Larry Hagman
Biography
Larry Martin Hagman (September 21 1931 – November 23 2012) was an American film and television actor, director and producer. He was born in Fort Worth, Texas, the son of actress Mary Martin; after his parents divorced he lived with his grandmother in Texas while his mother pursued acting work. At age 16 he followed his mother into acting, beginning with small theater productions and commercials, and entered the professional field in the early 1950s, appearing on Broadway. Hagman is best known for portraying the ruthless oil baron J. R. Ewing in the primetime soap opera Dallas from 1978 to 1991, and the befuddled astronaut Major Anthony Nelson in the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie from 1965 to 1970. He was male and was also credited as Larry M.
Career overview
Larry Martin Hagman was born on September 21, 1931, in Fort Worth, Texas. He was the son of actress Mary Martin, and after his parents divorced he lived with his grandmother while his mother pursued acting work. At the age of sixteen Hagman followed his mother into the profession, beginning with small theater productions and commercials. He entered the acting world in the early 1950s, appearing on Broadway and later expanding into film and television.
Hagman achieved lasting fame through two major television series. From 1965 to 1970 he portrayed the comedic astronaut Major Anthony Nelson in the sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, a role that highlighted his talent for light‑hearted performance. He later became widely recognized for his portrayal of the ruthless oil baron J. R. Ewing in the primetime soap opera Dallas, a part he inhabited from 1978 until the series concluded in 1991. These characters cemented his reputation as a versatile actor capable of both humor and dramatic intensity.
Over the course of his career Hagman accumulated more than one hundred credited appearances across film, television, and stage, as recorded by industry databases. In addition to acting, he worked as a director and producer. He died on November 23, 2012, at the age of 81, leaving a legacy defined by iconic television performances and a substantial body of work.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Larry Hagman.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Il était une fois Champs-Élysées (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- 'Fail-Safe' and the Cold War (2020) as Self (archive footage)
- Göttliche Lage (2014) as Himself
- Dallas (2012) as J.R. Ewing
- The Flight of the Swan (2011) as Corporate President
- Solartaxi: Around the World with the Sun (2010)
- Markus Lanz (2008) as Self
- Bring Back... (2005) as Self - J.R. Ewing
- Desperate Housewives (2004) as Frank Kaminsky
- TV Revolution (2004)
- Dallas Reunion: Return to Southfork (2004) as Self
- Nip/Tuck (2003) as Burt Landau
- V Graham Norton (2002) as Self
- Good Day Live (2001) as Self
- Menschen der Woche (2000) as Self
- TV total (1999) as Self
- Parkinson (1998) as Self
- The Heaven and Earth Show (1998)
- Primary Colors (1998) as Gov. Fred Picker
- Dallas: War of The Ewings (1998) as J.R. Ewing
- Dallas: War of The Ewings (1998) Executive Producer
- The View (1997) as Self
- Taff (1997) as self
- The Third Twin (1997) as Berrington Jones
- Orleans (1997) as Judge Luther Charbonnet
- Dallas: J.R. Returns (1996) as J.R. Ewing
- Nixon (1995) as Jack Jones
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- Shooting Stars (1993) as Self
- Staying Afloat (1993) as Alexander Hollingsworth III
- Staying Afloat (1993) Executive Producer
- Harley-Davidson: The American Motorcycle (1993)
- Boulevard Bio (1991) as Self
- Ein Schloß am Wörthersee (1990) as Self
- The Simpsons (1989) as Wallace Brady (voice)
- In the Heat of the Night (1988) Director
- The Dame Edna Experience (1987) as Self
- Dallas: The Early Years (1986) as J.R. Ewing
- Goldene Kamera (1984) as Self
- Wogan (1982) as Self
- Champs-Elysées (1982) as Self
- Night of 100 Stars (1982) as Self
- The Making of 'Superman: The Movie' (1982) as Self
- exclusiv (1982) as Self
- Deadly Encounter (1982) as Sam Hooten
- Das Traumschiff (1981) as Larry Hagman
- Entertainment Tonight (1981) as Self
- Musikantenstadl (1981) as Self
- Diana (1981) as Self
- S.O.B. (1981) as Dick Benson
- I am Blushing (1981) as Larry Hagman
- Pink Lady (1980) as Larry Hagman
- Knots Landing (1979) as J.R. Ewing
- Friday Night, Saturday Morning (1979)
- A Cry for Justice (1979) as Dwight Sheppard
- Dallas (1978) as J.R. Ewing
- Dallas (1978) Director
- Superman (1978) as Major
- The Kennedy Center Honors (1978) as Self
- A Double Life (1978)
- The President's Mistress (1978) as Ed Murphy
- Last of the Good Guys (1978) as Sgt. Frank O'Malley (uncredited)
- What Really Happened to the Class of '65? (1977)
- Intimate Strangers (1977) as Mort Burns
- Checkered Flag or Crash (1977) as Bo Cochran
- The Rhinemann Exchange (1977) as Col. Edmund Pace
- The Eagle Has Landed (1976) as Colonel Pitts
- The Big Bus (1976) as Parking Lot Doctor
- Mother, Jugs & Speed (1976) as Murdoch
- The Return of the World's Greatest Detective (1976) as Sherman Holmes
- Ellery Queen (1975)
- Doctors' Hospital (1975)
- Three for the Road (1975)
- Sarah T. - Portrait of a Teenage Alcoholic (1975) as Jerry Travis
- McCoy (1975) as Frank Darnell
- The Rockford Files (1974) as Richard Lessing
- Police Woman (1974)
- Harry O (1974) as Bernie Roth
- Lucas Tanner (1974)
- Sidekicks (1974) as Quince Drew
- Harry and Tonto (1974) as Eddie Coombes
- Hurricane (1974) as Paul Damon
- Stardust (1974) as Porter Lee Austin
- Police Story (1973)
- Here We Go Again (1973) as Richard Evans
- Blood Sport (1973) as Coach Marshall
- The Alpha Caper (1973) as Tudor
- Applause (1973) as Bill Sampson
- What Are Best Friends For? (1973) as Frank Ross
- Antonio (1973) as Mark Hunter
- The Streets of San Francisco (1972)
- Beware! The Blob (1972) as Young Hobo
- Beware! The Blob (1972) Director
- No Place to Run (1972) as Jay Fox
- Getting Away from It All (1972) as Fred Clark
- A Howling in the Woods (1971) as Eddie Crocker
- Vanished (1971) as Jerry Freytag
- The Hired Hand (1971) as Sheriff (uncredited)
- The Good Life (1971) as Albert Miller
- Night Gallery (1970) as Cedric Acton (segment "The Housekeeper")
- McCloud (1970)
- Up in the Cellar (1970) as Maurice Camber
- Love, American Style (1969)
- Medical Center (1969)
- Three's a Crowd (1969) as Jim Carson
- The Name of the Game (1968)
- The Group (1966) as Harald Peterson
- I Dream of Jeannie (1965) as Tony Nelson
- I Dream of Jeannie (1965) Director
- In Harm's Way (1965) as Lt. J.G. Cline
- The Rogues (1964) as Mark Fleming
- Fail Safe (1964) as Buck
- Ensign Pulver (1964) as Billings
- The Cavern (1964) as Captain Wilson
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- The Defenders (1961) as Jim Lewton
- The Defenders (1961) as Edmund Lockwood
- Two by Saroyan: 'Once Around the Block' and 'My Heart's in the Highlands' (1960) as Joe Smith
- Sea Hunt (1958)
- Decoy (1957) as Kenneth Davidson
- DuPont Show of the Month (1957) as Jarvis
- West Point (1956)
- The Edge of Night (1956)
- South Pacific (1952) as Yeoman Herbert Quale
- Bambi (1948) as Self
- Bring Back... Dallas as Self