Linda Gray became well-known for her role as Sue Ellen Ewing on the popular soap Dallas.
She was part of the show for over 300 episodes, and while she had a successful career, Gray faced many personal challenges.
This is Linda Gray’s story, who’s still thriving today at 82 years old.
Maureen Donaldson/Getty Images
In the world of TV and movies, we’ve seen actors give incredible performances many times. I don’t know about you but in those amazing roles it seems like the actors were just meant to play them; no one else could do it as well.
For instance, can you picture Little House on the Prairie’s Charles Ingalls being played by anyone except Michael Landon? Or would Mary Poppins have been as great if someone other than Dick Van Dyke was Bert?
Linda Gray – Sue Ellen Ewing
There are tons of examples like this but let’s mention one more. Personally I can’t imagine watching the famous series Dallas without Linda Gray as Sue Ellen Ewing. Many people are thankful she got that role.
Linda Gray’s life has been quite unique; some might say it’s like a roller coaster. She has fought serious health issues and addiction while also dealing with an unsatisfying marriage.
Despite these hard times she always comes out stronger and ready to make her life better with a long-lasting career.
On Dallas, she acted alongside Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy. Now she shares her thoughts about working with Hagman and what made their chemistry so special on set.
Linda Gray was born September 12th in Santa Monica California.Linda Gray – childhood As a kid Linda faced a big challenge when doctors found out she had polio.
Her grandfather had already suffered from it which left her parents heartbroken. But for young Linda it wasn’t such a big deal.
“They didn’t understand what it was when he turned seventeen & he used to be in wheelchair,” she remembered “When I got diagnosed everyone freaked out but not me! I thought maybe I’d get my own wheelchair like Grandpa.”Gray was raised in Culver City, California, where her dad owned a watch shop. From a young age, she had the urge to perform and often showcased her talents on the streets nearby. While attending Notre Dame Academy in Los Angeles, Linda played Cinderella in a production of Cinderella.
Her father gave her and her sister Betty the stability they needed. “He didn’t really provide emotional support,” Linda Gray mentioned in her 2015 book The Road to Happiness Is Always Under Construction. “He was just kind of there like furniture but that was how things were back then.”
“You didn’t go to Dad with boyfriend issues. God forbid. But he did support my career.” Their mother Marge, who used to be an artist and ballerina, was very different.
Difficult Childhood
Marge struggled with drinking and soon enough, the two sisters had to take charge at home.
“She wasn’t falling down drunk or yelling,” Linda wrote. “She wasn’t mean – just lost in her own world; she would forget groceries so I started cooking for us. My sister and I weren’t fond of her.”
Eventually, Marge went to Alcoholics Anonymous and quit drinking later on in life. Linda thinks that Marge’s drinking came from disappointment and unexpressed creativity which made Linda determined not to end up like her mom.
“I felt if I didn’t chase my dreams something similar could happen to me,” explained Gray.
But as she moved through life, challenges appeared early on when she turned 20.
Tough Marriage
Living close to Hollywood meant that Gray spent time around showbiz after school getting autographs from stars like Tyrone Powers & Spencer Tracy.
At first, Gray wanted a career in medicine but being near film studios changed everything; soon she knew acting was what she wanted! In her teenage years, Gray modeled for various beauty brands & airlines.
Linda married photographer Edward Lee Thrasher when she was only 21 years old but it quickly became a tough situation for her!
Her ambitions were put aside as she took on being a wife & mother instead! In 1960 they welcomed their son Jeff Thrasher followed by daughter Kehly six years later.
Ed didn’t say much according to Linda; they moved to Santa Clarita where she’s still living today but deep down inside Linda aimed at building up her own career despite everything going on around them!Their marriage, as Linda described it, was emotionally distant. She felt left behind.
“It broke my heart but I thought, ‘I can make this work somehow,’” she shared. “It took me 21 years to finally leave my marriage,”
At the same time, her husband Ed didn’t want her to have part-time jobs; he wanted a fancy lifestyle at home. Linda saw this as an opportunity to enter show business and soon found herself in many television commercials.
A lot of them.
Linda Gray – career
She had two small uncredited roles in movies Under the Yum Yum Tree and Palm Springs Weekend back in 1963.
A few years later, Linda Gray landed a gig that is now pretty much famous. At age 27, she earned $25 to be Anne Bancroft’s body double for the poster of the film The Graduate (1967), featuring a young Dustin Hoffman. Gray’s legs are shown in that iconic image and interestingly enough, she later played Mrs Robinson in the 2001 West End production of The Graduate.
But not everyone appreciated her talent. In her memoir from 2015, Gray included a rejection letter from Glamour Magazine from when she was just starting out in the early ’60s. But it didn’t get her down.
“It was so funny that I kept that letter,” Gray said. “I held onto it because I realized we all face rejections; it was just one person’s opinion when I was 20 years old. It could have ruined my life but instead I thought – ‘Oh really? Watch me!’ With love and humor, I saved that letter; it pushed me forward.”
Linda loved being a mom but felt frustrated about not chasing after her dreams on stage or screen. When she finally chose to take acting classes, her husband wasn’t thrilled.
Linda Gray – Dallas
“He said something like ‘Why don’t you wait until the kids are off to college?’” she remembered.
At age 37 though, Linda decided to follow her own path and took acting classes with younger students around her. Actor Dennis Weaver noticed Linda’s talent and helped land her first real role on TV series Marcus Welby M.D. back in 1974.
Things changed quickly after that!
In 1978, Gray got cast as Sue Ellen Ewing on new soap opera Dallas. Initially meant for just five episodes as a guest star role; however soon enough she became part of the main cast! Her performances turned into stardom!
Dallas wove tales of corruption & betrayal set against Southfork Ranch backdrop with lies & scandals galore! Critics praised Gray’s work alongside co-stars Larry Hagman & Patrick Duffy which led to massive success for all involved.
Gray became somewhat of an icon on Dallas with real chemistry between herself & Larry Hagman.
Relation with Larry Hagman
CBS executives witnessed everything unfold before their eyes—it truly felt magical! However according to gray ,the reality wasn’t based around any romantic tension .“He was the bad big brother I never had,” Gray said. “In my mind, he was always doing something wrong – like drinking too much or whatever, and I would scold him. He loved that; he enjoyed making me mad. I’d say ‘Don’t eat that. You don’t need so much sugar and stop drinking.’”
“I was a real pain – and he loved it,” she added. “He would do things on purpose to get me all worked up. The directors were amazed! They thought we were just crazy teens, but when they yelled action, we became J.R. and Sue Ellen instantly! It felt like magic; we were truly blessed.”
Dallas wasn’t just liked by critics in TV; the audience adored it too.
The show set many viewing records, becoming one of the most popular shows on television ever! Even today, it’s one of the longest-running series in American prime-time history.
On November 21, 1980, fans finally found out who shot Larry Hagman’s character JR Ewing – people really wanted to know!
Over 80 million viewers tuned in for that episode which made it the biggest audience for a single TV show ever in America at that time according to BT! It held this record until 121 million watched the final episode of MASH.
Gray received nominations for two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama as well as an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series because of her role on Dallas.
During her successful time on the show, Gray divorced her husband Ed Thrasher in 1983. Her son Jeff followed his mom’s path and became a director.
Jeff got an Emmy nomination in 2018 for Outstanding Directing in a Multiple Camera Lifestyle Program with Furze World Wonders. He also won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Science or Nature Documentary Program with his work Mission Asteroid back in 2015.
However tragedy hit hard when Jeff passed away from leukemia reportedly back in 2020.
On Instagram, Linda Gray shared heartfelt words about her late son:
“A celebration of my son Jeff’s life. He was kindest funniest sweetest human being….. he brought love to everyone around him! May his journey be magical.”
Linda Gray now at 82
Linda Gray appeared in a total of 308 episodes on Dallas. But what happened after the show ended?
Well, she kept acting in many TV shows, and in 2012, she came back to play Sue Ellen Ewing when Dallas was brought back for two more seasons. Gray also received a Special Award at the USA Film Festival in 2014.
Now, she’s 82 years old but still looks amazing!
Linda Gray has faced many challenges throughout her life, from her early years to her first marriage and the heartbreaking loss of her son.
But one thing is clear: she knows how to handle tough times and turn them into motivation to keep going.
We admire her for this and wish her all the best ahead! Please share this article on Facebook with your family and friends.
