With the passing of Larry Hagman (1931-2012) and the modest success of the new Dallas TNT series.I was struck how J.R. once again stole the show. I can't understand why he never won an Emmy award for his portrayal of JR Ewing?
I don't think any character outside of Carrol O'Conner's Archie Bunker, or James Gandolfini's Tony Soprano can match the complete immersion into the character that Larry Hagman achieved.
Larry didn't run from it, he embraced the JR character, wearing outfits looking the part in public the rest of his life.
I always respected the fact that Larry was married to the same woman Maj for nearly 60 years, a real rarity in Hollywood. Reportedly Larry was the complete opposite of J.R. as a man.
I have a hard time believing that Larry wouldn't have been worthy of at least one Emmy Award.
I will concede, that some of the later seasons, especially after Victoria Principal left the show were a little over the top even by Dallas standards. From season 3 through 8, Larry Hagman was the straw that stirred the drink on Dallas, his acting was as good as anyone's on TV at the time.
Larry's acting during season 5, when JR's father Jock Ewing (Jim Davis) died is stupendous. Larry shows a depth and vulnerability that gave insight into the human side of the crooked Dallas oil man.
From season 5 on, the JR character almost becomes a sympathetic character, sort of the way Tony Soprano or Vic Mackey of The Shield are likable.
The secret being that despite the horrendous things they do, they still have a moral code of sorts, a code that they invent to suit their needs, but still a code. You know these guys are bad, but they do love their families and they do have some sort of moral code, even if that moral code is warped and full of hypocrisy.
J.R. bases everything in his life on pleasing his Daddy. Long after Jock's death, everything, including his relationship with his son John Ross is based on making his father proud that John Ross is living on the ranch etc...
Everything that J.R. does with Ewing Oil is only to make his daddy proud, his relationship with his brothers is defined on whether or not Jock would be proud of them too.
Hagman brings out this complexity in the character, especially when J.R. gets himself into another jackpot of some kind. Larry should have won an Emmy award just for that devilish grin, it soon became J.R.'s trademark.
Barbara Bel Geddes, for her portrayal of Miss Ellie Ewing was the only actor to win an Emmy award for the show, deserving without a doubt, but Larry Hagman was the fabric of the show and his performance was timeless.
*Photos used with permission, via Amazon.com.*
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