Net Worth, Age, Height and Everything You Need to Know About the Late Dallas Actor

Late, great Larry Hagman has had an extensive filmography, but is by far best known for playing J.R. Ewing on the primetime soap opera, Dallas (1978-1991), responsible for a large part of his net worth. The actor began his career on stage in summer productions. While moving to Broadway, Hagman also acquired small roles on television. He got his big break when he was cast as Captain Anthony Nelson, Barbara Eden’s love interest, in I dream about Jeannie (1965-1970). But it was its role as Dallas‘villainous oil baron JR Ewing who made him a star.

Hagman was born in Fort, Worth Texas, the son of district attorney Benjamin Hagman and Mary Martin, who would become a Broadway actress after Hagman’s birth. Upon graduating from high school in Texas, Hagman followed in her mother’s footsteps and began acting. He enrolled at Bard College, where he majored in theater and dance, but dropped out after a year. He married Swedish-born Maj Axelsson in 1954 and together they had two children, daughter Heidi (b. 1958) and son Preston (b. 1962). Hagman passed away in 2012 due to complications from acute myeloid leukemia.

Larry Hagman net worth

The Dallas actor was worth $30 million at the time of his death

Larry Hagman was worth a total of $30 million at the time of his death in 2012 (through Celebrity Net Worth). While his term I dream about Jeannie and roles in films such as Fail Safe, Nixonand Primary Colors probably contributed to his net worth, Hagman made most of his fortune from his celebrated work in the cast of Dallasappearing in all 357 episodes of the show.

Hagman earned about $15,000 per episode in the show’s early seasons (about $50,000 in today’s economy), which was considered a high TV salary at the time. However, nighttime soap exploded in popularity after season three’s “Who Shot JR?” Dallas suspense. Realizing that his character had made television history, Hagman demanded that his agents negotiate with the network for a higher salary, a whopping $100 per episode, which was unheard of at the time. The network backed down and even threatened to drop Hagman from the show and replace him with another actor.

However, they eventually relented and Hagman received his $100,000 salary. At the end of Dallas‘ run, Hagman was earning $250,000 per episodemaking him one of the highest paid television actors at the time. Hagman’s contract negotiations made him a pioneer of his time and likely encouraged casting on popular shows like Seinfeld and Friends negotiate higher salaries many years later.

Larry Hagman Age and Height

Hagman is a virgin

Larry Hagman was was born on September 21, 1931 and was 81 years old when he died. Mid-September birthdays fall under the sign of Virgo, an Earth sign represented by the maiden. Virgos are known for being kind and supportive, the exact opposite of Hagman’s most famous character, the cowardly JR Ewing.

However, a Virgo playing such an effective villain only speaks further to Hagman’s acting abilities. However, like JR, Virgos also have a strict approach to their goals, and the oil baron certainly never let anyone get in his way. At 6’1″, Hagman was quite tall, which added to his intimidating screen presence in Dallas.

Larry Hagman turned down the lead in Waverly Wonders to star in Dallas

Eight years later I dream about Jeannie ended, Larry Hagman was still working steadily, although he was concerned about the peak of his career. But everything changed in 1978, when two television pilot scripts came his way: Dallas and The Wonders of Waverly. According to Texas monthlyHagman and his wife, Maj Axelsson, each picked up a script to read, he The Wonders of Waverly and she Dallas. It only took a few pages Dallas pilot for Axelsson to announce: “Larry, that’s it! We found it!“

The history of television would certainly have been different if Hagman had chosen The Wonders of Waverlya comedy about a high school basketball coach named Joe Casey, whom Hagman would have played. After Hagman made his choice, The Wonders of Waverly instead, it drafted retired NFL quarterback Joe Namath. The Wonders of Waverly plummeted in the rankingswith only three of the show’s nine episodes airing. About that, Dallas was a ratings juggernaut, thanks in large part to Larry Hagman’s performance. He still wants to reprise his role as JR in Dallas revival (2012-2014), his last credit before his death.