What will be JR's role in the new Dallas?

[mrpunkanderson]

When Dallas ended nearly 20 years ago, JR was nearing social security age already. By now, we know that he is approx. 80 years old... and yes, I have questions..

1) I read JR has been in an assisted living home, or something? Is this true? And if so, did he somehow miraculously get better and decide he didnt need a nursing home any longer and move back to Southfork? At 80, most people's health doesn't "get better", it usually "declines".

ALSO

2) Most men at 80 (at least ones Ive known) arent so much worried about material things... money, business, etc. JR seems just as driven to get his hands on Ewing Oil (via John Ross) and Southfork as he was in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. I am assuming JR never grew into a sweet old man who enjoyed fishing and telling stories about the old days. How can JR, at 80 still be just as driven as he was 30 years ago? Shouldnt he be getting right with the Lord and spending his golden years showing love and giving peace to his family? Guess not..lol

[Fortune]

He could be on the flip side of that. He may feel like time is running out to once and for all regain control of the company he's loved all his life. This could make him more driven than ever before. But in the pilot he was not talking about Ewing Oil. He was saying that Southfork was his & only his. Ofcourse he may be thinking of using SF to get to Ewing Oil. With JR you never really know....

[Cliff Barnes]

I think that because of Larry's age, we would be deluding ourselves if we didn't come to realize JR is going to be more of a background player with less screen time. Now, will he still be important to the plot? Of course, I don't think he would do it if he wasn't. But he knows he's older now and so do the writers-so he has to fade a little bit to background. By contrast, someone in the new cast will have to pick up some of the slack. However, I think even if no one in the new cast is quite Hagman level, the fact that Larry will still be there for the most part should make it all ok, balance out-as long as he is in it enough. I have to say though that if for whatever reason this new show outlasts the character of JR, that will be a very tall order to make work indeed. Even if some of us end up never connecting with all the new people, we would still have him playing against them and that would be entertaining in a new way. If they ever go beyond him, some new character and actor would really have to have a comparable magic touch to make it keep working.

[Fortune]

Agreed! It's hard to imagine Dallas going on after JR. Granted he didn't start out as the center of the action but eventually it became that way. Continuing on without him would be both interesting & difficult.

Also, in 1978 Jock was considered to be fairly old 69/70. Though he was very involved in several plots in the show, he wasn't as involved on the business level of Ewing Oil as he had handed over the company to JR a few years earlier. I'm thinking that's kinda how it'll be here.

[Seaviewer]

Ofcourse he may be thinking of using SF to get to Ewing Oil. With JR you never really know....It's reported that John Ross wants to open up Ewing 23 (?) on Southfork.


Also, in 1978 Jock was considered to be fairly old 69/70. Though he was very involved in several plots in the show, he wasn't as involved on the business level of Ewing Oil as he had handed over the company to JR a few years earlier. I'm thinking that's kinda how it'll be here.That's what I'm thinking, too, but he never did quite give up control and I don't expect JR will give up easily either.

[Fortune]

I can't wait to see how John Ross would justify illegally drilling on SF. To say nothing about the fact that that's the LAST thing in the world his grandma would want, the ranch is Bobby's outright. Even if JR thinks it should be his, legally it's Bobby's & has been for over 20 years. Now if he were to drill on Carter McKay's ranch (formerly Ray's ranch) I could see him getting away with it since the mineral rights are in his & his cousins' names.

[JohnRossEwingtheBest]

JR is not 80, his character has always been a decade younger than Bobby. Let's say Bobby is now 55. JR would be 66 at the oldest.

[Fortune]

It's known that Bobby was born in 1946 & Gary's only about a year older than him. Ray is a product of WWII so we can assume he's somwhere between 66 & 69. In The Early Years we learn Miss Ellie gets pregnant with JR in late 1935 early 1936. Remember she had to hook Jock quick to save Southfork & that's how JR came to be. So that's why I'm maintaining that when the show returns JR will be 76-77.

[dallasmiamivice]

JR will still be running weststar oil.

[Miss Lush]

According to the original series, JR was born in 1939, he is 10 years older than Bobby, who was born 1949. The Early Years movie is another thing, tho.

So in 2012 he would not be that old, guys. He could still be doing something business-wise.

I don't think that he is retired, but I think it is fairly obvious from what was said, that he is somewhat mentally ill.

[Fortune]

Miss Lush I love your sig/pics! And I agree. 77 (in this day & age) is not by any means too old to still be running a business. But seeing as how JR's already had the storyline of faking mental illness to get into an institution I doubt they'd do the same thing twice (it's possible, but doubtful). My guess is something really did happen who knows when, & he's been in the care home for a time somewhat catatonic. It'll be interesting to find out why & what (if any) control he still has over Westar.

[Miss Lush]

Miss Lush I love your sig/pics! And I agree. 77 (in this day & age) is not by any means too old to still be running a business. But seeing as how JR's already had the storyline of faking mental illness to get into an institution I doubt they'd do the same thing twice (it's possible, but doubtful). My guess is something really did happen who knows when, & he's been in the care home for a time somewhat catatonic. It'll be interesting to find out why & what (if any) control he still has over Westar.

Thank you kindly! :)

I assume that he still has a large chunk of the stock. But I can't remember whether he still had it in WOTE...I thought it was a horrid movie, only saw that once and can't remember a thing.

[Fortune]

Yes in WOTE he still ran Westar but was trying to break up Bobby & Sue Ellen's partnership so he could get Ewing Oil back. It didn't happen. But Bobby did sorta leave Ewing Oil. He told Sue Ellen she could run it however she wanted.

[Miss Lush]

Thanks. Now I know what happend in WOTE without having to watch it again! :D

[Swami]

I'm really not sure about this whole idea of him being in a nursing home - it has the potential to be an extension of the season 13/14 debacle.

Swami

[Fortune]

Your welcome Miss Lush! And I hear ya Swami. It definitely calls back to that storyline of JR getting into the institution for Jessica's Westar stock. That's why I'm thinking this time he won't be faking. Or atleast at first, he won't be faking. With his kinda life it's easy to see him having some kind of stroke incapacitating him for any amount of time. Stress can do that to a person...

[Miss Lush]

Yes, indeed. These little wheels in his head were always spinning. He was a workaholic. Stroke is quite possible.

[John Carpenter]

Bobby's Tombstone read 1956 i believe (correct me if i'm wrong) So J.R would be around 65? Larry Hagman is 80 years old, so...he may be more like Jock in the "New Dallas"..Without J.R. the series is bound to be Cancelled..I hope not..looking foward to it having a good run:D
Date of BirthHe was born 16 February 1949 on Southfork, according to his gravestone in season 8's "dream-season". However, in the episode Charade, Season 13, his date of birth is shown as 16 February 1950

[Swami]

Jock and JR are very different characters, I don't see JR being as settled as Jock in his seventies.

Swami

[MrsSuperman93]

I think the whole JR in an assisted living home is just another JR Ewing style scheme ;)

[J. R.'s Piece]

It's known that Bobby was born in 1946 & Gary's only about a year older than him. Ray is a product of WWII so we can assume he's somwhere between 66 & 69. In The Early Years we learn Miss Ellie gets pregnant with JR in late 1935 early 1936. Remember she had to hook Jock quick to save Southfork & that's how JR came to be. So that's why I'm maintaining that when the show returns JR will be 76-77.
Gary is said by Valene to have been 20 when they met and Gary left Southfork in 1962 (see Reunion part 1) but she changes it to 17 (in the Knots Landing pilot epiosde). According to The Fourth Son, Ray's first birthday was on October 19th 1946. Bobby's grave says that he was born in 1949 (Pam's imagination?), although Scotty says that Bobby was busy being born when Hutch McKinney was shot.