Cally Harper Ewing

Cally Harper Ewing
Dallas character
First appearance November 11, 1988
Call Of The Wind
Last appearance May 3, 1991
Conundrum
Portrayed by Cathy Podewell
Information
Gender Female
Family Unnamed brother
Unnamed brother
Spouse(s) J.R. Ewing (1988-1991, divorced)
Children Terrance Harper

Calpurnia "Cally" Harper Ewing, was a character that appeared in the later seasons of the popular American television series Dallas, played by Cathy Podewell (1988-1991). Cally was the second wife of the nefarious J.R. Ewing.

Biography

Cally, born in 1965, was a waitress at a hotel in Hayleyville, Arkansas, whom J.R. met while on a hunting trip with his brother Bobby and their sons. J.R. seduced Cally into bed, but when J.R. is discovered by her crazed brothers, he is arrested and convicted for rape. After Cally's brothers break J.R. out of prison, Cally lies that she is pregnant, so her brothers force J.R. into a shotgun wedding. J.R. eventually escapes from Hayleyville and returns to Dallas, but Cally shortly thereafter follows him with the intention of making their marriage work. To her dismay, she finds that J.R. wants nothing to do with her.

Seeking the help of J.R.'s first wife, Sue Ellen, Cally tricks J.R. into renewing their wedding vows when she claims she really is pregnant. After tying the knot, J.R. discovers her ruse, but decides to remain married to Cally — mainly because his son John Ross has become fond of his stepmother.

Cally Ewing develops an interest in painting and has a distinct primitive Grandma Moses style. Miss Ellie encourages her talent and Lucy has Cally display her paintings at her art gallery.

However, their rocky marriage is short-lived as J.R. soon returns to his philandering ways. By the time Cally divorces J.R., she really is pregnant with his child. However, in an attempt to escape from J.R., Cally lies that J.R.'s son James is the child's father and J.R. allows Cally to leave Dallas. Later, upon discovering the child's true paternity, J.R. decides to track Cally down and finds she has created a new life for herself in Florida with her new child and boyfriend. Realizing how happy Cally is, J.R. decides to leave her in peace.

Last appearance

In the very last episode of the actual series, J.R. dreams of what life would have been like without him. In the dream Cally is the victim of repeated spousal abuse from a very aggressive husband until she shoots him and is thus set to spend life in jail.