| John Ross Ewing Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Dallas character | |
| First appearance | April 2, 1978 Jock's Son |
| Created by | David Jacobs |
| Portrayed by | Larry Hagman[1] |
| Information | |
| Nickname(s) | J. R. |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation |
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| Family | Jock Ewing (father; deceased) Ellie Farlow (mother; deceased) Clayton Farlow (stepfather; deceased) Gary Ewing (brother) Bobby Ewing (brother) Ray Krebbs (paternal half brother) Pamela Barnes Ewing (sister-in-law) Valene Ewing (sister-in-law) Donna Culver Krebbs (sister-in-law) April Stevens Ewing (sister-in-law; deceased) |
| Spouse(s) | Sue Ellen Shepard (1970–81; divorced) (1982–88; divorced) Cally Harper (1988–91; divorced) |
| Children | James Richard Beaumont (son; with Vanessa) John Ross Ewing III (son; with Sue Ellen) Terrance Harper (son; with Cally) Jimmy Beaumont (grandson; via James) |
| Relatives | Lucy Ewing Cooper (niece) Christopher Ewing (nephew; adoptive) Bobby Ewing (nephew) Betsy Ewing (niece) Margaret Krebbs (paternal half-niece) Lucas Krebbs (nephew) Molly Whittaker (niece) Jamie Ewing Barnes (cousin; deceased) Jack Ewing (cousin; deceased) Jason Ewing (uncle; deceased) Nancy Ewing (aunt; deceased) |
John Ross Ewing, Jr., more commonly known as J. R. Ewing, played by Larry Hagman, was a central, nefarious figure on the hit CBS television series Dallas (1978–1991). J. R. was a covetous, egocentric, and amoral oil baron, who was constantly plotting subterfuges to plunder his foes and their Texas-sized wallets.[2]
The concept was a blend of Bonanza with a rich, western patriarch and his three dissimilar sons, and Romeo and Juliet with two star-crossed lovers whose families are sworn enemies. The thrust of the series was initially the feuding families, with J. R. just a supporting character. However, his popularity grew and the producers acknowledged he became the "break-out character". Two highly rated 1980 episodes became pop culture zeniths. In "A House Divided" and "Who Done It?", the audience witnessed J. R. being shot by an unknown assailant. After the cliffhanger was broadcast in March, the audience had to wait until the October conclusion. The summer of 1980 was all abuzz with a new national obsession known as "Who shot J. R.?".[3] Riding the crest of his newfound popularity, Larry Hagman threatened to leave the series unless his contractual demands were met. CBS leaked rumors of recasting, but the actor eventually prevailed.[4]
J. R. Ewing is considered one of television's most popular characters.[5][6]
In 1999 TV Guide ranked him number 11 on its "50 Greatest TV Characters of All Time" list.[7]
Wizard magazine ranked him the 69th Greatest Villain of all time.
J. R. Ewing is the eldest son of Jock Ewing and Miss Ellie Ewing. He was born in September 1935 (according to Dallas: The Early Years) on Southfork. J. R. has two younger brothers Gary and Bobby and a half brother Ray Krebbs from Jock's affair during World War II. An alcoholic, Gary and his wife Val were spun off into the prime time soap Knots Landing. Gary's daughter Lucy was whisked away to the ranch by J. R. Knots Landing was created before Dallas, but it was not bought by CBS until 1979.[8]
J. R. accompanied his father Jock to Ewing Oil starting at the age of five and was groomed to be heir apparent, of the cut-throat, independent oil business. J. R. had no interest working on Southfork Ranch, which was mostly the domain of his mother Miss Ellie, and half-brother Ray Krebbs, but J. R. did have a love to keep Southfork in the family. Middle son Gary was mostly under the influence of his mother and embraced the Southworth tradition of ranching on Southfork and had no interest in Ewing Oil. He and wife Val fled Dallas for California suburbia, before the series premiered. J. R.'s youngest brother Bobby spent most of his time juggling between Southfork and Ewing Oil, and was Jock's favorite son. This made J. R. enormously determined to impress Jock. Despite his huge successes in the oil business J. R. was never able to overcome Jock's favoritism for Bobby. This caused a major rift between J. R. and Bobby that started in childhood and continued as they grew up.
J. R. had many extramarital affairs and a manic drive to maximize profits. J. R. was keen on women and mean on his arch nemesis Cliff Barnes. At times, and not just with Cliff, he would utilize the most devious and calculating plots to get what he wanted. Sometimes, he would ally himself with a Dallas Police detective, Harry McSween, in order to eliminate his enemies.
J. R. and Cliff were the only ones who remained with the series throughout all 14 seasons. Though ever the womanizer, J. R. had two wives during the show's run: Sue Ellen (played by Linda Gray) and Cally (played by Cathy Podewell), and three sons. James Richard Beaumont was J. R.'s eldest son via an off screen affair with Vanessa Beaumont—brought to knowledge during season 11. His second and most favored son was John Ross Ewing III from first wife Sue Ellen, and his third son, Terrance Harper, was with his second wife Cally Harper. His relationship with John Ross was J. R.'s Achilles heel, revealing a soft underbelly to his otherwise vile character.
As Dallas drew to its 1991 finale, "Conundrum", J. R. was undone by a combination of his enemies and booze. Except for Bobby, he was left alone to battle his own conscience/demons (Ellie, Cally, Sue Ellen, John Ross, Lucy, & Ray, had all left). J. R. was set up by West Star Oil owner Carter McKay. Believing that West Star was available, J. R. sold his half of Ewing Oil to Cliff Barnes, only to discover a retaliatory plot was orchestrated by Mackay (whom J. R. previously framed for murder). J. R., having bought worthless West Star voting rights, soon lost both companies. Contemplating suicide, the character roamed the lonely Southfork with a bottle of bourbon and a loaded revolver. After an It's a Wonderful Life–like fantasy, J. R. is shown what life would have been like had he never been born. The series ended with a single gunshot, and Bobby dashing into the room shouting, "Oh my God!". J. R.'s fate was not revealed.
J. R. initially drove a green 1979 280SE Mercedes-Benz with the license plate "EWING 3", later replaced by a 1981 Reseda-green Mercedes-Benz 350SEL until 1983 when his wife Sue Ellen wrecked the car at the end of the Southfork driveway. J. R. replaced it with a Mercedes-Benz W126 380SEL. J. R. also occasionally drove a Cadillac Allanté convertible from 1987–1991.
In a later reunion movie it was revealed that J. R. had shot a mirror and moved away to Europe for a few years. He returned and attempted to take back his empire, succeeding to an extent as he drove Cliff Barnes out of Ewing Oil, returning it to Bobby. J. R. was also elected president of West Star Oil, a feat he had spent almost fifteen years fighting to achieve.[9]
Another reunion movie (in which Ken Kercheval was absent) saw J. R. try and fail to force a merger with Ewing Oil, but he did claim the consolation of conning $50,000,000 from Carter McKay.[10]
J. R. will return in the 2012 revival of the series. The series will focus on J. R.'s son John Ross Ewing III and Bobby's adopted son Christopher Ewing.
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