In my long illustrious life, I have met a few folks who I consider to be true television icons, but perhaps none have been as iconic as Larry Hagman. His film career was grossly limited, with the high points being a small role in the John Wayne film In Harm’s Way, a cameo in Superman, and supporting roles in Harry and Tonto, S.O.B., Nixon, and Primary Colors. But quite obviously, these are not the parts that he was known for.
I Dream of Jeannie ranks at the top of my favorite sitcoms. I own the whole collection of DVDs and have always marveled at the comic chops of Larry Hagman portraying Major Tony Nelson in this series. But since I am a child of the 70’s, my first exposure to Hagman was in the nighttime soap Dallas, which my Mom often watched. So I was actually introduced to him in reverse, first knowing of his juicy, sinister role of J.R. Ewing – the man everyone loved to hate. And then later finding out whole funny and wholesome he had been in I Dream of Jeannie.
Needless to say, I was thrilled when I found out that he would be attending the Chicago Hollywood Celebrity Show on Saturday, October 17. Although Larry Hagman had been kind enough to sign a couple of autographs on photos of I Dream of Jeannie for me through the mail (as well as enclosing a bonus signed J.R. fake money bill) back in 1999, I had never had the good fortune to meet him.
Hagman with Barbara Eden from I Dream of Jeannie
Bonus bucks from J.R.
They had a good deal where you could get a signed photo and a picture with him for $30 – so I went ahead and got another photo, this one a nice color portrait of him as J.R. in all his slimy American glory. He was rather quiet but amiable enough, and flashed his notorious but endearing grin. So I posed next to him, and my Mom shot J.R. with my camera.
Hagman as J.R. Ewing
With the legendary Larry Hagman
Celebrities of the Fall 2009 Chicago show will continue…
I found him to be rather quiet, as well…nothing at all like his famous TV character.
Dave Chasteen
January 17th, 2010
And his mom was Broadway legend Mary Martin! I have a great record of the two of them, mom and son, singing “Get Out Those Old Records…those old phonograph records…the ones we used to play so long ago.” The lyric lists a bunch of 1920s hits. When I play this disc on my radio show, I follow it up with all the songs it mentions.
Randy Skretvedt
January 18th, 2010
He’s quite an anti-tobacco enthusiast. He used to cart around a little mini-fan (doesn’t have to in these times, i’d imagine) and go to town on someone who dared to stink up his environment.
eric flinn
January 18th, 2010