Linda Gray and Larry Hagman created one of television’s most unforgettable relationships as Sue Ellen and J.R. Ewing on Dallas. However, their chemistry began before cameras ever captured the complicated Ewing marriage.
According to People, Gray recently looked back on their unusual first meeting on the Celebrity Drop podcast. The actress admitted that Hagman made quite an entrance. In fact, one look at her future costar was enough for her to think, “This is trouble.”
Linda Gray Knew Larry Hagman Would Be Trouble From Their First Meeting
Gray, now 85, recalled arriving on the Dallas set when the cast members were still getting to know one another. At that point, nobody knew the show would become a television phenomenon. Instead, Gray remembered them as working actors who were simply happy to have landed jobs. Then Hagman walked into the room carrying saddlebags filled with ice and a bottle of champagne.
The Linda Gray-Larry Hagman introduction became even more memorable when he greeted her with a playful, “Hello, darling.” Gray immediately sensed his larger-than-life personality. However, there was another reason she felt slightly overwhelmed. She recognized him as Major Anthony Nelson from the popular 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. Gray admitted that she had once had a crush on the character. Suddenly, the actor she remembered from television stood directly in front of her as her new costar.
Their Friendship Grew Far Beyond Dallas
That first encounter eventually developed into a close friendship and a legendary television partnership. Beginning in 1978, Gray played Sue Ellen Ewing opposite Hagman’s ruthless oil tycoon J.R. Ewing. Their turbulent marriage became central to Dallas as the series grew into one of television’s biggest dramas. Moreover, the actors developed an easy friendship behind the scenes that looked very different from their characters’ stormy relationship.
Gray has also shared memories of Hagman’s mischievous personality on set. During a 2025 appearance on the That’s Classic podcast, she recalled his habit of playing jokes before their kissing scenes. Sometimes, he ate onions beforehand. Other times, he chose peanut butter simply to make it difficult for her to keep a straight face. Nevertheless, the two remained close throughout the years. Hagman died in 2012 at age 81, while Gray later returned as Sue Ellen for TNT’s Dallas revival. Decades after their first meeting, her memories reveal how the Linda Gray-Larry Hagman partnership became just as meaningful off-screen as it was memorable on television.