Actress Linda Gray is parting ways with a significant cache of television history, teaming up with Julien’s Auctions for the “Ladies of the ’80s” sale going live on August 12, according to Fox News Digital. The auction features costumes, props, and personal archives from television stars, including two original Dallas scripts from the episodes surrounding the famous “Who Shot J.R.?” saga. Gray played Sue Ellen Ewing, the famously troubled wife of villain J.R. Ewing on the soap opera that ran from April 2, 1978, to May 3, 1991.
Memorable On-Set Antics With Larry Hagman
Ahead of the auction, Gray reflected on her years filming the series and the distinct approach her on-screen husband, the late Larry Hagman, took to romantic scenes, according to Fox News Digital. Hagman died on November 23, 2012, at age 81. According to Gray, Hagman disliked filming kissing scenes and frequently used practical jokes to ease his anxiety on set. “The first time we kissed, he had a mouthful of peanut butter,” Gray told Fox News Digital. The actress recalled that Hagman followed up those pranks with onions or whatever else he could find in a jar. Gray later realized the playful disruptions were Hagman’s psychological coping mechanism for the awkwardness of romantic close-ups.
Practical Jokes on the Dallas Set
The Dallas set was notorious for daily practical jokes that caught the entire cast off guard, according to Fox News Digital. Gray recounted one episode where her character, Sue Ellen, was lying in a hospital bed hooked up to medical tubes and wiring. While Gray lay with her eyes closed, Hagman sat by the bed delivering dramatic dialogue. Mid-scene, actor Patrick Duffy entered the room and joined in by asking if they should sing an old song together, extending the unscripted prank while cameras rolled.
Rare Items Head to Julien’s Auctions
Fans and collectors bidding in Julien’s Auctions’ “Ladies of the ’80s” event can secure more than just scripts. According to Julien’s Auctions, Gray’s personalized director’s chair, which she used while directing episodes of Dallas, carries an estimated sale price of $800 to $1,200. The auction catalog also includes screen-used props, director’s clapperboards, cast photographs, and career awards from the decade’s television figures.
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