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Larry Martin Hagman (September 21, 1931 – November 23, 2012) was an American film and television actor best known for playing ruthless businessman J. R. Ewing in the 1980s primetime television soap opera Dallas, and befuddled astronaut Major Anthony "Tony" Nelson in the 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. His supporting film roles included appearances in Fail-Safe, Nixon, and Primary Colors. His television appearances also included a handful of short-lived other series, guest roles on dozens of shows spanning from the late 1950s up until his death, and a reprisal of his signature role on the 2012 revival of Dallas. He also occasionally worked as a producer and director on television.
Hagman was the son of the actress Mary Martin. A long-time drinker, he underwent a life-saving liver transplant in 1995, triggering a controversy that he had cut in line and had taken a liver that should have gone to someone else, possibly a child, since he was a drinker and had ruined his own health. The donor transplant rules were revised, because of this, to make sure the rich and alcoholics were not favored over children. Although Hagman was a member of a 12-step program, he publicly advocated marijuana as a better alternative to alcohol. He died on November 23, 2012 of the complications of throat cancer.
After years of guest-starring in television series, Hagman's profile was raised when he was cast as Barbara Eden's television "master" and eventual love interest, Air Force Captain (later Major) Anthony Nelson in the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie for NBC ran for five seasons from 1965.[8] The show entered the Top 30 in its first year and was NBC's answer to both successful 1960s magical comedies, Bewitched on ABC and My Favorite Martian on CBS. The show ended in 1970. Two reunion movies were later made, both televised on NBC: I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later (1985) and I Still Dream of Jeannie (1991), though Hagman did not appear in either of them.
Hagman reunited with Eden in March 2006 for a publicity tour in New York City to promote the first season DVD of I Dream of Jeannie. He reunited once again with Eden on stage in the play Love Letters at the College of Staten Island in New York and the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. The appearance marked the first time the two performers had acted together since Eden appeared with Hagman on Dallas in 1990.On November 23, 2012, Hagman died at Medical City Dallas Hospital in Dallas, Texas, from complications related to Stage 4 throat cancer.[29][30][31] He was 81.
RIP LARRY HAGMAN