Who Shot J.R. and 11 Other Surprising Facts about ‘Dallas’

7. Keel Preferred Playing An Oil Tycoon, To Actually Being One

Dallas not only revitalized star Howard Keel’s acting career when he joined the cast in 1981, but his recording career as well. Starting out with cameo appearances, he was soon made a permanent cast member and stayed with the show until its end. He played “Clayton Farlow,” the aggressive and haughty oil baron who brought his own brand of manipulation into the lives of Dallas characters, and eventually became Miss Ellie’s second husband. Prior to this, Keel was a huge stage and screen star known for his rich bass-baritone singing voice. In 1980 Keel had just moved his family to Oklahoma and intended to join an oil company. Seems playing an oil tycoon onscreen suited him better.

8. Jock Was A True Trooper, Cancer and All

When actor Jim Davis passed in 1981, Dallas lost one of its stalwarts. Davis starred as “Jock Ewing,” the hardscrabble patriarch of the family. The actor was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in season 4, yet continued to film. Those watching closely might have noted subtle differences—his voice developed a softer tone, he was often seated, and he wore a hairpiece as chemotherapy had caused hair loss. A professional till the end, Davis’ final appearance was in the episode “New Beginnings.” Due to audience awareness, and unable to find a replacement that matched the role’s requirements, producers did not re-cast Jock and had the character pass away too.

9. Just Like ‘Game of Thrones’

The foreman of the Southfork Ranch was “Ray Krebbs” played by Steve Kanaly. It later turned out he was Jock’s illegitimate son, who often colluded with J.R. to break up Bobby and his wife. In summary, before Game of Thrones was leaving viewers speechless, Dallas’ brothers had it in the bag. He reprized his role for the series’ finale episode in 1991, the made-for-TV reunion movie Dallas: War of the Ewings (1998), the TNT revival (2012), and to attend J.R.’s funeral in 2013 during the new Dallas series’ run.