Linda Gray says it was love at first sight, at least a little bit, when she met her late Dallas co-star Larry Hagman for the very first time.
First Day on Set
The 85-year-old actress has revealed she instantly developed a crush on the man millions already knew as Major Nelson from I Dream of Jeannie, long before they spent 14 seasons playing one of television’s most famous married couples.
Reflecting on her first day on the set of Dallas during an appearance on the Celebrity Drop podcast, Gray recalled that none of the cast knew they were about to become part of one of the biggest television phenomena of all time.
Instead, they were simply a group of actors grateful to have landed a job.
Gray recalled, “We were all in this room, the entire cast. Nobody knew who we were. We were actors, unemployed actors that just got a job. And so we were all crammed together in this little room.”
Hagman Appears
Then Hagman made his entrance.
According to Gray, the veteran actor arrived carrying “saddle bags over his shoulder filled with ice and a bottle of champagne,” immediately bringing his larger-than-life personality into the room.
Before long, he had everyone’s attention, especially hers.
Gray remembered, “And Larry looked at me and he said, ‘Hello, darling.’ I thought, ‘Oh, this is trouble. This is trouble.'”
The moment became even more surreal because Gray had admired Hagman long before they became co-stars.
Looking around the room, she suddenly realized she was standing face-to-face with one of television’s most recognizable leading men.
Referring to the beloved character Hagman, who died at the age of 81 in 2012, played in the classic sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, Gray said, “And I remember looking around the room in shock because there was Mr. Hagman, who is also Major Nelson.”
“I thought, ‘Oh dear, I have a crush on Major Nelson.’ And now he’s here in front of me.”
Eventual Friendship
That first meeting marked the beginning of one of television’s most enduring on-screen partnerships.
For 14 seasons, Hagman portrayed ruthless oil tycoon J.R. Ewing, while Gray played his long-suffering wife, Sue Ellen, whose turbulent marriage became one of the defining storylines of Dallas.
Although their characters were often locked in dramatic battles on screen, Gray has frequently spoken about the genuine affection and friendship she shared with Hagman behind the scenes.
Practical Jokes
Like many close friends, however, that relationship also involved plenty of practical jokes.
Appearing on the That’s Classic podcast earlier this year, Gray laughed as she remembered the lengths Hagman would go to before filming romantic scenes together.
She said, “He would do things like eat an onion before a kissing scene with me. Like, ‘Oh, great, Larry. Thanks.'”
As if that wasn’t enough, she revealed he always had another trick ready.
Gray said, “And then he would eat peanut butter… and I had to keep straight.”