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Background This show was known for its sex, intrigue, struggling for money and power. When the series began, the founder of Ewing Oil and patriarch of the Ewing family was Jock (Jim Davis), who had a lot of experience working in the oil wells and had schemed his partner, Digger Barnes (David Wayne later Keenan Wynn) out of his share and only love, Miss Eleanor "Ellie" Southworth (Barbara Bel Geddes). Together they raised three sons, J.R. (played by Larry Hagman), Gary (David Ackroyd later Ted Shackelford) and Bobby (Patrick Duffy). J.R. was the oldest, despotic, evil Ewing son, unhappily married to a former Miss Texas, Sue Ellen Shepard Ewing (Linda Gray). When he was looking for something or somebody, he would pretty much stop at nothing to attain his goal. J.R. was frequently opposed by his younger brother, Bobby, who wasn't just a ladies' man, but was also handsome and had the morals and integrity his older brother didn't have. After the Ewing family's illegimate son (though this was not revealed until a later season) and ranch foreman, Ray Krebbs (Steve Kanaly) had a short fling with an attractive young woman, Pamela Barnes (Victoria Principal), who was Digger Barnes' daughter and Cliff's (Ken Kercheval) sister, Bobby married her; Ray was dejected by this. After the new marriage, J.R. continued to jeopardize the new family's relationship to his advantage as president of Ewing Oil. Throughout the many seasons, the Ewings lived in a ranch called Southfork. During its second season, Lucy's (Charlene Tilton) mother, Valene (Joan Van Ark) arrived in Texas with Gary to reconnect the relationship they never had. Gary, an estranged son and black sheep of the clan who had been an outsider to his family tried to work for his brother but had found the work increasingly hard. J.R. was able to drive Gary and Valene away, leaving their only daughter to live at Southfork. Later, the following season, both Bobby and Miss Ellie had helped both Gary and Val out in purchasing a brand new house near the Fairgate Family's home (J.R. mentioned them once, but they never came to Texas), in California in a fictional suburban area called Knots Landing, after the two got remarried. Cast of characters Larry Hagman as John Ross "J.R." Ewing, Jr. Eldest son of Jock and Miss Ellie. Patrick Duffy as Bobby James Ewing (1978-1985, 1986-1991) Youngest son of Jock and Miss Ellie. Barbara Bel Geddes (1978-1984, 1985-1990) and Donna Reed (1984-1985) as Eleanor "Miss Ellie" Southworth Ewing Farlow Jock's wife, whose family owned Southfork Ranch originally. Jim Davis as John Ross "Jock" Ewing, Sr. (1978-1981) Founder of Ewing Oil and head of the Ewing family. Linda Gray as Sue Ellen Shepard Ewing (1978-1989) J.R.'s long-suffering wife. Victoria Principal as Pamela Barnes Ewing (1978-1987) Bobby's wife, who is forced to act as a buffer between the two feuding families. Charlene Tilton as Lucy Ewing Cooper (1978-1985, 1988-1990), Saucy granddaughter. Ken Kercheval as Clifford "Cliff" Barnes Pam's brother, whose schemes are aimed directly against the Ewings. Steve Kanaly as Ray Krebbs (1978-1988) Ranch foreman; Jock's illegitimate son. Susan Howard as Donna Culver Krebbs (1979-1987) Political woman who marries Ray. Mary Crosby (1979-1981) and Colleen Camp (briefly in 1978-1979) as Kristin Shepard Sue Ellen's scheming sister, who has an affair with J.R. and then shoots him in the famous cliffhanger. Howard Keel as Clayton Farlow (1981-1991) Dignified, and sometimes hot tempered, oil baron. Miss Ellie's second husband, after the death of Jock. Priscilla Beaulieu Presley (1983-1988), Morgan Fairchild (briefly in 1978), and Francine Tacker (briefly in 1980) as Jenna Wade Bobby's first true love, before Pam. Dack Rambo as Jack Ewing (1985-1987) A wandering cousin. Sheree J. Wilson as April Stevens Ewing (1986-1991) Jack's ex-wife who eventually marries Bobby. George Kennedy as Carter McKay (1988-1991) Becomes the head of WestStar oil and the adversary of J.R. Cathy Podewell as Cally Harper Ewing (1988-1991) J.R.'s second wife. Sasha Mitchell as James Richard Beaumont (1989-1991) J.R.'s illegitimate son. Kimberly Foster as Michelle Stevens Beaumont Barnes (1989-1991) April's sister. Barbara Stock as Liz Adams (1990-1991) Cliff's girlfriend during the final season. Important secondary characters Ted Shackelford (1979-1981) and David Ackroyd (briefly in 1978-1979) as Garrison Arthur "Gary" Ewing Alcoholic black sheep of the Ewing family and Lucy's father, who moves away to California to star in the spin-off series Knots Landing. Joan Van Ark as Valene Ewing (1978-1981) Gary's wife and Lucy's mother. David Wayne (1978-1979) and Keenan Wynn (1979-1980) as Willard "Digger" Barnes Cliff and Pam's father, former partner and sworn enemy of Jock Ewing. A legendary prospector but erratic personality, it was implied in that Digger could smell oil underground. Tina Louise as Julie Grey (1978 - 1979) J.R.'s secretary and mistress in the beginning. Don Starr as Jordan Lee (1978-1990) A member of the cartel. Fern Fitzgerald as Marilee Stone (1978-1990) Promiscuous female member of the cartel, whose husband committed suicide after losing money in a deal with J.R. Barbara Babcock as Liz Craig (1978-1982) Pam's boss at The Store. George O. Petrie as Harv Smithfield (1979-1991) The Ewing family's attorney. Tom Fuccello as Dave Culver (1979-1991) Donna's stepson. Jared Martin as Steven "Dusty" Farlow (1979-1982, 1985, 1991) Clayton's son and Sue Ellen's one-time lover. Randolph Powell as Alan Beam (1979-1980) Smooth-talking, ambitious lawyer who works for J.R. and was briefly engaged to Lucy. Martha Scott as Patricia Shepard (1979 and 1985) Sue Ellen and Kristin's mother. Leigh McCloskey as Mitch Cooper (1980-1982, 1985, 1988) Lucy's husband and Afton's brother. Morgan Woodward as Punk Anderson (1980-1988) Oil executive and good friend to Jock and Miss Ellie. Joanna Cassidy as Sally Bullock (1980-1981) Shipping magnate who sleeps with J.R. Morgan Brittany as Katherine Wentworth (1981-1984, 1985, 1987) Wicked half-sister of Pam and Cliff, who shot Bobby. Priscilla Pointer as Rebecca Blake Barnes Wentworth (1981-1983) Mother of Pam, Cliff and Katherine. William Smithers as Jeremy Wendell (1980-1981, 1984-1989) Head of the powerful WestStar Oil and proverbial thorn in J.R.'s side. Audrey Landers as Afton Cooper (1981-1984, 1989) Mitch's sister and aspiring singer who becomes Cliff's girlfriend. Susan Flannery as Leslie Stewart (1981) A public relations agent who works with Ewing Oil and secretly tapes her conversations with J.R. Deborah Rennard as Sylvia "Sly" Lovegren (1981-1991) J.R.'s secretary. Deborah Tranelli as Phyllis (1981-1991) Bobby's secretary. Sherill Lynn Rettino as Jackie Dugan (1979-1991) Cliff's secretary. Alice Hirson as Mavis Anderson (1982-1987) Punk's wife and Miss Ellie's close friend. John Beck as Mark Graison (1983-1984, 1985-1986) Pam's one-time fiancé who owns and operates Graisco. Lois Chiles as Holly Harwood (1982-1983) Oil heiress who becomes involved in a complex scheme with J.R. and causes Sue Ellen to drink again. Timothy Patrick Murphy as Mickey Trotter (1982-1983) Ray's rebellious cousin who becomes involved with Lucy. Christopher Atkins as Peter Richards (1983-1984) Young lover of Sue Ellen and mentor to little John Ross. Omri Katz as John Ross Ewing III (1983-1991) J.R. and Sue Ellen's son. Shalane McCall as Charlie Wade (1983-1988) Jenna's daughter. Alexis Smith as Lady Jessica Farlow Montford (1984, 1990) Clayton's criminally insane sister. Daniel Pilon as Renaldo Marchetta (1984-1985) Jenna's ex-husband and Charlie's father. Jenilee Harrison as Jamie Ewing Barnes (1984-1986) Cousin to the Southfork Ewings who marries Cliff. Deborah Shelton as Mandy Winger (1984-1987) A model who becomes one of J.R.'s many mistresses. Joshua Harris as Christopher Ewing (1985-1991) Bobby and Pam's adopted son, biological son of Kristin Shepard and Jeff Farraday. Barbara Carrera as Angelica Nero (1985-1986) Exotic businesswoman who dangerously tangles with J.R. Steve Forrest as Ben Stivers/Wes Parmalee (1986) Ranch hand who claims to be Jock. Jack Scalia as Nicholas Pearce (1987-1988, 1991) Stock broker who becomes infatuated with Sue Ellen. Andrew Stevens as Casey Denault (1987-1989) Young hustler who works for J.R. Leigh Taylor-Young as Kimberly Cryder (1987-1989) Daughter of the largest owner of WestStar stock, whom J.R. tries to marry in order to gain control of the company. Beth Toussaint as Tracy McKay Lawton (1988-1989) Carter McKay's daughter who becomes involved with Bobby. J. Eddie Peck as Tommy McKay (1989) Son of Carter McKay, a drug dealer. Jeri Gaile as Rose Daniels McKay (1989-1991) Carter's young wife. Ian McShane as Don Lockwood (1989) Film director who directs Sue Ellen's idea for an unflattering film about J.R. Gayle Hunnicutt as Vanessa Beaumont (1989-1991) Old flame of J.R.'s and James' mother. Lesley-Anne Down as Stephanie Rogers (1990) PR woman who plots to make Cliff a powerful political figure. Susan Lucci as Sheila Foley (1990-1991) Psychotic kidnapper. Barbara Eden as LeeAnn de La Vega (1990-1991) Old girlfriend of J.R. who plots revenge against him. Family tree Famous episodes Dallas is also known for a number of famous episodes that made TV history: Production details A spin-off series, "Knots Landing", ran from 1979 to 1993. Produced by Leonard Katzman, the "Dallas" television series was one of the first to be distributed globally. "Dallas" was eventually translated and dubbed into 90 languages in over 67 countries, a record that to this day still stands for an American television series. The "Who Done It?" episode of "Dallas" that revealed "Who shot J.R.?", the famous 1980 cliffhanger, received the highest domestic ratings at that point with over 90 million American viewers tuning in for the answer. The last episode of M*A*S*H in 1983 finally beat the ratings; however, internationally "Dallas" still holds the record for the highest rated episode with nearly 360 million viewers tuning in to see who shot J.R. Ratings The show's seasonal rankings were as follows. Dallas cliffhangers Dallas was notable for having a large amount of cliffhangers. Throughout the series' run, every season ended with some sort of cliffhanging ending designed to drive ratings up for the season premiere the following year. Miniseries (Season One) cliffhanger: Although this really wasn't a cliffhanger, the end of the fifth episode of this pilot miniseries saw J.R. go up to the loft of the barn to talk to Pam, who had gone up there to escape the wild time at the barbecue that was going on during the episode. J.R., intoxicated, tries to convince her to tell Bobby not to leave the ranch. However, she doesn't want to be bothered, and in trying to escape J.R. she falls off the loft, landing square on her stomach. Resolution: Pam, who was pregnant with Bobby's child at the time, lost the baby and had her ability to conceive afterwards called into question. Season Two cliffhanger: Sue Ellen's drinking problem has landed her in a sanitarium, where she is pregnant with a child she believes is Cliff Barnes' (although this would later be proven false). She escapes from the sanitarium, gets drunk, and then gets into a severe car accident, putting her life and the baby's life in danger. The doctors deliver the baby, named John Ross Ewing III (after his father and grandfather), but he is very small on delivery and isn't out of the woods yet. Neither is his mother, who as the episode ends is clinging to life. A very distraught J.R. is watching his wife at the end of the episode in tears, saying that she's "just gotta live." Resolution: After a two part season premiere in which the child was kidnapped, John Ross is returned to the hospital and Sue Ellen recovers, although the doubt surrounding her newborn son's paternity lingers for a while afterwards (DNA testing finally puts the paternity question to rest). Season Three cliffhanger: To cap off a season where J.R. has angered nearly everyone in the state of Texas, someone comes into his office late at night and shoots him twice. Resolution: As a result of the shooting, J.R. is temporarily paralyzed from the waist down and faces a long recovery. An investigation into the crime is conducted, and eventually Sue Ellen (who was the prime suspect) confronts Kristin, her sister about the shooting...and the mystery is solved. However, Kristin is pregnant with J.R.'s baby, so he refuses to have her prosecuted, fearing another scandal. It is later revealed that after leaving Dallas, Kristin almost immediately miscarries J.R.'s child. Wishing to be able to blackmail J.R. at a later date, Kristin quickly becomes pregnant again with boyfriend Jeff Farraday (Art Hindle), and later gives birth to a boy, Christopher, who she claims is J.R.'s child. Season Four cliffhanger: On his way to a late night business meeting with Bobby, Cliff notices a female body in the pool. He goes into the pool to see who it is (we are never told in this part who it is, although the viewer is led to believe it's Pam), then looks up to find J.R. standing on the balcony over the pool, right near a broken area where the person fell. Cliff, thinking J.R. did it, said, "She's dead. You bastard." Resolution: The body was revealed to be that of Kristin Shepard, who earlier that year was revealed to have shot J.R. Her cause of death was ruled to be a combination of drowning and a PCP overdose. In the months that follow, Kristin's boyfriend Jeff Farraday, desperate for money to repay various drug dealers and other lowlifes, "sells" the infant Christopher Shepard to Bobby and Pam, and he is raised as Christopher Ewing. Season Five cliffhanger: Cliff Barnes had been having a rotten year. First of all, his relationship with Sue Ellen (which had been rekindled that year) came to an end when Sue Ellen and J.R. decided to remarry after divorcing the previous season. To top it all off, thanks to J.R., Cliff nearly drove his mother's tool company into bankruptcy, causing him to lose his job. He ends up attempting suicide, and while he lays in a hospital bed, comatose, Sue Ellen tells J.R. that if Cliff dies they will not remarry. Resolution: Cliff emerges from his coma in the second episode of the season, and Sue Ellen and J.R. remarry later on, with Cliff humiliating himself during the ceremony. Season Six cliffhanger: Thanks to a hit-and-run accident involving a man out to kill J.R., Ray Krebbs' cousin is in the hospital, paralyzed and in a coma. Ray comes over to Southfork to confront J.R., blaming him for what happened. J.R. asks, "Are you drunk?" Ray replies, "No, I'm stone cold sober, and now I'm going to kill you." They fight, and during the course of the fight J.R. accidentally starts a fire. J.R. knocks Ray out and tries to get upstairs to Sue Ellen and John Ross, who are asleep (passed-out drunk, in Sue Ellen's case) and unaware of the fire creeping up to the second floor. Unfortunately, a falling beam knocks him down as Southfork burns around him. Resolution: J.R. was able to get to John Ross and they jumped out of his bedroom window together into the pool. Bobby saved Sue Ellen. Ray's cousin, after awaking, became despondent over his paralysis and relapsed into another coma, at which point Ray illegally pulled the plug on him. Ray was found guilty of manslaughter, but was given a suspended sentence by a compassionate judge. Season Seven cliffhanger: Just like in season two, J.R. was crossing people left and right. And just like in season two, one night someone broke into his office at Ewing Oil and shot the man in J.R.'s office (who was sitting with his back to the assassin) three times. However, Bobby, sitting in the chair, takes the bullets and falls to the floor. Resolution: Bobby was revealed to be the target. It turned out that the obsessive Katherine decided if she couldn't have him no one will. Bobby survives, and she is eventually caught. Season Eight cliffhanger: Bobby and Pam have been divorced for some time now at this point. However, during a wedding later in the episode, Bobby reveals that he wants to remarry Pam, and they agree to do so. The following morning, Bobby is set to leave and return to Southfork to relay the news to his fiancee Jenna Wade, but is hit by a car trying to save Pam from being struck (by an escaped Katherine) and immediately goes into convulsions. He is rushed to the hospital, where after saying his final goodbyes to everyone, sheds one tear and dies. Resolution: see "Famous Episodes." Season Nine cliffhanger: As stated before, Pam wakes up to find someone in her shower. She opens the door to find her husband, alive and well. Resolution: see "Famous Episodes." Season Ten cliffhanger: Pam, on her way home from the doctor's after finding out she can conceive a baby, crashes into an oil tanker, which bursts into flames and engulfs the car, in which she is trapped. Resolution: see "Famous Episodes." Season Eleven cliffhanger: After another Ewing divorce, J.R. and Sue Ellen's beau, Nicholas Pearce, get into a huge fight in J.R.'s high-rise condo, with Pearce falling off the balcony to his death. Sue Ellen, believing J.R. to have murdered Nicholas, shoots her husband three times. Resolution: J.R. recovers (in true Dallas fashion, he had been shot three times in chest, but not seriously wounded!), and they mutally agree not to press charges against each other. However, later that season, J.R. finds himself in hot water with another woman. Season Twelve cliffhanger: Sue Ellen, tired of being mentally beaten down by J.R., gives him a preview of what could happen if she got her revenge on him, showing him her biographical movie that would make him "the laughing stock of Texas," and threatening to release it if he ever displeases her again. She then, triumphantly, walks out his life forever (or until the reunion movie, at least). Resolution: This never really was resolved, as no mention was made of the movie ever again. Season Thirteen cliffhanger: After committing himself to a sanitarium in order to get a voting majority in Weststar Oil, J.R.'s plan backfires when Cally Harper, his latest scorned woman, and his illegitimate son James Beaumont coerce HIM into signing a property waiver, and ends with James tearing up J.R.'s release papers, forcing him to stay in the asylum. Resolution: After being placed in solitary confinement in the sanitarium and being diagnosed with paranoia, J.R. ends up leaving the sanitarium after bargaining with Cally. Season Fourteen cliffhanger: After being shown what life would be like without him and being egged on by the devil to kill himself, J.R. fires a gun in his room. Bobby enters looks down, exclaims "Oh my God!", and we are led to believe that J.R. Ewing has committed suicide. Resolution: J.R. shot the mirror, where the devil was appearing to him, and left Southfork that night for a stay in Europe, where he remained for five years. DVD releases
Trivia Dallas the Movie A feature length motion picture based on the Dallas story is presently in development. Actors signed on include: John Travolta as J.R. and Katie Cassidy as Lucy. Luke Wilson will play the role of Bobby Ewing. .* Also rumored are Sam Elliot as Jock Ewing, Shirley MacLaine as Miss Ellie and Lisa Rinna as JR's long-suffering wife, Sue Ellen. Director Robert Luketic was once attached to helm the project but has now moved on. The media reported he was unhappy with some casting choices, but did not specify which ones. Both Betty Thomas (I Spy) and British director Gurinder Chadha (Bend It Like Beckham) have subsequently been reported to be in negotiations to direct the film.** In a BBC Radio Five Live interview on 21st April 2006, Gurinder Chadha confirmed her involvement in a movie version of Dallas. She claimed the script would be more "global" and that action would not necessarily be confined to the city of Dallas. Also, perhaps hinting at a more irreverent theme to the film, that one scene would show Miss Ellie hosting a charity event in aid of victims of the tsunami - by this meaning families who lost their oil rigs in the disaster! Jennifer Lopez was originally cast as Sue Ellen, but since left the role, for reasons as yet undetermined. * In August 2006 Paris Hilton announced she was offered the role of Lucy Ewing, but believes she isn't ready for such a "demanding" role. However such an offer has not been verified. Marcia Cross was rumored to be in the running for the role of Pamela Ewing. This was later contradicted by Luke Wilson, who revealed in an interview that producers are keen to cast Jessica Biel in the part. Nothing has been said yet whether Biel has accepted or still in negotiations. In September 2006, it was announced that Luke Wilson, Shirley MacLaine, and Meg Ryan were all dropped leaving only John Travolta still on board. Reasons for doing so believe to be the director was dissatisfied with the casting choices.* See also | |||||||||||||
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