. Just like Jock, Clayton is an older rancher and oilman who turns into intimately concerned with the politics of the Ewing household.

Keel wasn’t terribly busy as an actor after “Dallas” ended. He too obtained guest-starring roles on “Homicide She Wrote” and “Walker, Texas Ranger,” in addition to a supporting function in a “Hart to Hart” TV film (“Dwelling Is The place the Hart Is”). He was, nevertheless, a gifted singer and musician, and “Dallas” had a big hand in reviving his profession as a touring musical performer (he was additionally within the movie adaptation of “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” which has one of the best movie musical songs). He seems to have spent his remaining years touring the nation performing in numerous reveals, together with “White Christmas” and “My Truthful Girl.” 

Keel handed away in 2004 on the age of 85 attributable to issues from most cancers.

With a profession and public picture that is extremely various, it is easy to overlook that Priscilla Presley performed a significant function on “Dallas.” Within the present’s second season, she was Bobby Ewing’s former flame Jenna Wade, who offers delivery to his youngster and later marries Ray Krebbs.

Specializing in her profession in movie and tv (Presley has loved uncommon success in a number of industries that might be too troublesome to summarize responsibly right here), she left “Dallas” in 1988. As a result of an official motive was by no means given, it has been rumored Presley had been upset by scheduling constraints that prevented her from being in “James Bond” (Presley herself later denied this, additional clarifying that her not being within the movie was a profession choice and never a scheduling challenge). 

Presley was forged as Jane Spencer within the crime parody movie “The Bare Gun” with Leslie Nielsen, and she or he reprised the function in two sequels. She additionally had recurring roles in “Melrose Place” and “Spin Metropolis.” Her most up-to-date function was voicing a fictionalized model of herself within the Netflix animated sequence “Agent Elvis,” which she additionally co-created and produced. Her life was additionally dramatized in the Sofia Coppola film “Priscilla.”

Carter McKay (George Kennedy) is without doubt one of the many enemies of which the Ewing household run afoul. He purchased Ray Krebbs ranch whereas the foreman was preoccupied together with his relationship with Jenna Wade, and he virtually instantly used his new property to create hassle for the Ewings. The 2 households ultimately interact in all out warfare with each other, virtually actually.

Kennedy too featured within the “Bare Gun” sequence with Priscilla Presley, enjoying Police Captain Ed Hocken. He additionally had guest-starring roles on “Wings” and “The Commish,” and he recurred as Albert Miller on “The Younger and the Stressed.” His remaining function earlier than his loss of life in 2016 on the age of 91 was within the 2014 Mark Wahlberg movie “The Gambler.”

Although she wasn’t round for very lengthy, public relations marketing consultant Stephanie Rogers (Lesley-Anne Down) is an fascinating member of the “Dallas” prolonged character-web. Apparently British, she labored on Cliff Barnes’ ill-fated bid for the governor’s seat. When her character was fired by the hapless bureaucrat, she was by no means seen once more.

Down left “Dallas” in 1990, that includes in numerous smaller TV reveals and films earlier than touchdown a number one, sequence common function on the NBC cleaning soap opera “Sundown Seashore,” enjoying Olivia Richards. She adopted this with a smaller recurring guest-star spot on “Days of Our Lives,” then one other starring function on “The Daring and the Lovely.” Between the 4 soaps alone, she appeared in effectively over 1,200 episodes of tv over 22 years. Amidst this work, she was additionally taking guest-starring roles in different TV reveals and supporting elements in low-budget movies. Most lately, she performed Margaret Thatcher within the biopic “Reagan.”

Yet one more considered one of Cliff Barnes’ short-lived and clearly suspicious romantic companions, Liz Adams (Barbara Inventory) involves Dallas with connections to each Bobby Ewing and Carter McKay. She might be essentially the most vivid instance of the “mysterious character with an much more mysterious (and ludicrous) previous” inventory cleaning soap opera character seen on “Dallas.”

Put up-“Dallas,” Inventory had numerous guest-starring roles on TV, together with in “Seinfeld” (scamming George Costanza within the traditional episode “The Subway”), “Baywatch,” and “Charmed.” She then booked a recurring function on 28 episodes of the 2000s cleaning soap opera “Port Charles.” Not lengthy afterward, she retired as an actor and left the leisure business completely, beginning an inside design enterprise that is nonetheless in operation as of writing.

James Beaumont (Sasha Mitchell) is the true first born son of J.R. Ewing, having been the product of an affair that came about over 20 years earlier than the primary season. Curiously, Beaumont by no means factored into the legacy-related antics of TNT’s “Dallas.”

In 1991, Mitchell joined the “Kickboxer” sequence of movies as David Sloan, starring in three sequels to the unique. In the meantime, he was additionally a principal forged member on the aforementioned sitcom “Step by Step,” enjoying the dimwitted Cody alongside fellow “Dallas” alum Patrick Duffy. Except for these roles, he had just a few guest-starring spots on reveals like “Love Boat: The Subsequent Wave,” “ER,” and “NYPD Blue.” 

Mitchell’s final function was within the 2019 characteristic “Drunk Dad and mom,” a comedy that additionally starred Alec Baldwin and Salma Hayek. Although Mitchell — like a lot of the forged of “Dallas” — has had a quieter profession because the sequence’ finish, he has a profession few can match, if just for the hand he had in one of the vital TV sequence ever made.