| American producer, director, film and television actor Date of Birth: 21.09.1931 Country: USA |
Larry Hagman was born on September 21, 1931, in Fort Worth, Texas. His mother, Mary Martin, was a Broadway actress, while his father, Benjamin Jack Hagman, was a District Attorney. Hagman's parents divorced in 1936, and his mother later remarried Richard Halliday in 1940.
After the birth of his sister, Larry Heller in 1941, Hagman was sent to the now-defunct Black-Foxe Military Institute. He returned to his hometown in 1946 and discovered his passion for performing, particularly in comedic roles, while attending public school.
Hagman's acting career began in Dallas, Texas, where he worked as assistant stage manager and performed in small roles at Margo Jones' theater. From 1951 to 1952, he starred in the "South Pacific" production alongside his mother before being drafted into the U.S. Air Force.
After his return from the military, Hagman made his Broadway debut in 1958 with the play "Comes a Day." He went on to appear in various Broadway productions, including "God and Kate Murphy," "The Nervous Set," "The Warm Peninsula," and "The Beauty Part."
In 1961, Hagman joined the cast of the television series "The Edge of Night" as Ed Gibson. He played the role for two years. His film debut came in 1964 with the feature "Ensign Pulver," co-starring a young and relatively unknown Jack Nicholson. That same year, he also appeared in the film "Fail-Safe" with Henry Fonda.
Hagman gained wider recognition for his role in the sitcom "I Dream of Jeannie." Airing on NBC, the series became a Top 10 hit in its first year. In 1978, Hagman began starring in the soap opera "Dallas" and remained the only actor to appear in all 357 episodes. The series ended in 1991 due to declining ratings.
Throughout his acting career, Hagman appeared in over 60 films and television shows. His notable film credits include "The Eagle Has Landed," "Beware! The Blob," "Mother, Jugs & Speed," "Harry and Tonto," and "Stardust."
In addition to his acting, Hagman also directed various projects, such as the horror sci-fi film "Beware! The Blob" and episodes of the TV series "I Dream of Jeannie" and "Midnight Caller."
Larry Hagman has been married to Maj Axelsson since 1954. They have two children, Heidi Kristina (born 1958) and Preston (born four years later). The family currently resides in Ojai, California.