Larry Hagman Filmography Overview
Larry Hagman appeared in more than 70 film and television projects across six decades. His film career began in the early 1960s with supporting roles in movies such as "The Group" (1966) and "Fail Safe" (1964). He later became widely recognized for his role as J.R. Ewing in the television series "Dallas," which ran from 1978 to 1991 and was revived for a limited series in 2012 and 2013. The "Dallas" revival series aired on TNT and was produced by Warner Bros. Television, with the original series created by David Jacobs and produced by Lorimar Productions. Hagman's film work includes notable appearances in "Splash" (1984), "Nixon" (1995), and "The Good German" (2006), demonstrating a range spanning comedy, political drama, and period pieces. For a detailed filmography, the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) provides a comprehensive list of his credits.
Hagman's most commercially successful film role was in the 1980 comedy "Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader," which was a television movie but achieved high ratings and cultural impact. His feature film "Splash" (1984), starring alongside Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah, grossed approximately $69 million in the United States and was one of the higher-grossing films of that year. In "Nixon" (1995), directed by Oliver Stone, Hagman portrayed H.R. Haldeman, earning a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. The film's production company was Illusion Entertainment Group, and it was distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. His later film appearances include roles in "The Good German" (2006), a Steven Soderbergh-directed period drama, and "The Last Smoker" (2008), a short film addressing themes of corporate and environmental policy.
Key Larry Hagman Movie Roles and Characters
Hagman's film roles often featured authoritative, antagonistic, or morally complex characters. In "Fail Safe" (1964), he played a fighter pilot in a Cold War thriller about a nuclear strike, a role that foreshadowed his later portrayal of calculating figures. His performance in "Splash" (1984) as the sophisticated but ultimately decent businessman Walter Kornbluth provided a comedic contrast to Tom Hanks' lead role. In "Nixon" (1995), he brought a dry, precise quality to H.R. Haldeman, contributing to an ensemble cast that included Anthony Hopkins and Joan Allen. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Hopkins and Best Supporting Actress for Joan Allen. The production company Illusion Entertainment Group, which backed the film, is a notable independent film company.
In "The Good German" (2006), Hagman played a morally ambiguous American military officer in post-World War II Berlin, a role that aligned with his established screen persona of cynical authority. The film was shot in black and white and directed by Steven Soderbergh, with a screenplay by Scott Frank. It was produced by Section Eight Productions and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Hagman's final film role was in the 2012 television movie "Dallas: J.R. Returns," a continuation of the original series narrative. The character of J.R. Ewing, originally created by writer David Jacobs for the television series "Dallas," became one of the most iconic television villains in American broadcasting history, a status that elevated the profile of all associated projects, including the feature film and revival series.
Where to Watch Larry Hagman Movies
Many Larry Hagman films and television series are available