Linda Gray’s life is a testament to the resilience and determination it takes to not only survive but thrive in the often turbulent world of Hollywood. Known for her iconic role as Sue Ellen Ewing on the legendary TV series “Dallas,” Gray’s journey from struggling actress to stardom is filled with inspiring stories of personal battles, triumphs, and transformations. Her story is not just about the glitz and glamor of show business but also includes real-life struggles and triumphs that resonate with many.
Born on September 12, 1940, in Santa Monica, California, Linda faced challenges from an early age. Diagnosed with polio as a child, she encountered her first major obstacle but showed the first signs of the indomitable spirit that would characterize her entire life. She didn’t let her condition define her or deter her ambitions, drawing strength from family members who faced similar challenges. This early resilience foreshadowed the determination Linda would need to navigate the highs and lows of her later life and career.
Linda Gray rose to fame in the hit TV series Dallas as Sue Ellen Ewing. Although she had a great career – appearing in more than 300 episodes – she had personal problems. Linda Gray is still going strong at 82 years old. Her story is told here. The actors have given amazing performances in movies and TV shows that have perfectly suited them over the years. They seem destined for these parts and it’s hard to see anyone else playing them so well.
For example, can you imagine someone else playing Michael Landon as Charles Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie? Or would Dick Van Dyke’s portrayal of Bert remain the same in “Mary Poppins”?
Consider how some actors are made for specific parts. Take Linda Gray as an example. It’s hard to imagine Dallas on TV without her as Sue Ellen Ewing. We’re glad she got the part, many of us are.
Linda Gray’s life was full of ups and downs, like a roller coaster. She battled addiction, overcame a debilitating illness, and experienced an unhappy marriage.
Linda Gray persevered through hard times and emerged stronger each time. She was determined to live life to the fullest and pursue a long and prosperous career. Gray starred alongside Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy in the television series Dallas. Now, she discusses her experience working with Hagman and unravels the mysteries surrounding their amazing on-screen chemistry.
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On September 12, 1940, Linda Gray was born in Santa Monica, California.
She contracted polio when she was a small child. Her parents were quite upset that her grandfather already owned her. But it didn’t really matter to Linda.
“When my grandfather was 17, they didn’t know what was going on and he always used a wheelchair,” she recalled. Everyone in my family was upset when I got the diagnosis, but I wasn’t. I believed that I could use a wheelchair just like my grandfather.’
Linda Gray grew up in Culver City, California, where her father owned a watch business.
She has always loved acting, even as a young child.
She would put on a show in her neighborhood. She later appeared in a production of Cinderella at Notre Dame Academy in Los Angeles.
Her father provided her and her sister Betty with the stability they needed.
In her 2015 book, The Road to Happiness is Always Under Construction, Linda Gray stated that her father did not offer her any emotional support. He was more of an object, simply existing. However, you didn’t talk to your father about the problems with your boyfriend at the time. Nevertheless, he supported her profession.
Marge, their mother, was a former ballerina and artist, but she was very different. Because of her heavy drinking, both sisters eventually had to take care of their home.
There was no screaming and Marge didn’t pass out. She seemed kind of lost in her own world, but not cruel. Linda started cooking because she realized she was going to forget to buy food.
She was not very popular with Linda or her sister.
Marge quit drinking and later joined Alcoholics Anonymous. Linda believes her mother drank due to discouragement and lack of inspiration. Linda was adamant about not becoming like her mother and thought that focusing on her work would help her escape that fate.
However, Linda Gray’s life was not without difficulties, which began when she was 20 years old.
Living in Culver City, adjacent to Hollywood, meant being close to the global center of entertainment. After school, Linda and her friends would visit the studios to sign autographs from famous actors such as Spencer Tracy and Tyrone Powers.
She originally intended to pursue medicine, but living close to film studios made her reconsider. Linda decided to pursue acting. During her teenage years, she modeled for a number of airlines and cosmetic brands.
At the age of 21, Linda Gray married Edward Lee Thrasher, a photographer. But unfortunately, Linda found her marriage to be a bit of a nightmare.
She had to become a wife and eventually a mother, which is why she had to give up her profession in show business. Their daughter Kehly was born six years after the birth of their son Jeff Thrasher in 1960.
Linda Gray claims her husband Ed was reticent to speak. Linda still lives in Santa Clarita, where the family moved. But Linda concentrated on establishing her own profession.
Linda claimed that she felt abandoned and emotionally cut off from their marriage.
“It really hurt, but I thought I could do it,” she said. “It took me 21 years to decide to leave my marriage.
Ed, Linda’s husband, was against her taking a part-time job at the time. He longed for a rich existence at home. Linda quickly began appearing in television commercials after seeing it as a chance to break into the entertainment industry.
She graduated from a number of them.
She had two uncredited minor roles in the 1963 films Palm Springs Weekend and Under the Yum Yum Tree.
A few years later, the then twenty-seven-year-old Linda Gray got the very well-known role.
She was paid $25 to play Anne Bancroft’s double in the 1967 movie poster for “The Graduate,” starring a young Dustin Hoffman. Linda Gray’s legs can be seen in that iconic photo. Notably, in 2001 she appeared as Mrs. Robinson in the West End Stage version of ‘The Graduate’.
However, not everyone liked it. Gray revealed a rejection letter from Glamor Magazine in the early 1960s in her memoir, published in 2015.
But it didn’t demoralize her.
Gray commented, “I kept the letter because it was funny.”
“When I was in my twenties, I learned that rejection is something we all experience, so I decided to hold on to it. I didn’t let it ruin my life even though I could. I became harsh—”Oh, yeah” I can prove it to you! I held that letter with love and.”
But at the age of 37, Linda Gray decided to go her own way and enrolled in an acting school with a lot of younger people. Recognizing her potential, actor Dennis Weaver helped secure her first professional acting role in 1974 as a guest star on the television series “Marcus Welby M.D.”
Things started to improve very quickly.
In 1978, Linda Gray was cast as Sue Ellen Ewing in the upcoming television series “Dallas.” She was originally expected to have only a minor role in five episodes but ended up becoming a regular cast member. She became famous for her performances.
The whole point of “Dallas” was the corruption, betrayal, lies, affairs, and scandals that took place at Southfork Ranch during the show. Television critics admired Linda Gray’s acting and the series earned her huge success alongside co-stars Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy.
Linda Gray turned into a bit of a s*x icon in “Dallas” and had a real connection with Larry Hagman.
CBS employees witnessed the magic unfold before their eyes. But as Gray said, there was no romantic connection underneath the fact.
“He was like the mischievous big brother I never had,” Gray noted. “I would scold him because, from my point of view, he was always doing something wrong – drinking too much, for example. He liked to do things just to get a response from me. ‘Don’t eat it,’ I would advise. you don’t need that much sugar to drink.
She continued: “It hurt my throat and he loved it.” He would do things on purpose to upset me. The directors were just in awe. They thought we were crazy teenagers, but when they said do whatever, we turned into Sue Ellen and J.R. Everything went smoothly. We are not sure what happened. It was pure magic. We were lucky and we felt that way.”
Not only did “Dallas” receive high ratings from industry experts and television critics, but it was also adored by audiences.
“Dallas” was a huge hit television program that broke numerous records and ran for a very long time. It remains one of the longest-running programs in American prime-time television history.
When it was revealed who shot JR Ewing, played by Larry Hagman, on November 21, 1980, a lot of people were looking forward to it.
According to BT, the episode attracted more than 80 million viewers, making it the most-watched TV show in America at the time. Until the last episode of the sitcom MASH, which attracted 121 million people, it was the most-watched episode.
Since Linda Gray performed well in “Dallas”, she was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, one for Best Actress in a Drama Series and one for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, an Emmy.
She finally filed for divorce from her husband Ed Thrasher in 1983 after a prolific run on the show. Her son Jeff became a director after his career ended.
In 2018, Jeff was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Multi-Camera Lifestyle, Culinary, or Educational and Informational Program for “Furze World Wonders.” In addition, he was the recipient of the Canadian Screen Award for Best Science or Nature Documentary Program or Series for his 2015 television program “Mission Asteroid”.
Unfortunately, a tragic event occurred in 2020. Linda Gray’s son Jeff lost his battle with leukemia.
On Instagram, Linda Gray posted a tribute to her son. “Celebrating the life of my son Jeff,” the writer said. He was the sweetest, funniest, most compassionate person on the planet and everyone adored him!
I hope he has a fantastic journey.”
After her remarkable 308 episodes of Dallas as the star, Linda Gray began appearing in other television shows. She returned to Sue Ellen Ewing in 2012 after Dallas received a two-season extension.
The 2014 USA Film Festival gave her a special award.
At eighty-two, Linda Gray still looks amazing! From her early years to her first marriage and the tragic death of her son, she experienced hardships. But one thing is certain: he can overcome adversity and use it as motivation to move on.
We appreciate her for that and hope for the best for her in the future! Feel free to share this Linda Gray article on Facebook with your loved ones if you find it interesting.
A rich tapestry of triumphs and challenges, Linda Gray’s life encapsulates the journey of a woman who navigated the turbulent waters of Hollywood with grace and resilience. Her story, from a young model and aspiring actress struggling with a challenging family environment and personal struggles to a beloved icon on one of the most popular television shows in history, underscores the incredible tenacity and strength that define her.
Through her ups and downs, Linda Gray has remained a symbol of determination and resilience, using her adversity as a catalyst for growth and success. Her role as Sue Ellen Ewing in “Dallas” not only catapulted her to stardom but also allowed her to carve out a place for herself in an industry that is often unforgiving. Off-screen, her life was just as dynamic, marked by personal losses and victories that shaped her into the respectable figure she is today.
At 82, Linda Gray continues to inspire with her enduring beauty and unwavering zest for life. Her journey is a testament to the power of resilience and shows us that no matter the challenges we face, it is possible to emerge stronger and with a new purpose. As we look at Linda’s life, we are reminded of the enduring spirit of a woman who not only survived but thrived in the shifting sands of time, becoming a beacon of hope and strength for many.
Her story encourages us to face our own challenges with courage and embrace each chapter of our lives with the same grace and determination that she demonstrated. Linda Gray’s legacy lies not only in the roles she portrayed on screen but also in the indelible mark she left on the hearts of those who watched her navigate life with authenticity and integrity.