Larry Hagman life and biography

Larry Martin Hagman (born September 21, 1931) is an American film and television actor, producer and director known for playing J.R. Ewing in the 1980s primetime television soap opera Dallas and Major Anthony Nelson in the 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie.

Early life and career

Hagman was born in Fort Worth, Texas. His mother, Mary Martin, later became a Broadway actress and his lawyer father, Benjamin Jack Hagman, was a district attorney. In 1936, when Hagman was five, his parents were divorced. He lived with his grandmother in Texas and California. His famous mother became a contract player with Paramount in 1938, and occasionally brought him to her movies. In 1940, his mother met and married Richard Halliday, giving birth to a daughter, Heller, the following year. Larry attended the strict Black-Foxe Military Institute (now closed).

When his mother moved to New York City to continue her Broadway career, Larry Hagman continued to live with his grandmother in California. Just a couple of years later, his grandmother died and Hagman would go back to living with his mother. In 1945, at age fourteen, while attending boarding school, he began drinking heavily which would lead to serious health problems later in life. In 1946, Hagman moved back to his hometown of Weatherford, Texas, where he worked as a ranch hand for his father's friend's company. Upon attending Weatherford High School, he was drawn to drama classes and reputedly fell in love with the stage in particular with the warm reception he got for his comedic roles.

Hagman developed a reputation as a talented performer and in between school terms, would take minor roles in local stage productions. In 1949, Hagman graduated from high school and his mother suggested that he try out as an actor.

Hagman began his acting career in Dallas, Texas working as a production assistant and acting in small roles in Margo Jones' Theater '50, during a break from his one year at Bard College. He appeared in The Taming of the Shrew in New York City, followed by numerous tent show musicals with St. John Terrell's Music Circus in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Lambertville, New Jersey. In 1951, Hagman appeared in the London production of South Pacific with his mother, and stayed in the show for about a year.

In 1952, Hagman was drafted into the United States Air Force, during the Korean War. Stationed in London, he spent the majority of his service career entertaining U.S. troops in the UK and at military bases in Europe.

Stage/TV and film actor

After leaving the Air Force in 1956, Hagman returned to New York where he appeared in the Off-Broadway play Once Around the Block, by William Saroyan, and received excellent reviews. This was followed by nearly a year in another Off-Broadway play, James Lee's Career. Despite his success, his career was overshadowed by his mother's fame, which was in ascendancy due to her starring role in a TV production of Peter Pan (in a role she had already played on Broadway). Larry Hagman's Broadway debut occurred in 1958, in Comes a Day. Hagman appeared in four other Broadway plays, God and Kate Murphy, The Nervous Set, The Warm Peninsula and The Beauty Part.

During this period, Hagman appeared in numerous, mostly live, television programs. In 1958, he joined Barbara Bain as a guest star in the short-lived adventure and drama series Harbourmaster, starring Barry Sullivan. Hagman joined the cast of The Edge of Night, as Ed Gibson, in 1961, and stayed in that role for two years. In 1964 he made his film debut in Ensign Pulver, which featured young unknown Jack Nicholson. That same year, Hagman also appeared in Fail-Safe, opposite Henry Fonda.

Personal life

In 1973, stepfather Richard Halliday died, and Hagman reconciled with his mother soon after. The two became close until his mother’s own death, seventeen years later. Late in 1990, his mother (Mary Martin) was diagnosed with colon cancer and died just one month before her 77th birthday. Hagman enjoyed a warm relationship with his mother, and she was very proud of her son’s accomplishments.

While in England, he dated future British actress Joan Collins (of Dynasty fame).

In 1954, Hagman married Swedish-born Maj Axelsson and they had two children, Heidi Kristina (b. 1958) and Preston (b. 1962). Longtime residents of Malibu, California, they now live in Ojai, California. He has been a member of the Peace and Freedom Party since the 1960s. Hagman derided President George W. Bush, a fellow Texan, before the Iraq War. At a signing for his book he said "A sad figure (Bush)—not too well educated, who doesn't get out of America much. He's leading the country towards fascism". Hagman appeared at the Dublin races in 2008 with his wife.

Hagman was introduced to marijuana by Jack Nicholson, as a safer alternative to Hagman's heavy drinking. Although Hagman says he no longer smokes marijuana and is on a "Twelve-step program," he explains that marijuana "is benign compared to alcohol. When you come right down to it, alcohol destroys your body and makes you do violent things. With grass, you sit back and enjoy life."

In 1982, he crowned the winner of the Miss Sweden competition in Stockholm. During the coronation he wore a traditional Lapphatt and sang a Swedish folksong.

In August 1995, Hagman underwent a life-saving liver transplant after admitting he had been a heavy drinker. Numerous reports state he was drinking four bottles of champagne a day on the set of Dallas. He was also a heavy smoker as a young man, but the cancer scare was the catalyst for him to quit. Hagman was so shaken by this incident that he immediately became strongly anti-smoking. He has recorded several public service announcements pleading with smokers to quit and urging non-smokers never to start. Hagman was the chairman of the American Cancer Society's annual Great American Smokeout for many years, and also worked on behalf of the National Kidney Foundation.

In a 2007 interview, he talked about how he is now a major proponent of alternative energy. On an episode of Living With Ed, Larry and Maj show the Begleys their solar powered, super energy efficient home and Larry talks about his green lifestyle.

WORKS
* CREDITS

* Stage Appearances

* Huntsman and servant to Petruchio, The Taming of the Shrew, New York City Center, New York City, 1951
* South Pacific, London, 1952-56
* Jim Culpepper, Comes a Day, New York City, 1958
* Bummy Carwell, The Nervous Set, Henry Miller's Theatre, New York City, 1959
* Rory Murphy, God and Kate Murphy, 54th Street Theatre, New York City, 1959
* Steve Crawford, The Warm Peninsula, Helen Hayes Theatre, New York City, 1959-60
* Lance Weatherwax, The Beauty Part, Music Box Theatre, New York City, 1962-63
* Murder in the First, Rubicon Theatre Company, Ventura, CA, 2000
* Also appeared in Career, New York City; Once Around the Block, New York City; A Priest in the House, New York City.

* Major Tours

* Appeared in the chorus, South Pacific, U.S. cities.

* Film Appearances

* Billings, Ensign Pulver, Warner Bros., 1964
* Buck, Fail Safe, Columbia, 1964
* Captain Wilson, Sette contro la morte (also known as The Cavern, Helden--Himmel und Holle, and Neunzig Naechte und ein tag), Twentieth Century-Fox, 1965
* Lieutenant Cline, In Harm's Way, Paramount, 1965
* Harold Peterson, The Group, United Artists, 1966
* Maurice Camber, Up in the Cellar (also known as Three in the Cellar), American International Pictures, 1970
* Beware! The Blob (also known as Beware of the Blob, Son of Blob, and Son of the Blob), Jack H. Harris, 1972
* Mark Hunter, Antonio, 1973
* Major, The Toy Game, 1973
* Eddie, Harry and Tonto, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1974
* Porter Lee Austin, Stardust, Columbia, 1974
* Colonel Clarence E. Pitts, The Eagle Has Landed, Columbia, 1976
* Doctor in parking lot, The Big Bus, Paramount, 1976
* Murdoch, Mother, Jugs, and Speed, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1976
* Cry for Justice, 1977
* Bo Cochran, Checkered Flag or Crash (also known as Crash), Universal, 1978
* Major, Superman (also known as Superman: The Movie), Warner Bros., 1978
* Dick Benson, S.O.B., Paramount, 1981
* Larry Hagman, Jag Rodnar (also known as I Am Blushing), 1981
* Jack Jones, Nixon, Buena Vista, 1995
* Governor Fred Picker, Primary Colors (also known as Perfect Couple and Mit aller macht), Universal, 1998
* Himself, Fields of Fuel (documentary), Little Film Company, 2008

* Film Director

* Beware! The Blob (also known as Beware of the Blob, Son of Blob, and Son of the Blob), Jack H. Harris, 1972

* Television Appearances
* Series

* Curt Williams, Search for Tomorrow, 1957
* Johnny Collins, The Edge of Night (also known as Edge of Night), CBS, 1959
* Ed Gibson, The Edge of Night (also known as Edge of Night), CBS, 1961-63
* Captain (later Major) Anthony "Tony" Nelson, I Dream of Jeannie, NBC, 1965-70
* Albert Miller, The Good Life, NBC, 1971-72
* Richard Evans, Here We Go Again, ABC, 1973
* John Ross "J. R." Ewing, Jr., Dallas, CBS, 1978-91
* Judge Luther Charbonnet, Orleans, CBS, 1997
* Burt Landau, Nip/Tuck, FX Channel, 2006

* Miniseries

* Colonel Edmund Pace, The Rhinemann Exchange, NBC, 1977
* Host, Lone Star: A Television History of Texas, PBS, 1985
* Berrington Jones, The Third Twin (also known as Ken Follett's "The Third Twin"), CBS, 1997

* Movies

* Jim Carson, Three's a Crowd, ABC, 1969
* Eddie Crocker, A Howling in the Woods, NBC, 1971
* Jerry Fraytag, Vanished, NBC, 1971
* Sheriff, The Hired Hand, 1971
* Fred Clark, Getting Away from It All, ABC, 1972
* Jay Fox, No Place to Run, ABC, 1972
* Coach Marshall, Blood Sport, ABC, 1973
* Frank Ross, What Are Best Friends For?, ABC, 1973
* Tudor, The Alpha Caper (also known as Inside Job), ABC, 1973
* Paul Damon, Hurricane (also known as Hurricane Hunters), ABC, 1974
* Jerry Travis, Sarah T.--Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic, NBC, 1975
* Mort Burns, Intimate Strangers (also known as Battered), ABC, 1977
* Ed Murphy, The President's Mistress, CBS, 1978
* Sergeant Frank O'Malley, Last of the Good Guys, CBS, 1978
* Battered, 1978
* Sam Hooten, Deadly Encounter (also known as American Eagle), CBS, 1982
* Narrator (as J. R. Ewing), Dallas: The Early Years, CBS, 1986
* Alexander Turnball Hollingsworth III, "Staying Afloat," NBC Friday Night Mystery, NBC, 1993
* John Ross "J. R." Ewing, Jr., Dallas: J. R. Returns, CBS, 1996
* John Ross "J. R." Ewing, Jr., Dallas: War of the Ewings, CBS, 1998

* Specials

* Salute to Oscar Hammerstein II, 1972
* Bill Sampson, Applause (musical), CBS, 1973
* The Making of "Superman: The Movie," 1980
* Diana, CBS, 1981
* Night of 100 Stars, 1982
* Anchor, CBS All-American Thanksgiving Day Parade, CBS, 1983
* Anchor, CBS All-American Thanksgiving Day Parade, CBS, 1984
* Anchor, CBS All-American Thanksgiving Day Parade, CBS, 1985
* Anchor, CBS All-American Thanksgiving Day Parade, CBS, 1986
* This Is Your Life, 1987
* The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1989
* Dame Edna's Hollywood, NBC, 1991
* Host, Hats Off to America, syndicated, 1992
* Host, Harley-Davidson: The American Motorcycle, TBS, 1993
* CBS: The First 50 Years, CBS, 1998
* Intimate Portrait: Victoria Principal, Lifetime, 1998
* Narrator, Intimate Portrait: Joan Rivers, Lifetime, 1999
* Doing Dallas, Channel 4, 2000
* "Dallas": The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2000
* "I Dream of Jeannie": The E! True Hollywood Story, E! Entertainment Television, 2000
* Intimate Portrait: Linda Gray, Lifetime, 2002
* Intimate Portrait: Barbara Eden, Lifetime, 2002
* When Shoulderpads Ruled the World, BBC, 2002
* After "Dallas," ITV, 2002
* TV's Most Memorable Weddings, NBC, 2003
* CBS at 75, CBS, 2003
* The 2nd Annual TV Land Awards, TV Land, 2004
* All Access Pass: The TV Land Awards, TV Land, 2004
* TV Land Moguls, TV Land, 2004
* TV Land Convention Special, TV Land, 2004
* Host, "Dallas" Reunion: Return to Southfork, 2004
* The 100 Most Memorable TV Moments, TV Land, 2004
* Unforgettable Moments in Television Entertainment (also known as Unforgettable Moments in Television Entertainment: A Museum of Television & Radio Special), NBC, 2005
* 20 Jahre 'LindenstraBe'-Die Geburtstageshow, 2005
* The 4th Annual TV Land Awards, TV Land, 2006
* Bring Back "Dallas," Channel 4, 2007
* Also appeared as host, CBS Tournament of Roses Parade, CBS.

* Pilots

* Albert Miller, The Good Life, NBC, 1971
* Quince Drew, Sidekicks, CBS, 1974
* Dennis O'Finn, The Detective: Bull in a China Shop (also known as The Detective), NBC, 1975
* Frank Darnell, The Big Ripoff (pilot for series McCoy), NBC, 1975
* Sherlock Sherman Holmes, The Return of the World's Greatest Detective, CBS, 1976

* Episodic

* Kenneth Davidson, "Saturday Lost," Decoy (also known as Policewoman Decoy), 1957
* "Backwoods Cinderella," Goodyear Television Playhouse (also known as Goodyear Playhouse), NBC, 1957
* "Start Running," The West Point Story, ABC, 1957
* Omnibus, NBC, 1957
* "The Captain's Gun," Harbourmaster (also known as Adventure at Scott Island), CBS, 1958
* "Climate of Marriage," The United States Steel Hour (also known as The U.S. Steel Hour), CBS, 1958
* Kyle, "The Member of the Wedding," DuPont Show of the Month, CBS, 1958
* "The Sponge Divers," Sea Hunt, 1958
* "Legend of the Mermaid," Sea Hunt, 1958
* "The Hero," Sea Hunt, 1958
* "The Outcasts of Poker Flats," Kraft Television Theatre (also known as Kraft Mystery Theatre and Kraft Theatre), NBC, 1958
* Sea Hunt, syndicated, 1959
* Don Harding, "The Case of the Radiant Wine," Diagnosis Unknown, CBS, 1960
* "Two by Saroyan," Play of the Week, syndicated, 1960
* Jim Lewton, "The Noose," The Defenders, CBS, 1963
* "A Shade of Gray," Lamp unto My Feet, CBS, 1963
* "The Silver Burro," DuPont Show of the Week, NBC, 1963
* Boyd, "The Takers," The DuPont Show of the Week, NBC, 1963
* Elias, "Ambassador at Large," The DuPont Show of the Week, NBC, 1964
* Luke, "Between the Rats and the Finks," Mr. Broadway, CBS, 1964
* Edmund Lockewood, "The Last Day," The Defenders, CBS, 1964
* "The Long Reach," Brenner, CBS, 1964
* Mark Fleming, "Mr. White's Christmas," The Rogues, NBC, 1965
* Mark Fleming, "A Daring Step Backward," The Rogues, NBC, 1965
* "Ambassador at Large," DuPont Show of the Month, NBC, 1965
* Cedric Acton, "The Housekeeper," Night Gallery (also known as Rod Serling's "Night Gallery"), NBC, 1970
* "Love and the Psychiatrist," Love, American Style, ABC, 1970
* "To Get Through the Night," Marcus Welby, M.D. (also known as Robert Young, Family Doctor), ABC, 1970
* Dean Chasen, "A Capitol Affair," The Name of the Game, NBC, 1971
* The Virginia Graham Show, 1971
* Art Lewis, "The Law," Dan August, 1971
* Glenn Dorsey, "Between Two Fires," Medical Center, CBS, 1973
* Dick Madison, "The Youngest Lovers," Love Story, NBC, 1973
* Larry Harris, "The Gang That Stole Manhattan," McCloud, NBC, 1974
* Alan R. Richardson, "Glamour Boy," Police Story, NBC, 1974
* Tony Bonner, "Seven-Eleven," Police Woman, NBC, 1974
* Officer Morgan, "Pay the Two Dollars," Lucas Tanner, 1974
* Bernie Roth, "One for the Road," Harry O, ABC, 1975
* Dr. Rickers, "Fatal Witness," Barnaby Jones, CBS, 1975
* Paul Gardner, "The Adventure of the Mad Tea Party," Ellery Queen (also known as The Adventures of Ellery Queen), NBC, 1975
* Terry Vine, "Dead Air," The Streets of San Francisco, ABC, 1975
* "Come at Last to Love," Doctors Hospital, NBC, 1975
* "Loser in a Dead Heat," Marcus Welby, M.D. (also known as Robert Young, Family Doctor), ABC, 1975
* "Pay the Man the Two Dollars," Lucas Tanner, NBC, 1975
* Gordo Thurgate, "Ride on a Red Balloon," Three for the Road, CBS, 1975
* "Affair of the Heart," McMillan & Wife (also known as McMillan), NBC, 1977
* Richard Lessing and Paul T. Grisham, "Forced Retirement," The Rockford Files (also known as Jim Rockford, Private Investigator), NBC, 1977
* "The Girl Nobody Knew," What Really Happened to the Class of `65?, NBC, 1977
* Doyle Rettig, "A Double Life," Sword of Justice, NBC, 1978
* J. R. Ewing, Knots Landing, CBS, 1979
* Dwight Shepherd, "A Cry for Justice," Police Story, NBC, 1979
* J. R. Ewing, "Community Spirit," Knots Landing, CBS, 1980
* Pink Lady (also known as Pink Lady and Jeff), 1980
* Friday Night, Saturday Morning, 1980
* Guest host, The Midnight Special, 1981
* J. R. Ewing, "Designs," Knots Landing, CBS, 1981
* J. R. Ewing, "A Family Matter," Knots Landing, CBS, 1981
* Lieutenant Thomas Marlin, The American Sportsman, ABC, 1981
* Omnibus, 1981
* J. R. Ewing, "New Beginnings," Knots Landing, CBS, 1982
* The Dame Edna Experience, 1987
* Showbiz Today, CNN, 1991
* Dame Edna in Hollywood, BBC, 1991
* J. R., "Saisonbeginn mit Hindernissen," Ein SchloB am Worthersee (also known as Lakeside Hotel), 1991
* Guest Night (also known as Bruce's "Guest Night"), 1992
* The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1997
* Intimate Portrait: Victoria Principal, Lifetime, 1998
* "Sidney Sheldon: The Storyteller," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 2000
* Donny & Marie, syndicated, 2000
* Larry King Live, CNN, 2000, 2003
* "Carroll O'Connor: All in a Lifetime," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 2001
* "I Love 1980," I Love 1980s, BBC2, 2001
* Parkinson, BBC, 2001
* Open House (also known as Open House with Gloria Hunniford), Channel 5, 2001
* GMTV, ITV, 2001, 2004
* Shooting Stars, BBC, 2002
* Die 80er Jahre Show, 2002
* "Soap Queens," Top Ten, Channel 4, 2002
* Late Night with Conan O'Brien, NBC, 2002
* "Dallas," After They Were Famous, ITV, 2002
* TV total, 2002
* "Auf den zweiten Blick," Boulevard Bio, 2002
* V Graham Norton, Channel 4, 2002, 2003
* SoapTalk, SoapNet, 2003
* The Heaven and Earth Show (also known as Heaven and Earth with Gloria Hunniford), BBC, 2003
* This Morning (also known as This Morning with Richard and Judy), ITV, 2004
* "Larry Hagman: One More Shot," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 2004
* Good Day Live, syndicated, 2004
* The John Kerwin Show, 2004
* The View, ABC, 2004, 2006
* The Paul O'Grady Show (also known as The New Paul O'Grady Show), ITV, 2005
* Narrator, Sheer Dallas, The Learning Channel, 2005
* "Wacky Neighbors," TV Land's Top Ten, TV Land, 2005
* "Characters You Love to Hate," TV Land's Top Ten, TV Land, 2005
* "Kult," Gottschalk & Friends, 2005
* "Der Tanz," LindenstraBe, 2006
* Entertainment Tonight (also known as E.T.), syndicated, 2006
* Access Hollywood, syndicated, 2006
* Martha, syndicated, 2006
* Gylne tider, 2006
* Voice of Wallace Brady, "The Monkey Suit," The Simpsons (animated), Fox, 2006
* "Gylne tabber og gylne oyeblikk," Gylne tider, 2007
* 20 heures le journal, 2007
* "Finales," TV Land Confidential (also known as TV Land Confidential: The Untold Stories), TV Land, 2007
* "Locations," TV Land Confidential (also known as TV Land Confidential: The Untold Stories), TV Land, 2007
* Also appeared in The Alcoa Hour (also known as Alcoa Theatre), NBC; as himself, "'Dallas' vs. 'One Day at a Time'," Family Feud (also known as Family Fortune and The Best of Family Feud); himself, "'Dallas' vs. 'Eight Is Enough'," Family Feud (also known as Family Fortune and The Best of Family Feud); himself, Living with Ed.

* Series

* Executive producer (with others), Dallas, CBS, 1988-1991

* Movies

* Executive producer, "Staying Afloat," NBC Friday Night Mystery, NBC, 1993
* Co-executive producer, Dallas: J. R. Returns, CBS, 1996
* Executive producer, Dallas: War of the Ewings, CBS, 1998

* Television Director
* Episodic

* "Jeannie Breaks the Bank," I Dream of Jeannie, NBC, 1966
* "Jeannie and the Great Bank Robbery," I Dream of Jeannie, NBC, 1966
* "There Goes the Bride," I Dream of Jeannie, NBC, 1967
* "The Birds and the Bees Bit," I Dream of Jeannie, NBC, 1967
* Dallas, CBS, 1979-91
* In the Heat of the Night, CBS, 1992-94
* "Who Was Geli Bendl?," In the Heat of the Night, CBS, 1994

* RECORDINGS
* Videos

* Larry Hagman--Stop Smoking for Life, Kari-Lormiar, 1987

* WRITINGS
* Autobiography

* (With Todd Gold) Hello, Darlin': Tall (and Absolutely True) Tales About My Life, Simon & Schuster, 2001
* Contributor to periodicals, including People Weekly and TV Guide.

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