More than 40 years after one of television’s most shocking twists aired, Patrick Duffy is opening up about the surprising conversation that brought him back to Dallas after Bobby Ewing’s dramatic on-screen death. The actor recently reflected on the iconic storyline and revealed that longtime co-star Larry Hagman played a major role in convincing him to return to the legendary primetime soap.
The unforgettable television moment remains one of the most talked-about cliffhangers in TV history. After Bobby Ewing was killed off during the 1985 season finale, audiences spent months believing the beloved character was truly gone before the series stunned viewers by revealing his death had all been part of a dream sequence.
Larry Hagman Personally Asked Patrick Duffy To Return To ‘Dallas’
Speaking with the Television Academy, Duffy explained that he immediately understood why Hagman wanted to meet him when he received a phone call asking him to come to Malibu. According to the actor, he told his wife at the time that the producers were almost certainly going to ask him to return to Dallas.
The meeting reportedly turned into a memorable night out, with Duffy recalling that he and Larry Hagman first got drinks at a Mexican restaurant before discussing the future of the show. Hagman, who famously played J.R. Ewing, simply urged him to come back because the series no longer felt the same without him.
The Famous Dream Twist Changed Television History
Duffy also revealed that his wife had correctly predicted the only believable way Bobby could return to the series. She suggested revealing the entire previous season as a dream, creating one of the boldest and most controversial twists in television history.
According to PEOPLE, producers created the storyline after ratings declined following Bobby’s departure. While many fans welcomed his return, others disliked that the show erased an entire season through the dream reveal. Still, the twist revived interest in the series and restored the Ewing family dynamic that audiences loved. For Patrick Duffy, returning felt more like coming home than simply rejoining the storyline.
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