Larry Hagman

 Larry Hagman played ruthless oil baron J.R. Ewing in both the original Dallas (1978–1991) and the later TNT continuation of the series.

Larry Hagman in Dallas (1978)
* In the original CBS series, J.R. began as more of a supporting character but soon became the show’s central anti‑hero, appearing in every episode across the 1978–1991 run.
* J.R. was depicted as a manipulative, power‑hungry Texas oil man whose constant plotting and long‑running feud with the Barnes family helped define the show’s dramatic style and made him one of TV’s most iconic villains.

Larry Hagman in Dallas (2012)
* Hagman returned as an older J.R. in the 2012 TNT continuation, where the focus shifted toward the next generation—John Ross and Christopher—while J.R. still influenced events from the background.
* He appeared in the early seasons before his death in 2012, after which the series wrote J.R.’s passing into the story and built a major farewell arc around the mystery of “Who ki/ll/ed J.R.?”