Where are the cast of Dallas now? As creator David Jacobs dies aged 84, how the stars became painters, mental-health advocates and singers

The cast have had a huge mix of careers 45 years after the show aired
READ MORE: Dallas creator David Jacobs dead at 84

For television audiences in the 80s, the lives of two Texan families at war over love and oil proved compelling viewing.

The racy drama made soap history when it consigned an entire ninth series to dreamland – after a killed-off Bobby Ewing, played by now 74-year-old Patrick Duffy, left viewers agog by coming back to life at the start of the tenth series; his death put down to a nightmare suffered by his wife Pamela.

This week, creator David Jacobs died at aged 84, joining many of the show’s most famous faces – including Jock Ewing (Jim Davis), JR Ewing (Larry Hagman) and Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) who have tripped off this mortal coil.

The showrunnner and writer suffered from Alzheimer’s for several years, his son Aaron said that a series of infections was what led to his death.

Aaron told Deadline: ‘He had Alzheimer’s for many years, and recently he had recurring infections that led to his death.’

He added that David had celebrated his 84th birthday only eight days before his passing.

Here, FEMAIL looks back at where the stars are now…

John Ross ‘JR’ Ewing: Larry Hagman

Distinctive look: Larry Hagman played JR (left) in every single episode of Dallas’ original run, and then returned in 2012 to play the much older but still scheming version of the character in the reboot

The most famous, and infamous, of the Ewing clan, Larry Hagman appeared as JR in every one of the series’ 356 episodes as well as several spin-off versions, including the recent reboot of the series which ran from 2012 to 2014.

His character was famously shot in the last episode of the third series in 1980, prompting an eight-month long ‘whodunnit’ that became a cultural phenomenon with spin off memorabilia including ‘Who Shot JR’ T-shirts and mugs.

Hagman himself was offered £100,000 to reveal the shooter’s identity while on holiday in the UK.

After the end of the main series, Hagman made sporadic appearances in film and television, including hit shows Nip/Tuck and Desperate Housewives, and even appeared on British screens on comedy panel show Shooting Stars.

But he struggled with his health post-Dallas, having successful surgery for liver cancer in 1995 but then developing throat cancer in 2011. He died in November 2012.

PATRICK DUFFY: BOBBY EWING

Patrick Duffy got his big break when he was cast as Bobby Ewing in Dallas

Duffy and his real-life girlfriend Linda Purl play love interests on The Bold and the Beautiful

Duffy got his big break when he was cast as Bobby Ewing, the youngest son of Jock and Miss Ellie Ewing.

His character’s determination to always do the right thing put him at odds with his scheming older brother J.R.

Bobby was killed off the series in 1985, but he returned a year later, stepping out of the shower as the entire ninth series was revealed to be the dream of his love interest Pamela Barnes Ewing.

Duffy reprised his role in the show’s television movies J.R. Returns and War of the Ewings in the mid-1990s while starring in the family sitcom Step by Step.

He later appeared in TNT’s continuation series of Dallas, which aired from 2012 to 2014 and featured many of the original cast members.

Duffy was married to professional ballerina Carlyn Rosser from 1974 until she died of cancer in 2017. He has been in a relationship with Happy Days actress Linda Purl, 67, since 2020.

Recently, the actor reprised his role as Stephen Logan on The Bold and the Beautiful, and his real-life girlfriend, Purl, was cast as his new love on the soap opera.

He is also well known for his role on the ABC sitcom Step by Step.

Duffy has continued to work steadily, but he is often reminded of his time in Dallas, which he has compared to the hit shows Succession and Yellowstone.

‘The way Dallas was written, it’s standard writing template for shows that run any period of time from a few episodes onto years. But yeah, it all started with us,’ he told People. ‘I really thought about it with Succession.’

LINDA GRAY: SUE ELLEN EWING

Gray played Sue Ellen Ewing, the unhappily married alcoholic wife of J.R. Ewing in the show

Prior to Dallas, Linda Gray’s most famous moment was as Mrs Robinson’s legs on the poster for Dustin Hoffman classic The Graduate, where the actress said she was paid $25 for one leg.

On the show she was the long-suffering wife of JR, known for necking back vodka and embarking on affairs, while Gray herself has described Sue Ellen as the ‘original Desperate Housewife’.

The actress starred in Dallas from 1978 to 1989, and also appeared in the show’s television movies.

She later reprised her role for the show’s revival in 2012. Three years later, she published her memoir, The Road to Happiness Is Always Under Construction.

Gray was married to art director and photographer Ed Thrasher from 1962 to 1983. Together, they had two children, Jeff Thrasher and Kehly Sloane.

In November 2020, she announced on Instagram that her son, Jeff, had died of leukaemia at the age of 56.

Gray continues to act, and she most recently appeared on the podcast series Tara Tremendous and its spinoff Tremendous Boy.

PAMELA BARNES EWING: VICTORIA PRINCIPAL

As Pamela Barnes Ewing (left), Victoria Principal would cause trouble for her friends and enemies, but the actress herself has gone on to establish herself as a philanthropist, offering aid – often to animals – after disasters in the US

One half of the show’s Romeo and Juliet, Pamela was often defined by her love for Bobby despite their families’ wars.

Something of a method actor, Victoria Principal would keep her distance from several of the cast to reflect her character’s status as an outsider with the Ewings.

She left the show in 1987, but not soon enough to shake off the dream sequence tag that stays with her until today.

Principal’s father was in the US Air Force and spent her childhood in various places including England, where she studied at the Royal Ballet School.

Her post-Dallas acting career has been starring in television movies and making guest appearances, but she has also set up her own environmental charity in 2006, donated $200,000 towards the cleaning of the Gulf Coast oil spill in 2010 and sits on the board of a Los Angeles domestic violence advisory board, among other philanthropic projects.

The star donated funds to relief efforts for fires in Southern California, and ensured a fleet of rescue boats helped rescue animals in Texas after Hurricane Harvey.

CHARLENE TILTON: LUCY EWING

Charlene Tilton played wild child Lucy Ewing, the daughter of Gary Ewing and Valene Ewing

Tilton was cast as the show’s wild child Lucy Ewing, the daughter of Gary Ewing and Valene Clements Ewing.

Her character was usually found skipping school and romping around the hayloft with ranch foreman Ray Krebbs, whom she later found out was her uncle.

The 4-foot-11 actress was nicknamed the ‘Poison Dwarf’ by the late radio broadcaster Terry Wogan due to her on-screen antics and her short stature.

‘I think it was, to the best of my knowledge, the first show that gave you characters that were truly flawed, but they were loved by the audience.

‘And every one of us had a major flaw, but still they were human and the audience still loved them,’ Tilton told People of Dallas.

After a brief pop career in the 1980s, Tilton has gone on to feature in several small films and appeared as a contestant on ITV’s Dancing on Ice in 2012, with television roles less forthcoming in the last five years.

The star said she was looking forward to going back to Southfork Ranch for a reunion this year, telling a Texan newspaper: ‘I know this sounds crazy, but Southfork is like a second home to me.

‘It always feels wonderful to go back to Southfork Ranch and we are going to have some events there.’

Tilton continues to act, and she most recently played Pam in the 2023 film Heaven Sent, which premiered on the faith and family-based streaming platform Pure Flix.

She is also the chair of Actors for Autism, helping out hundreds of neurodivergent thespians.

AUDREY LANDERS: AFTON COOPER

Audrey Landers played Afton Cooper, the girlfriend of Cliff Barnes

Exclusive photos from the reunion that were shared by People show the cast members smiling brightly and hugging as they reflected on the show’s legacy

Landers had a supporting role in Dallas and made her debut as Afton Cooper in the show’s fourth season.

The actress wrote and performed her own songs on the show while playing the nightclub singer, who was the sister of Mitch Cooper and the girlfriend of Cliff Barnes.

After leaving Dallas in 1984, she was cast as Val Clarke in the 1985 film version of A Chorus Line.

She has reprised her role as Afton numerous times over the years, and most recently played her in the second season of the show’s short-lived reboot.

Landers continues to act, and she most recently appeared in the 2022 television movie Cloudy with a Chance of Christmas.

Christmas seems to be a big theme in her life, with her recently releasing an album.

BOBBY EWING: PATRICK DUFFY

After a string of appearances in television movies in the 1970s, Patrick Duffy got his big break when he was cast as the youngest son Bobby in Dallas.

His character was the heart of the family and always tried to do the right thing, putting him at odds with older brother JR.

Bobby was seemingly killed off in 1985 but returned a year later, famously stepping out of the shower as the entire ninth series was revealed to be the dream of his love interest Pamela Barnes Ewing.

Four decades on: Patrick Duffy during his time playing Bobby Ewing in the 80s, pictured this weekend on a German television show

Back from the dead: Bobby Ewing pictured alive and well in the famous ‘shower’ scene after the ‘dream series’. Patrick Duffy, right, arguably had the most successful career post Dallas, starring on American soap The Bold and the Beautiful between 2006 and 2011

During the show his life was hit by personal tragedy when his parents were murdered in an armed robbery at the bar they ran in Montana.

Like Hagman, Duffy has reprised his role in Dallas spin-offs, including the most recent revival, but has also appeared as a regular on American soap The Bold and the Beautiful between 2006 and 2011, while he has also made appearances in Christmas pantomimes in the UK.

Duffy has been married to wife Carlyn Rosser, a professional ballet dancer 10 years his senior, for 41 years.They have two grown up sons and four grandchildren.

His greying ponytail, spied after he appeared on a German TV show alongside David Hasselhoff this weekend shocked some fans of the show, who appeared to be surprised that their favourite star is close to 70.

STEVE KANALY: RAY KREBBS

Steve Kanaly played Ray Krebbs, who was revealed to be the illegitimate son of Jock Ewing

The cast photographed on the set of the ‘Southfork Ranch’ in Texas in 1979

Kanaly is best known for his role as Ray Krebbs, the rogue with a heart of gold.

His character was eventually revealed to be the illegitimate son of Jock Ewing, which raised serious questions over his romance with Lucy Ewin after she turned out to be his niece.

Kanaly made sporadic guest appearances on shows before reprising his role on the Dallas reboot from 2012 to 2014, the last acting credit listed on his IMBD page.

The actor is also a watercolor painter and has been married to his wife Brent Power for nearly 50 years.

JOAN VAN ARK: VALENE ‘VAL’ EWING

Joan Van Ark played Valene Ewing in Dallas and it’s spinoff series Knot’s Landing

Van Ark got her big break when she was cast as Valene Ewing in 1978.

After making several guest appearances on the primetime soap, she became a leading character on the Dallas spinoff Knots Landing, which premiered in 1979.

Knots Landing followed Valene and Gary Ewing after they married for the second time and moved to California to restart their lives.

Van Ark continues to act and has done voice work on various projects in recent years, including the video game Redfall.

She has been married to TV reporter John Marshall since 1966, and together they have one daughter, actress Vanessa Marshall.

SHEREE WILSON: APRIL STEVENS EWING

Sheree Wilson is well known for playing April Stevens Ewing in Dallas from 1986 to 1991

Wilson played April Stevens Ewing in Dallas from 1986 to 1991.

The actress was pregnant when she left the show in the first half of the final season. She asked to be killed off because she wanted to focus on being a mother.

Wilson’s character tragically died in her husband Bobby Ewing’s arms after being shot and killed on their honeymoon in Paris.

She went on to play Alex Cahill for all nine seasons of Walker, Texas Ranger, which premiered in 1993.

Wilson shares two sons with her ex-husband, Paul DeRobbio, whom she was married to from 1991 to 2004.

She has been married to her second husband, Vince Morella, since 2018, and like many of her castmates, she continues to act.

Wilson has two projects that are in preproduction: Rose in Paradise and the short film One Crazy Night. She also recently played a grandmother in the 2022 movie Flip Turn.

CATHY PODEWELL: CALLY HARPER EWING

Cathy Podewell played Cally Harper Ewing, the second wife of J.R. Ewing

Podewell was cast as Cally Harper Ewing, the second wife of J.R. Ewing, and appeared on the primetime soap opera from 1988 to 1991.

She has had a number of guest appearances on popular television series over the years, including Murder, She Wrote, Beverly Hills, 90210, Growing Pains, and Walker, Texas Ranger.

Podewell also reprised her role in the second season of the Dallas reboot in 2013.

After a five-year hiatus from acting, she played Laurel Conner in the 2021 horror film Reunion From Hell.

Podewell has been married to her husband, Steven Glueck, since 1989, and they have three children together.

ELLIE EWING FARLOW: BARBARA BEL GEDDES

An Oscar nominated actress in the 1940s, Barbara Bel Geddes came to the show after a long career in Hollywood and Broadway, appearing in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo on screen and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on stage.

She took on the role of Ellie Ewing, matriarch of the family, for almost the entire length of the series, except for one season in 1984 when she was recovering from heart surgery and was replaced by Oscar-winning actress Donna Reed.

After the end of the show, she retired from acting immediately and settled in Maine where she worked as a fine artist, children’s author and greeting cards creator.

She died in August 2005, aged 82.

PRISCILLA PRESLEY

After marrying the most famous singer on the planet, Elvis Presley, in 1967, Priscilla Presley brought global fame to the show when she joined as JR’s girlfriend Jenna Wade in 1983.

She stayed for five years, injecting more glamour into the series as one-time love interest of Bobby Ewing.

Presley’s Wade was a key protagonist in the famous dream sequence, being seen to have a near breakdown after Bobby’s reported death.

Mother of Elvis’ only child, the late Lisa-Marie, Priscilla, has remained in the spotlight throughout the decades since Dallas aired via her husband’s legacy and more acting roles.

This month, the Brooklyn-born star has been promoting a new documentary about the King.

JOCK EWING: JIM DAVIS

Davis was diagnosed with blood cancer during the fourth series of Dallas and had to begin wearing a hairpiece to cover up the effects of chemotherapy while his voice was dubbed due to the effects of the illness

Jim Davis’s character showed tough love to his family but provoked one of the driving themes of the show by favouring youngest son Bobby and bullying eldest JR – helping drive a wedge between them that would be the basis for their decade-long feud.

He died in 1981 and his character was written out of the show a few episodes later.

CLIFF BARNES: KEN KERCHEVAL

As Cliff Barnes, Ken Kercheval provided many of the series plot points with his efforts to get revenge on nemesis JR Ewing whether it be through using his political power against him or by sleeping with his wife Sue Ellen

Outside of the show, Kercheval is another to have performed in UK panto and has been very active on the circuit in the past decade, performing in London, Southampton, Manchester, Cardiff and Plymouth.

A lung cancer survivor, the retired star has five children from three marriages that all ended in divorce.

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