Linda Gray became a household name thanks to her role as Sue Ellen Ewing on the beloved soap opera Dallas. Over the course of more than 300 episodes, she not only showcased her incredible talent but also faced numerous personal challenges along the way. Today, at 84 years old, Gray continues to shine.
Throughout the history of film and television, we have witnessed remarkable performances by countless actors. Some portrayals resonate so deeply that it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role. For instance, who could envision Little House on the Prairie without Michael Landon as Charles Ingalls or Mary Poppins without Dick Van Dyke as Bert? Similarly, Linda Gray’s portrayal of Sue Ellen is irreplaceable, and fans of the show are grateful she was cast in such a pivotal role.
Gray’s life has been nothing short of extraordinary, resembling a roller coaster filled with ups and downs. She has confronted life-threatening illnesses, addiction, and a challenging marriage. Despite these adversities, she has always emerged stronger, committed to making the most of her life and career.
Starring alongside Larry Hagman and Patrick Duffy on Dallas, Gray recently opened up about her experiences working with Hagman and the dynamic chemistry they shared on set.
Born on September 12, 1940, in Santa Monica, California, Gray faced a significant challenge in her childhood when she was diagnosed with polio. Her grandfather had also contracted the virus, leaving her family in distress. However, Linda maintained a surprisingly optimistic outlook during her own diagnosis. “They didn’t know what it was when he was 17, and he was always in a wheelchair”, she recalled. “When I was diagnosed, everyone went crazy in my family, but I wasn’t. I thought I could have a wheelchair like Grandpa.”
Growing up in Culver City, California, where her father owned a watchmaker shop, Linda was drawn to the performing arts from a young age. She often entertained her neighbors and even starred as Cinderella in a school production at Notre Dame Academy in Los Angeles.
While her father provided a stable presence, he was emotionally distant. As Gray noted in her 2015 memoir, The Road to Happiness Is Always Under Construction, “He was just kind of there, like a piece of furniture”, and emotional discussions were off-limits. In contrast, her mother, Marge, a former artist and ballerina, struggled with alcoholism, leaving Linda and her sister to take charge of the household. “She wasn’t mean, she was just blurred, in her own world”, Gray wrote. This upbringing inspired Linda to pursue a different path, determined to avoid her mother’s fate.
With dreams of a career in medicine initially, Gray soon shifted her focus to acting, influenced by the Hollywood landscape surrounding her. She spent her teenage years modeling for various companies and airlines.
At 21, Linda married photographer Edward Lee Thrasher, but the marriage became a struggle. Her aspirations took a backseat as she became a wife and mother, welcoming son Jeff in 1960 and daughter Kehly six years later. Linda felt emotionally neglected, describing the marriage as “cold” and ultimately deciding to leave after 21 years.
Despite her husband’s disapproval of her pursuing acting, Gray took the plunge and began landing television commercials. She had minor roles in films like Under the Yum Yum Tree and Palm Springs Weekend but hit the jackpot when, at 27, she became Anne Bancroft’s body double for The Graduate poster (1967). Ironically, she later portrayed Mrs. Robinson in a 2001 stage adaptation of the same film.
In her memoir, Gray also shared a humorous rejection letter from Glamour magazine she received in the early 1960s, which she kept as a reminder of resilience. “It kicked me from behind, and made me want to go and do something”, she said.
Though she loved motherhood, the lack of a fulfilling career frustrated her. When she finally enrolled in acting classes, her husband dismissed the idea, suggesting she wait until their children were older. At 37, she forged ahead and trained alongside younger actors. It wasn’t long before she secured her first significant role as a guest star on Marcus Welby, M.D. in 1974.
The turning point came in 1978 when Gray was cast as Sue Ellen Ewing on Dallas. Initially meant to be a recurring role for just five episodes, her performance resonated with audiences and critics alike, leading to her becoming a series regular and turning her into a star.
Dallas, set against the backdrop of family rivalry and scandal at Southfork Ranch, showcased Gray’s exceptional talent. Her chemistry with Larry Hagman was palpable, but she clarified that it stemmed from a sibling-like bond. “He was the bad big brother that I never had”, she explained. Their dynamic translated beautifully on-screen, captivating both the network executives and viewers alike.
The show broke numerous viewing records, becoming one of the most-watched television series in history. The iconic episode revealing who shot J.R. Ewing drew an estimated 80 million viewers, a record that stood until surpassed by MASH*.
For her role, Gray received two Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress. After divorcing Ed Thrasher in 1983, her son Jeff pursued a career in directing and earned an Emmy nomination in 2018. Tragically, he passed away in 2020 after battling leukemia. Gray honored him on Instagram, celebrating his life and the love he shared with those around him.
Throughout her tenure on Dallas, Gray appeared in 308 episodes. Following the show’s conclusion, she continued to work in television and reprised her role as Sue Ellen in the 2012 revival of Dallas, which aired for two seasons. She received a Special Award at the 2014 USA Film Festival, further cementing her legacy.
Now, at 84, Linda Gray remains as stunning as ever. She has navigated many challenges, from her childhood struggles to her difficult marriage and the loss of her son. Through it all, she has learned to transform adversity into resilience.
We admire her strength and wish her continued success in the years to come! Feel free to share this inspiring story with your family and friends.
Zac Efron Reveals Struggle of Battling Depression After He Gained Inhuman Proportions
Zac Efron pleasantly surprised everyone with his remarkable body transformations. Efron’s ability to push his body to new limits and adapt to diverse roles has become a noteworthy aspect of his career, earning him praise for his commitment to the craft and his ability to surprise audiences with each new appearance on screen.
It was a challenge to put his body into inhuman proportions.
Zac Efron has tackled his most challenging role yet. He’s playing Kevin Von Erich, a wrestler with a complicated family story, in his newest movie, The Iron Claw. The film looks at the ideas of being a strong man and the difficulties that come with it.
To play the part, Efron had to get more muscular, and the results are really impressive. In the movie, you’ll see him in amazing physical shape. Efron worked really hard to get his body in top form, and now he’s sharing how the movie made him think about his own body and what it means to be a man.
He thinks the definition of masculinity is always changing. It’s ever evolving, and this story drew on a specific type of masculinity that he felt he could identify with. It was something that, for some reason, was close to him. There have been various times in his life, whether it’s for a role or even just for himself, where he’s been driven to push his physicality to different inhuman proportions, and it’s taken a hold at times.
There was one more experiment with his body.
Zac Efron, the star of High School Musical, recently underwent a significant transformation for his latest movie, marking his most dramatic body change. But also, one of his body transformations was dedicated to getting in shape for the 2017 film Baywatch.
In addition to adhering to an intense training regimen, Efron made notable changes to his dietary habits. He transitioned from a vegan diet to adopting intermittent fasting, a practice that involves consuming two meat-heavy meals within a specific time frame.
Opening up about this shift, Efron explained that time, “I started intermittent fasting just after I stopped being vegan. My body wasn’t processing the vegetables in the right way.”
In the morning, after some cardio exercise, he broke his fast around 11 am with bone broth soup, vegetables, and “clean proteins” like elk and chicken. For the second meal in the evening, he had more meat and a healthy carbohydrate like sweet potatoes or quinoa.
Now, he can eat organ meats again. He says that he likes liver and onions. Since Baywatch, Zac changed many habits to get in shape more healthily.
He had trouble sleeping and depression because of the daily regime.
Jeremy Allen White, Efron’s co-star in The Iron Claw, praised Zac’s dedication to his work. Jeremy mentioned to Esquire, “Zac’s a maniac. He’s so focused and knowledgeable on training, diet, all that.”
Efron changed his habits after going through a big body transformation for Baywatch, which was tough both physically and mentally. He started having troub
The body looked perfect but the health was messed up.
During the time of Baywatch, Efron was taking diuretics, overtraining, and eating the same three meals every day. He wasn’t getting enough sleep — even if filming stopped at midnight, he would still wake up at 4 am to train.
Something about that experience burned him out. He had a really hard time getting back on track. They said it was because he took too many diuretics for too long, and it messed something up. After finishing filming, Efron took a break from acting and purposely let himself get out of shape for the first time.
Having a healthy body doesn’t necessarily equate to engaging in intense and rigorous training. Contrary to popular belief, maintaining good health involves a balanced and holistic approach that includes proper nutrition, sufficient rest, and overall well-being.
Leave a Reply