Inside the Real-Life Love Stories of the ‘Dallas’ Cast: Who Found Forever, Who Split
One star was in a loving marriage for nearly six decades!
In Dallas, Texas, the Ewing family may as well be considered royalty thanks to a massive oil empire in their name. Dallas follows the complex lives of the Ewing clan as they navigate their personal lives and their professional ones.
The primetime soap opera, which explored the romances and drama of the Ewings, ran from 1978 until 1991 for a total of 13 seasons. But behind the scenes, the stars of Dallas had their own complex lives and romantic histories. Get to know the real-life couples of Dallas and see which stars are married or single!
Larry Hagman and Maj Axelsson
Larry Hagman, who portrayed J.R. Ewing in Dallas, had a decades-long romance with his wife, Maj Axelsson. They first met in 1953 while he was serving in the U.S. Air Force in England, where she was living at the time. The couple quickly fell for one another and tied the knot on December 18, 1954.
Hagman and Axelsson welcomed two children together, daughter Heidi in 1958 and son Preston in 1962. Their relationship lasted for nearly 60 years before Hagman passed away in 2012 due to cancer. Axelsson later died in 2016.
Linda Gray and Ed Thrasher
Linda Gray first met her former husband, Ed Thrasher, when she was just 19 years old in the 1960s. The two quickly fell in love and later wed in 1962 when Gray was 21 and Thrasher was 28. However, Gray revealed in her 2015 memoir, The Road to Happiness Is Always Under Construction, that she knew they weren’t meant to be during their honeymoon.
“I knew from night one that my marriage was not a love match,” Gray wrote. “But what could I do? I was stuck.”
Despite her realizations, Gray and Thrasher remained married for nearly 20 years. During their time together, they welcomed two children: daughter Kehly and son Jeff. Sadly, Jeff died of leukemia in 2020.
Later, in 19833, Gray finally decided to leave her husband. Despite there being no urgent reason for a divorce, the actress described their relationship as more of a friendly one. “I was miserable,” she shared. “I thought, ‘If I don’t get out of this marriage, I will die.”
Ken Kercheval and Ava Fox
Dallas’ Ken Kercheval, who portrayed Cliff Barnes, was previously married to Ava Fox. The couple exchanged vows in 1986 and had one child together, a son named Asa. But after nearly 7 years of marriage, Kercheval and Fox split up in 1993.
Ken Kercheval and Cheryl Paris
Following his marriage to Fox, Kercheval remarried to actress and model Cheryl Paris. The couple tied the knot in 1994 and welcomed one child, daughter Madison. The two remained together for a decade, splitting up in 2004.
Patrick Duffy and Carlyn Rosser
Patrick Duffy, who you know as Bobby Ewing in Dallas, was married for over 40 years. Duffy and Carlyn Rosser first met while on a tour bus in college. Duffy was a narrator for a dance production and Rosser was a ballerina.
“We met on the tour bus and that was it — for life,” Duffy shared of meeting his wife.
Duffy and Rosser married on February 15, 1974, and the couple welcomed two children during their marriage: sons Padraic in 1974 and Conor in 1980. The two had a loving marriage until 2017 when Rosser unexpectedly died.
Patrick Duffy and Linda Purl
Three years after he lost his wife, Duffy reconnected with an old friend, actress Linda Purl, which led to their current relationship. The two stars were casual friends after meeting in 2000 but lost touch over the years. Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, they were put in the same group text. It wasn’t long before they were only texting each other and realized there was a connection.
“I loaded up my car and drove 20 hours and ended up on her doorstep just to see if it was real,” Duffy said. “We haven’t been apart since.”
Although the couple isn’t married, Duffy shared that it feels like they are.
Barbara Bel Geddes and Carl Sawyer
Barbara Bel Geddes, who starred as Miss Ellie Ewing on Dallas, was once married to Carl Sawyer. The couple tied the knot in 1944 and they welcomed one child together, daughter Susan. However, their marriage didn’t last long as they divorced in 1951.
Barbara Bel Geddes and Windsor Lewis
Very quickly following her first marriage, Barbara married Windsor Lewis. The couple wed in 1951 and during their marriage they welcomed one child together, daughter Betsy. Bel Geddes and Lewis were together for nearly 20 years until Lewis’ death in 1972.
Steve Kanaly and Brent Power
Dallas star Steve Kanaly, who portrayed Ray Krebbs, has been married to his wife for nearly 50 years. Kanaly and Brent Power exchanged vows in 1975 and have two children together: daughters Quinn and Evan.
Howard Keel and Rosemary Cooper
Howard Keel, who you know best as Clayton Farlow, was once married to actress Rosemary Cooper. They wed in 1943, though their union didn’t last long, ending in divorce in 1948.
Howard Keel and Helen Anderson
About a year later, Keel remarried to dancer Helen Anderson in 1949. During their time together, the couple welcomed three children: Kaija, Kristine and Gunnar. But after just over 20 years of marriage, the two decided to call it quits and eventually divorced in 1970.
Howard Keel and Judy Keel
Keel’s third and final marriage was one to flight attendant Judy Keel. The couple first met while on a blind date, however Howard was 51 while Judy was only 26. She didn’t know of the actor’s fame at the time of their meeting, and they eventually fell in love.
The couple had one child together during their 30+ year marriage, daughter Leslie. The Keel’s were together for about 34 years until Howard’s death in 2004.
Victoria Principal and Christopher Skinner
Victoria Principal, who starred as Pam Ewing on Dallas, was once married to actor Christopher Skinner. The two initially met on the set of the drama series, on which Skinner had a small role, in 1978. They wed in 1978, but their romance was short-lived as the couple divorced in 1980 after two years of marriage.
Victoria Principal and Harry Glassman
Following her first marriage, Principal exchanged vows with her second husband, Harry Glassman. The couple wed in 1985 after being introduced by a mutual friend and were together for just over 20 years before splitting up in 2006.
Charlene Tilton and Johnny Lee
Best known as Lucy Ewing on Dallas, Charlene Tilton was previously married to country music singer Johnny Lee. The couple wed in 1982 and soon after welcomed a daughter named Cherish. However, after two years of marriage, Tilton and Lee split up.
Charlene Tilton and Domenick Allen
About a year after her first marriage ended, Tilton remarried to musician Domenick Allen in 1985. Tilton and Allen were married for about 7 years before divorcing in 1992.
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