Larry Hagman
ALL ABOUT LARRY HAGMAN
Full Name: Larry Martin Hageman
Date of Birth: 21 September 1931
Place of Birth: Fort Worth, Texas, USA
Nickname: Mad Monk of Malibu
Trade Mark: Cowboy Hat.
Salary: “Dallas” (1978) $100,000 per episode
Bio:
November 21, 1980 and August 23, 1995, are two dates Larry Hagman will never forget. On the first, over 350 million fans in 57 countries were glued to their television sets to find out who shot J.R. On the second, Larry received a liver transplant that took 16 hours and saved his life.
Feeling better than he had in years, Larry completed work on two projects that were filming simultaneously: Ken Follett’s “The Third Twin”, a four hour mini-series based on the author’s best selling novel, which aired on CBS, and Mike Nichols’ “Primary Colors”, a film based on the best-selling book by Anonymous … who later was acknowledged to be Journalist, Joe Klein. The film opened March 20, 1998 and starred John Travolta, Emma Thompson, Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates and Adrian Lester. Larry played Governor Picker, an anti-politics politician who posed a serious threat to Governor Stanton’s (John Travolta) bid for office. Larry has received unanimous raves from the critics for his stirring performance and rumblings of a possible Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor abound. “Primary Colors” is Larry’s second ‘presidential’ film having also appeared in Oliver Stone’s “Nixon”.
Following those projects, the second DALLAS reunion movie, “War of the Ewings”, aired on CBS on Friday, April. 24. Larry also served as Executive Producer.
Larry was born in Fort Worth, Texas on September 21st, the son of actress Mary Martin and attorney Ben Hagman. When his parents divorced, he moved to Los Angeles to live with his grandmother. After his grandmother’s death, Larry, who was only 12, returned to his mother, who had remarried and was pursuing a successful Broadway career.
After a year at Bard College in Anandale-on-the-Hudson, New York, Larry decided to follow in his mother’s theatrical footsteps. His first stage experience was with the Margo Jones Theatre-in-the-Round in Dallas. He next appeared in the New York City Center production of “Taming the Shrew,” followed by a year in regional theater.
Larry moved to England as a member of the cast of his mother’s big stage hit, “South Pacific,” and stayed for five years. There he joined the U.S. Air Force, where he produced and directed several shows for members of the service.
While stationed in England, Larry met and married Maj (pronounced “My”) Axelsson (December, 1954), a young Swedish designer who Larry insists is “the best thing that ever happened to me.”
After completing his military service, Larry returned to New York for a series of Broadway and off-Broadway plays, including “Once
Around the Block,” “Career,” “Comes A Day,” “A Priest in the House,” “The Beauty Part,” “The Warm Peninsula,” “The Nervous Set,” among others.
His television experience began with various guest appearances on such shows as “The Alcoa Hour.” He was then cast in the daytime series “The Edge of Night,” in which he starred for 2 years.
After eight years in New York, Larry decided to pack up his family - - which then included a daughter, Kristina Mary (2/17/58) and a son, Preston (5/2/62) - and moved to Hollywood.
Larry became a true TV star in 1965 in the comedy series “I Dream of Jeannie,” in which he played an amiable astronaut whose life is plagued by a beautiful blonde genie, portrayed by Barbara Eden. The show ran for 5 years.
Afterwards, Larry continued his television success in “The Good Life” and “Here We Go Again,” as well as a multitude of guest-starring roles on various series. He also starred with Lauren Bacall in the television version of the hit Broadway musical “Applause.”
It was not until 1977, when “Dallas” came along, however, that Larry’s career took off. He credits ‘Superchick’ (his affectionate name for Maj) for persuading him to do the series. This saga of an excessively rich Texas family, was one of the boldest, brassiest, most talked-about shows ever and, Larry Hagman, as the despicable, corrupt, merciless, millionaire J.R. Ewing, the man everyone loved to hate, was its centerpiece. The series ran for an unprecedented 13 seasons (from 1978 - 1991) and the Who shot J.R.? episode remains the second highest rated TV show in the history of the medium.
Since his name had become synonymous with Texas, it was fitting that he host “Lone Star,” an eight-part documentary series on the history of Texas, for PBS. The series, which aired in the fall of 1985, celebrated the 150th anniversary of Texas as an independent republic.
In April 1987, Karl-Lorimar released “Larry Hagman — Stop Smoking for Life.” Proceeds from the instructional home video went to the American Cancer Society.
In November 1996, Larry starred in “Dallas: JR Returns”, two-hour television movie which was a ratings blockbuster for CBS as well as in the network’s one-hour, drama series “Orleans”. His portrayal of Judge Luther Charbonnet garnered some of the best reviews of his career.
During the 2006-2007 television series, Larry joined the FX series NIP/TUCK in the role of ‘Burt Landu’, a business executive, who wants some cosmetic surgery of an intimate nature.
Off-screen, Larry is actively involved in numerous civic and philanthropic activities. An adamant non-smoker, Larry was chairperson of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout from 1981 to 1992.
During the summer of 1996, Larry served as the National Spokesperson for the 1996 U.S. Transplant Games presented by the National Kidney Foundation and, on November 2nd, received the foundation’s Public Service Award for his efforts in heightening public awareness of the importance of organ donation. He continues to serve as an advocate of organ donation and transplantation.
Larry enjoys spending time with his family more than anything else. He and Maj live on a ranch in Ojai, California but also divide their time between a condo in Santa Monica, and a home in Santa Fe. They believe that life should be filled with happiness — – “Don’t Worry, Be Happy, Feel Good” is the family motto.
In 2006, Larry participated in the Love Ride 23 Harley Davidson Glendale, California. That year’s event raised a record 1.7 million dollars for charities dedicated to improving the quality of life for those less fortunate.
Larry, an avid Harley-hog, also enjoys fishing, traveling, and collecting hats and flags.
Trivia:
Broke his collar bone when he was a child.
Loves motorcycles, and owns a Harley.
Offered to pay for drug rehab for Robert Downey Jr. in 1996, after Downey asked to borrow $100,000 from him.
Has a ring made from the gallstones that were removed during his liver transplant.
Served in the U.S. Air Force.
He met his wife while he was stationed in England, UK.
He refuses to speak one day a week, simply as a test of his self discipline.
Son is Preston Hagman. Daughter, Heidi Hagman, appeared in “All in the Family” spinoff.
Had a liver transplant. [1996]
Earned a reported $75,000 to $100,000 an episode for “Dallas” (1978) in 1980.
Requires autograph seekers to sing a song for him or tell him a joke before giving his autograph. He says that he does it so he gets something back from his fans.
Attended Bard College in Anandale-on-the-Hudson, New York for one year
He produced and directed shows for servicemen while he was stationed in the U. S. Air Force.
Chairman of the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout
Enjoys skiing, backpacking, fishing, sailing, and touring in his personally designed custom motorhome
Collects canes, hats and flags
Is a huge supporter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Used to live next door to Burgess Meredith in the early 1980s.
Is a vegetarian.
Is a long-time friend of the late ‘Carroll OConnor, and spoke at O’Connor’s funeral on 26 June 2001. O’Connor gave Hagman’s daughter, Heidi Hagman, a part in “Archie Bunker’s Place” (1979) in the early 1980s.
His Ojai, California ranch is called Heaven.
Daughter, Kristina Mary Heidi Hagman, born 17 February 1958.
Son, Preston Hagman, born 2 May 1962.
Is Bridget Fonda’s godfather.
His wife is from Sweden, and they own a house in her old hometown Sundsvall, that they visit every year.
Turned down the starring role on the short-lived sitcom “The Waverly Wonders” in favor of “Dallas” (1978).
Granddaughters: Noelle, Rebecca, and Tara.
The Malibu house in which he used to live is now owned by the singer Sting.
Was best friends with legendary Who drummer Keith Moon whom he met on the set of the movie Stardust (1974).
Son of Mary Martin.
Although he still requires autograph seekers to sing him a song or recite a poem, he no longer ask for them to tell him a joke because the fans would tell him dirty jokes.
Made his stage debut as a Seabee in the London production of “South Pacific”, which starred his mother. In 1989, Mary Martin would recall, “Larry could really sing, too. Still can, but he doesn’t like to”. Another Seabee, also making his stage debut in the production, was Sean Connery.
Was one of the few players on “Dallas” (1978) to stay on for the entire series.
Holds the record for the greatest number of consecutive appearances by a leading actor in an hour-long prime time dramatic series, for his 357 appearances on “Dallas” (1978).
Is the only actor to appear in all 357 episodes of “Dallas” (1978).
Is good friends with Donna Mills. She starred with him as his wife in a short-lived 1971 sitcom, just 9 years before she starred with him again on, “Knots Landing” (1979).
Is an avid fan of “The Sopranos” (1999).
Bears a striking resemblance to professional wrestling announcer Jim Ross. Ross is often simply referred to as “J.R.”
Quotes:
“After ten or twelve years you can only play something so long and then you start to parody it.”
“At that time I was making the largest salary known on television and I didn’t want to see it die because those were the years paying off when I wasn’t making anything.”
“Before I tried LSD, I’d been going to a psychologist for a couple of years. I found out about success that you have to fight for it a lot, then when you achieve it you can’t give up the fight.”
“But anyhow my stance is for the troops and I support all our children we send over there but I don’t respect people who send them, simple as that.”
“But there is no withdrawal, but with tobacco there is terrible withdrawal, it is almost impossible for a lot of people. I did , I went cold turkey, they never had any patches in those days but grass was not difficult, alcohol not difficult, but tobacco - oh my god.”
“Communism has kind of been dead for a few years now. They are in the mind set of that’s where their living, back in the Vietnam war I guess.”
“I admit the last couple of years shows were not up to par.”
“I could never understand why anybody would take LSD for recreation. It’s like, I think I’m going to take out my appendix. That would be nice this weekend.”
“I did successfully kick tobacco at the age of 34. I smoked for like 20 years, from 14 to 34.”
“I didn’t write the book to sell the book, but to tell my experiences.”
“I guess it was but I think peoples morality has changed. It’s gotten more liberal and more diverse and even in a sense much more fundamental, you take the fundamental religious right in this country, its got to go back about 50 years.”
“I have just paid an enormous amount of money for a DELL laptop and its a like giving somebody a 747. I can barely get on the internet to get my mail.”
“I liked Dallas better because it was more deceptive, you could do more with it.”
“I think JR would make a better President than the one we have now.”
“I think they could of recast the children, I heard of people wanting to do something like that. That would be a nice little show to do but you know that show was of the 80’s, I don’t think the audience mind set is in that direction any longer.”
“I was sad to see anybody leave, we had a very nice family on that show. I was very sad to see momma go, Victoria and especially Linda. My god that was my wife on the show, in fact my wife calls her wife.”
“I was shot when I think it was number one. That was the catalyst for the interest in the show. Certainly it went on for a long time after that but that’s what really kicked it off. Of course a lot of people watched it just because of the novelty of the situation.”
“I’m for all of our young men and women who are serving in this conflict, it is not their fault they were sent there.”
“I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to be anywhere. I’m not kidding.”
“I’m not well versed on the verbiage of the internet.”
“I’m sure it is, I’m not for any kind of war, we’ve been engaged in several wars since the second world war and we lost in Korea, we lost in Vietnam, they are political wars, they have nothing to do with any real threat, nor does this one.”
“In essence, next to being born which I don’t remember at all (I mean I suppose I could trace it back if I were to try), my first acid trip was the most illuminating experience of my life.”
“Later on when it became a routine it was not as exciting I’ll admit that. The first three years were wonderful, the rest were just money making and having fun.”
“Linda Gray and I see each other probably twice a month for lunch or dinner with my wife and her boyfriend. We travel often together, we went down to Palm Springs this last weekend to kick off a Charity Benefit for Dennis Weaver who we’ve both worked with before and who is a big television star here.”
“LSD was such a profound experience in my life that it changed my pattern of life and my way of thinking and I could not exclude it.”
“Marijuana you can give up, Iv given it up for fifteen years now and it never occurs to me to smoke it anymore.”
“My definition of a redundancy is an air-bag in a politician’s car.”
“No no there wasn’t any planned 14th season, we all saw the writing on the wall. The ratings had been going down and so fourth, that curve goes on every show and in everybody’s life.”
“Once you get rid of integrity the rest is a piece of cake.”
“There are very little things in this life I cannot afford and patience is one of them.”
“There was discussion of it at one time when Barbara left the first time and I thought it would be a good idea but I think mother didn’t want to do that just because, for one thing her memory was failing her somewhat. It was a taxing role to be the queen mother of that whole situation.”
“Well I think they broke the mould when they made me and being humble is one of my great assets.”
“Well yes so far, I was recently in Germany and they had me do six book signings a day and that was too much so I had them cut it down to about three. It becomes taxing at times but its a lot of fun and you meet a lot of nice people.”
“Well, I decided to stop. And I did. I stopped smoking, and I stopped speed at the same time.”
“You couldn’t smoke grass on the set of Dallas, I didn’t want to do that, I was perfectly satisfied with my champagne.”
“You know Hollywood is a weird and wonderful place, I didn’t know I Dream of Jeanie had been cancelled after 5 years until I went back to go on the lot to pick up some clothes and things I had in my dressing room.”
Filmography:
Larry Hagman Filmography as an Actor:
2004 Fat City
1998 Dallas: War of the Ewings
1998 Primary Colors
1996 Dallas: J.R. Returns
1995 Nixon
1993 Harley-Davidson: The American Motorcycle
1990 Dallas: Season 14
1989 Dallas: Season 13
1988 Dallas: Season 12
1987 Dallas: Season 11
1987 Larry Hagman’s Stop Smoking for Life
1986 Dallas: Season 10
1986 Dallas: The Early Years
1985 Dallas: Season 09
1984 Dallas: Season 08
1983 Dallas: Season 07
1982 American Eagle
1982 Dallas: Season 06
1982 Deadly Encounter
1981 Dallas: Season 05
1981 Jag Rodnar
1981 S.O.B.
1980 Dallas: Season 04
1979 A Cry for Justice
1979 Dallas: Season 03
1978 The Last of the Good Guys
1978 Checkered Flag or Crash
1978 Dallas: Season 01
1978 Superman: The Movie
1978 The President’s Mistress
1978 A Double Life
1978 Dallas: Season 02
1977 Intimate Strangers
1977 The Rhinemann Exchange
1976 The Eagle Has Landed
1976 The Return of the World’s Greatest Detective
1976 Mother, Jugs & Speed
1976 The Big Bus
1976 Crash
1975 Sarah T.: Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic
1975 The Big Rip-Off
1975 The Streets of San Francisco: Dead Air
1974 Harry and Tonto
1974 Stardust
1974 Sidekicks
1974 Hurricane
1973 Bloodsport
1973 What Are Best Friends For?
1973 The Alpha Caper
1973 Antonio
1972 Beware! The Blob
1972 No Place to Run
1971 Getting Away From It All
1971 The Hired Hand
1971 A Howling in the Woods
1971 A Capitol Affair
1970 Triple Play 1
1970 Up in the Cellar
1970 Vanished
1969 Three’s a Crowd
1969 I Dream of Jeannie: The Case of My Vanishing Master, Part 1
1969 I Dream of Jeannie: Season 05
1969 I Dream of Jeannie: The Case of My Vanishing Master, Part 2
1968 I Dream of Jeannie: Season 04
1967 I Dream of Jeannie: Season 03
1966 I Dream of Jeannie: Season 02
1966 The Group
1965 In Harm’s Way
1965 I Dream of Jeannie: Too Many Tonys
1965 I Dream of Jeannie: Season 01
1965 The Cavern
1964 Fail-Safe
1964 Ensign Pulver
Pink Lady and Jeff, Vol. 2
The American Sportsman: Salt Water Fishing
Larry Hagman Filmography as a Director:
1972 Beware! The Blob
1967 I Dream of Jeannie: The Birds and the Bees Bit
1967 I Dream of Jeannie: Jeannie and the Great Bank Robbery
1967 I Dream of Jeannie: There Goes the Bride
Larry Hagman Filmography as an Executive Producer:
1998 Dallas: War of the Ewings
1996 Dallas: J.R. Returns
1990 Dallas: Season 14
1989 Dallas: Season 13
1988 Dallas: Season 12
1981 Dallas: Season 05
Larry Hagman Awards:
Golden Globe
1982 Best Actor - Drama (TV) Dallas [TV Series]
1981 Best Actor - Drama (TV) Dallas [TV Series]
1980 Best Actor - Drama (TV) Dallas [TV series]
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