John Ross "J.R." Ewing Jr. is a fictional character in the American
television series Dallas (1978â€"1991) and its spin-offs, including
the revived Dallas series (2012â€"2014). The character was portrayed
by Larry Hagman from the series premiere in 1978 until his death in
late 2012, and Hagman was the only actor who appeared in all 357
episodes of the original series. As the show's most famous character,
J.R. has been central to many of the series' biggest storylines. He is
depicted as a covetous, egocentric, manipulative and amoral oil baron
with psychopathic tendencies, who is constantly plotting subterfuges
to plunder his foes' wealth. In the PBS series Pioneers of Television,
Hagman claimed the character of J.R. began its development when he
played a similar character in the film Stardust, and that he was also
inspired by a mean boss he once had.The original series' concept was a
blend of Bonanza (a rich Western patriarch and his three dissimilar
sons), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (rival brothers, and their scheming
wives), and Romeo and Juliet (two star-crossed lovers whose families
are sworn enemies). The focus of the series was initially the feuding
families, with J.R. just a supporting character, but his popularity
grew and the producers acknowledged he became the breakout character.
Two highly rated 1980 episodes became part of a cultural phenomenon
that year known as "Who shot J.R.?". In "A House Divided", the
audience witnessed J.R. being shot by an unknown assailant.After the
cliffhanger was broadcast in March, the audience had to wait until the
November conclusion, "Who Done It". With his new-found popularity,
Larry Hagman threatened to leave the series unless his contractual
demands were met. CBS leaked rumors of recasting, but the actor
eventually prevailed. He also appeared in five episodes of spin-off
series Knots Landing between 1980 and 1982. The character is featured
in the first two seasons of the 2012 reincarnation series as well.
Hagman died on November 23, 2012, and Dallas producers subsequently
announced that J.R. would be killed off in the second season. The
episode "The Furious and Fast" dealt with J.R.'s death.J.R. Ewing is
considered one of television's most popular characters, with TV Guide
naming him #1 in their 2013 list of The 60 Nastiest Villains of All
Time. In 2016, Rolling Stone ranked him #11 of their "40 Greatest TV
Villains of All Time". In a 2001 Channel 4 poll in the U.K. he was
ranked 38th on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters.
television series Dallas (1978â€"1991) and its spin-offs, including
the revived Dallas series (2012â€"2014). The character was portrayed
by Larry Hagman from the series premiere in 1978 until his death in
late 2012, and Hagman was the only actor who appeared in all 357
episodes of the original series. As the show's most famous character,
J.R. has been central to many of the series' biggest storylines. He is
depicted as a covetous, egocentric, manipulative and amoral oil baron
with psychopathic tendencies, who is constantly plotting subterfuges
to plunder his foes' wealth. In the PBS series Pioneers of Television,
Hagman claimed the character of J.R. began its development when he
played a similar character in the film Stardust, and that he was also
inspired by a mean boss he once had.The original series' concept was a
blend of Bonanza (a rich Western patriarch and his three dissimilar
sons), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (rival brothers, and their scheming
wives), and Romeo and Juliet (two star-crossed lovers whose families
are sworn enemies). The focus of the series was initially the feuding
families, with J.R. just a supporting character, but his popularity
grew and the producers acknowledged he became the breakout character.
Two highly rated 1980 episodes became part of a cultural phenomenon
that year known as "Who shot J.R.?". In "A House Divided", the
audience witnessed J.R. being shot by an unknown assailant.After the
cliffhanger was broadcast in March, the audience had to wait until the
November conclusion, "Who Done It". With his new-found popularity,
Larry Hagman threatened to leave the series unless his contractual
demands were met. CBS leaked rumors of recasting, but the actor
eventually prevailed. He also appeared in five episodes of spin-off
series Knots Landing between 1980 and 1982. The character is featured
in the first two seasons of the 2012 reincarnation series as well.
Hagman died on November 23, 2012, and Dallas producers subsequently
announced that J.R. would be killed off in the second season. The
episode "The Furious and Fast" dealt with J.R.'s death.J.R. Ewing is
considered one of television's most popular characters, with TV Guide
naming him #1 in their 2013 list of The 60 Nastiest Villains of All
Time. In 2016, Rolling Stone ranked him #11 of their "40 Greatest TV
Villains of All Time". In a 2001 Channel 4 poll in the U.K. he was
ranked 38th on their list of the 100 Greatest TV Characters.
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