Some Of The Dallas Cast
With all the hype surrounding the launch of the brand new series of hit show Dallas, which returns to UK TV screens on Channel 5 later in the year, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to take a look at the main characters – both old and new.
After more than two decades away from our screens, it seems ideal to get a little refresher course before the show kicks off again in September after getting great ratings over in the US.
At the heart of Dallas is the Ewing family, a wealthy oil and cattle dynasty embroiled in a fierce battle for power, love and the SouthFork ranch.
They may not be the cuddliest of family’s, heck, they might just be the spiniest bunch in Texas, but they do make for some good ol’ fashioned drama.
J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman)
J.R. Ewing is the infamous scheming patriarch of the SouthFork ranch, best known for his ruthless drive for power and money. J.R. made his fortune in the oil business, often at the expense of those closest to him, including his ex-wife Sue Ellen and son John Ross. Throughout the years J.R. won himself many enemies, thanks to his unforgiving business manner and constant womanising. One of these enemies is his brother Bobby, with the explosive rivalry between the pair pushing both of them to their limits. The only man imposing enough to be able to constantly wear a cowboy hat and not look like an idiot. Welcome back Larry Hagman, we’ve all missed you.
Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy)
The younger brother of J.R., Bobby Ewing was also a successful (if reluctant) oil baron but he lacked his brother’s ruthlessness and his insistence on playing fair caused ructions between the pair. Throughout the years Bobby has also had his fair share of love interests, with his marriage to Ann Ewing in the new series being his third. He adopted his son Christopher Ewing with his first wife Pam Ewing, and also has a biological son with former partner Jenna Wade.
Sue Ellen Ewing (Linda Gray)
Sue Ellen Ewing is the former long-suffering wife of J.R. and is one of life’s true survivors. Over the years she has battled alcoholism and mental illness, mostly as a result of her tumultuous relationship with J.R, but is now a powerful woman in Dallas. Despite all of her success, she still harbours regret for her mistakes with her and J.R.’s son, John Ross, and will do anything to try and right the wrongs of her past, even if it takes uniting forces with him in his attempts to strike oil.
Ann Ewing (Brenda Strong)
Ann Ewing is the third wife of Bobby Ewing, a no-nonsense woman who possesses quiet strength and dignity. An excellent horse cutter, Ann instantly fell in love with the SouthFork ranch and wasted no time in making it her home. The nice girl of SouthFork, Ann’s quickly become the matriarch of the group.
John Ross Ewing (Josh Henderson)
John Ross Ewing is the son of J.R., and it seems that the apple didn’t fall too far from the tree. An ambitious and ruthless schemer just like his father, John Ross is determined to strike it big in the oil industry and prove himself capable of stepping into J.R.’s shoes. With his eyes set firmly on SouthFork ranch and Elena Ramos, the girl he has loved since childhood, John Ross will let nothing stand in his way. Yearning to step out of the shadow of his father, a man trying to prove himself to J.R of all people is a dangerous proposition in anyone’s book.
Christopher Ewing (Jesse Metcalfe)
The adopted son of Bobby, Christopher Ewing has always been aware that he was not a biological Ewing, with his cousin John Ross always happy to remind him. Now an adult, Christopher has returned to SouthFork with his fiancé Rebecca Sutter, and is determined to make a name for himself in the alternative fuel industry and to prove himself a true Ewing.
Rebecca Sutter (Julie Gonzano)
Rebecca Sutter is the beautiful and intelligent fiancée of Christopher Ewing, having met him in Asia shortly after his split with Elena Ramos. Rebecca is a self-made woman having lost her parents at a young age she worked hard to put herself through law school with her brother’s support. Now living at SouthFork she is determined to ensure they her wedding goes off without a hitch. Befriending Elena quite quickly, she’s keen to find out what it’s going to be like in the Ewing clan. Good luck to her.
Elena Ramos (Jordana Brewster)
Elena Ramos is the daughter of the much-loved Ewing family cook, and grew up on the SouthFork ranch alongside John Ross and Christopher Ewing after moving from Mexico when she was eight years old. Growing up it was always Christopher that had her heart, and the pair went on to become engaged until a misunderstanding led to them calling off their wedding and Elena fled heartbroken back to Mexico. John Ross followed her and after he confessed his love for her, Elena returned to SouthFork on his arm with her own dreams of making it big in the oil industry. Elena’s anything but arm candy, and with her master’s degree in energy resources, she’s just as big a fish in this pond as any of the Ewings.
It’s not all about the new though, as come 3rd September, you can catch up on all the secrets, schemes and betrayals that are all in a typical day on the SouthFork ranch, you can go ahead and pick up Dallas: The Complete DVD Collection.
Tagged in Jesse Metcalfe TV Jordana Brewster