List Of Dallas Characters

This is a list of characters appearing on the 1978–1991 American television series ''Dallas''. During its 14 seasons on air, the show featured 21 regular cast members, portraying twenty characters (as the character of Miss Ellie was recast for season eight). Additionally, hundreds of guest actors portrayed supporting characters, this list includes the most noteworthy among them.

Main characters

;Notes

Supporting characters

Ewing relatives

Gary Ewing

Garrison Arthur "Gary" Ewing (David Ackroyd in season 2, Ted Shackelford thereafter) was the middle son of Jock ( Jim Davis) and Miss Ellie Ewing (Barbara Bel Geddes), husband of Valene (Joan Van Ark) and father of Lucy Ewing (Charlene Tilton). He appeared occasionally between season 2 and season 6, once in season 9, and the series finale in season 14. The character made 11 appearances on the show, Ackroyd for the first two and Shackelford for the remaining nine.

Gary was the middle child, being born after J.R. (Larry Hagman) and before Bobby (Patrick Duffy). He was raised while Jock was at war, and displayed traits of his mother's family, the Southworths, which meant that Jock and J.R. saw him as a weak link. At 17, to try and escape his family, Gary ran away and married 15-year-old Valene and got her pregnant, which resulted in the birth of their daughter Lucy. Valene eventually forced Gary to introduce her to his family, and upon his return Jock and Miss Ellie gave him a home and a job on Southfork Ranch. J.R., who disliked Valene and resented Gary's presence, harassed Gary to the point of alcoholism and forced him off the ranch. Gary disappeared and wound up working as a waiter in a Las Vegas hotel, where he encountered Bobby and his wife Pam (Victoria Principal. As a gift to the newlyweds, Miss Ellie bought them a house in California, where Gary and Valene settled after their honeymoon.

Gary remained in California, free from the pressures of his family, although he returned to Dallas on several occasions: to visit J.R. in hospital after Kristin Shepard (Mary Crosby) tried to kill him; for Lucy's wedding to Mitch Cooper (Leigh McCloskey); to support Miss Ellie after the death of his father, Jock; and for Bobby's "funeral" during the dream season. Following this, Gary didn't return to Dallas again, although he appeared in an alternate reality in which J.R. had never been born during the series finale: without J.R. to intimidate him, Gary became the eldest son and became a successful divorce lawyer, after inheriting Ewing Oil and running it into the ground. He still met and started a relationship with Valene, although they did not meet for the first time until their middle age (and, subsequently, did not have Lucy). The alternate reality also suggested that, regardless of J.R.'s interference, Gary and Valene were always destined to end up together.

Gary and Valene's backstories and lives in California were the basis of ''Dallas'' spin-off series ''Knots Landing''. The couple also appeared for brief story arcs in the revival series.

Valene Clements Ewing

Valene "Val" Ewing (also Clements, Gibson and Waleska; credited as Valene Wallace in the series finale) was the wife of Gary Ewing (David Ackroyd/Ted Shackelford) and mother of Lucy Ewing (Charlene Tilton). She appeared occasionally between season 2 and season 5, and returned in the series finale in season 14. Van Ark appeared in 8 episodes overall, and featured briefly in uncredited archive footage during season 12.

At 15, Valene was working as a waitress in a restaurant when she met 17-year-old Gary and fell in love with him. They married after three days, and Valene quickly fell pregnant with their child. Valene eventually persuaded Gary to take her on a visit to Southfork Ranch, Gary's childhood home, and introduce her to his family. Gary's mother Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes/Donna Reed), thrilled at having Gary home, sets them up at Southfork with a home and a job for Gary as a ranch-hand. Gary's father Jock ( Jim Davis) liked Valene, and agreed to let them stay, although he tried to pressure Gary into accepting his responsibilities as a husband and soon-to-be father. However, Gary's elder brother J.R. (Larry Hagman) resented Gary's presence and disliked Valene, and harassed the couple, forcing Gary into alcoholism that lead to him abandoning Valene and Southfork. Without Gary to protect her, Valene gave birth to Lucy and was forced off the ranch by J.R.. She eventually returns and took Lucy, fleeing to Virginia and Tennessee in search of her mother, Lilimae Clements (Julie Harris), although J.R. caught up with Valene and snatched Lucy back, threatening to kill Valene if she ever returned to Texas.

In 1978, Valene gets a job at a diner near Lucy's school and the two begin to meet without Lucy's family knowing. They succeed in doing so, which leads to Lucy engineering a reconciliation between Valene and Gary when her uncle Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) and his wife Pam (Victoria Principal hotel. Gary and Valene reconcile, living with Lucy and the Ewings at Southfork for a while, until Gary realises that Jock's expectations and J.R.'s resentment of him threaten his newfound sobriety. He leaves Southfork and his family again. J.R. tried bribing Valene to do the same, but she turned it down and left anyway, keeping in contact with Lucy and Bobby. She soon tracked Gary down and they resumed their relationship, returning to Dallas in order to marry during season 3. As a gift to the newlyweds, Miss Ellie buys them a house in California, where the couple settle after their honeymoon.

Valene preferred to remain safely in California, far away from J.R., returning only once after her marriage, for Lucy's wedding to Mitch Cooper (Leigh McCloskey). After this, Valene did not return to Dallas but appeared twice more: once with Gary after Jock's death, discussing what to expect from his will, and in an alternate reality during the series finale, in which J.R. was never born: without J.R. to intimidate him, Gary never ran away and married Valene, and thus never produced Lucy. Instead, the pair didn't meet until in their middle-age, when Valene - who had married a Mr Wallace and been widowed - asked Gary to seek an inheritance left to her by her husband. The alternate reality also hinted that, regardless of J.R.'s interference, Gary and Valene were always destined to end up together.

Valene and Gary's backstories lives in California were the basis of ''Dallas'' spin-off ''Knots Landing''. The couple also appeared for brief story arcs in the revival series.

Garrison Southworth

Garrison Southworth (Gene Evans) was the elder brother of Miss Ellie Ewing (Barbara Bel Geddes/Donna Reed), and the original heir to Southfork Ranch. He appeared in one episode of season 2.

Garrison was Miss Ellie's only sibling, and the two had a close relationship throughout their childhoods and into their marriages; Garrison's to Cherie Simmons (Liz Keifer), and Miss Ellie's to oil baron Jock Ewing ( Jim Davis), although their marriage was one arranged by their father in order to save Southfork from being repossessed.

During World War II, Garrison served in the American Navy, where his ship was torpedoed and sunk at sea. With Garrison now considered missing in action, Miss Ellie and Jock pushed to have him declared dead in absentia, which would allow Miss Ellie to inherit Southfork upon her father's death. Although she went along with it at the time, Miss Ellie later felt guilty for doing so, as she believed that Garrison, as firstborn, was the rightful heir to the land. However, with nothing to suggest that Garrison was still alive, she and Jock eventually inherited Southfork and split their time between the land and Jock's company, Ewing Oil. To try and soothe herself, Miss Ellie named her second-born son Garrison Arthur (David Ackroyd/Ted Shackelford) in her brother's memory.

In 1979, Garrison was told that he was suffering from terminal cancer and did not have long left to live. Garrison bought a house in Dallas and an old painting of the Southfork Ranch. Accompanied by his companion nurse, Cathy Baker (Melinda O. Fee), Garrison returned to ranch to give Miss Ellie the painting. His reappearance shocked Jock and Miss Ellie, as well as their sons J.R. (Larry Hagman) and Bobby (Patrick Duffy), who are suspicious that Cathy is Garrison's mistress. Garrison and Cathy dine with the Ewings at Southfork, where Miss Ellie offers the ranch back to Garrison, but the dinner ends badly when J.R. questions them about their "motives". Outraged and offended, Garrison leaves, refusing to accept Southfork from Miss Ellie. Bobby and his wife Pam (Victoria Principal (David Wayne/Keenan Wynn), and seems to agree with him that Jock cheated him and his family out of a fortune.

In season 9, after Bobby's funeral, Miss Ellie visits Garrison's grave, which is situated near a lake on Southfork land. She talks to Garrison at the grave, confiding that she is upset how her family is slowly disintegrating - Bobby has died, J.R.'s wife Sue Ellen (Linda Gray) has left him and taken their son John Ross with her, Gary lives in California and granddaughter Lucy (Charlene Tilton) has moved to Atlanta. However, the season 10 premiere dismisses all of season 9 as a dream, meaning that the location of Garrison's grave may not be accurate.

Garrison also appeared in the ''Dallas'' prequel '' Dallas: The Early Years'', portrayed by actor Matt Mulhern, which featured his backstory, his deployment in the war and his marriage to Cherie.

Kristin Shepard

Kristin Marie ShepardFull name shown on Christopher's birth certificate, S5E21 - "The Prodigal" (Colleen Camp in season 2, Mary Crosby thereafter) was the younger sister of Sue Ellen Ewing (Linda Gray), second daughter of Patricia Shepard (Martha Scott) and sister-in-law and mistress of J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman). She appeared briefly in season 2, regularly between season 3 and season 4, and finally in the series finale in season 14. The character made a total of 30 appearances; Camp for the first two, and Crosby for the remaining 28.

Kristin visited Southfork with her mother upon learning that Sue Ellen was pregnant with her first child, and were warmly welcomed by the Ewing family. Kristin returned later, now studying architecture at university and in need of a job to make ends meet. J.R. took her on as a secretary, having just lost latest secretary Louella Caraway Lee (Meg Gallagher) to her honeymoon, and also got her a condo to live in. In time, the two began an affair, and J.R. used Kristin to find out valuable insider information by getting her to seduce potential business partners. However, J.R. had promised Kristin lavish rewards in exchange for this, and when he failed to deliver she became angry and ended their affair. In revenge, she shot him at Ewing Oil (an event triggering the Who shot J.R.? phenomenon). She was not immediately - or at all - suspected, as J.R. had angered many people, some of whom had greater reason to want him dead. Suspicion instead fell on Sue Ellen. However, Sue Ellen soon found out about J.R. and Kristin's affair, and deduced that it was Kristin who had shot her husband. Sue Elle confronted Kristin by the pool at Southfork in J.R.'s presence. J.R. went to telephone the police, but Kristin stopped him with the revelation that she was pregnant with J.R.'s child. J.R. agreed not to press charges and Kristin moved away, gladly accepting a monthly check from J.R. to cover her living expenses.

Kristin later returned claiming to have borne J.R.'s child, and demands more money from J.R.. However, soon after her return, Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval) finds Kristin's corpse floating in the Southfork pool, with J.R. staring down at it from the balcony. Although J.R. was initially suspected of her murder, it was later revealed that Kristin had taken angel dust and had tripped, hit her head and fallen from the balcony while under the influence of drugs. After her death, Bobby and his wife Pam (Victoria Principal (Eric Farlow/ Joshua Harris), from a man called Jeff Farraday (Art Hindle), who claimed to be Kristin's boyfriend at the time of her death. After some help from legal professionals, Bobby and Pam legally adopt Christopher, and discover that Christopher was not actually J.R.'s baby - Kristin had miscarried the child shortly after leaving Dallas. Upon finding out, she had married Jeff and had his child, in order to continue exploiting J.R. for money.

Kristin reappears in the series finale, in an alternate reality in which J.R. had never been born. Kristin, having not fallen in love with J.R., shot him, and died in the Southfork pool, had instead become a successful con artist, posing as a woman in a prostitution sting.

Kristin also appeared in the second season of ''Dallas'' spin-off ''Knots Landing'', being bailed out of prison by J.R.'s brother Gary (Ted Shackelford) and his wife Valene (Joan Van Ark).

Patricia Shepard

Patricia Shepard (Martha Scott) was the mother of Sue Ellen Ewing (Linda Gray) and Kristin Shepard (Colleen Camp/Mary Crosby), and grandmother of John Ross Ewing III (Tyler Banks/Omri Katz) and Christopher Mark Shepard (Eric Farlow/ Joshua Harris). She appeared briefly in season 2 and season 3, before returning for a more regular role in season 9. Scott appeared in 10 episodes overall.

Patricia was a protective and snobbish woman, abandoned by her alcoholic husband when Sue Ellen and Kristin were still children. She groomed her daughters for marriages to rich and important men, as this boosted Patricia's social standing. This led to a strained relationship between herself and Sue Ellen, who disliked the way Patricia had dominated her childhood by forcing her to dress and behave in certain ways. Patricia, in turn, disliked that Sue Ellen became a beauty queen, although she changed her mind when Sue Ellen's beauty contests lead her to meet J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman), which resulted in her eventual marriage. However, after the wedding, Sue Ellen kept minimal contact with her mother and sister; she only reluctantly invited them to stay upon falling pregnant with her son, John Ross (Tyler Banks/Omri Katz). Patricia and Kristin returned after John Ross was born, and Patricia doted on her grandson; however, Sue Ellen remained uncomfortable with their presence.

Following Kristin's death in 1981, Sue Ellen and Patricia grew closer, attending the funeral together in Albuquerque. Following Kristin's death, Patricia moves to Europe.

In season 9, Patricia returns, having been informed that Sue Ellen has been institutionalised following a severe relapse into alcoholism. She promptly arrives at Southfork, much to the displeasure of Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes/Donna Reed), who disliked Patricia's flighty attitude. Patricia rents a property near Southfork, frequently visiting John Ross and taking in Sue Ellen after she is released following her detoxification. She and Sue Ellen attend several social functions together, often at a table near the Ewing family, and Patricia reluctantly supports Sue Ellen as she seeks legal separation from J.R. and full custody of John Ross, although she often suggests a reconciliation, preferring that over the idea of Sue Ellen settling down with recently returned lover Dusty Farlow (Jared Martin). Despite Sue Ellen declaring that she will never return to J.R., they both overcome their differences and J.R. invites Sue Ellen back to live at Southfork. Sue Ellen lets Dusty down, and after an emotional talk, mother and daughter part amicably, and Patricia moves back to Europe. However, the season 10 premiere dismisses all of season 9 as a dream of Pam Ewing (Victoria Principal) is the biological nephew and legal son of Clayton Farlow (Howard Keel), and the on-off lover of Sue Ellen Ewing (Linda Gray). He appeared between season 3 and season 6, again between season 8 and season 9, and once more in season 14. Martin appeared in 34 episodes overall.

Dusty was the son of Jessica Farlow (Alexis Smith) and Atticus Ward (John Larch), the result of an affair between the two. To avoid the scandal of an unwed teenage pregnancy, Jessica gave the baby to her brother Clayton and his wife Amy, before moving to England and marrying a member of the aristocracy, Lord Montford. Dusty grew up on the Southern Cross Ranch, believing he was Clayton and Amy's natural child.

Dusty first meets Sue Ellen at a rodeo hosted on Southfork Ranch. Sue Ellen had recently given birth to her son, John Ross, but his birth had complicated her life, as Sue Ellen was unsure as to whether John Ross' father was her husband, J.R. (Larry Hagman), or her former lover, J.R.'s enemy Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval). She was adamant that the baby was J.R.'s, but J.R. refused to believe her and Cliff was threatening her with a paternity suit; Dusty offered Sue Ellen genuine love and affection, and they quickly began an affair. Dusty soon began pressuring Sue Ellen to leave J.R. and move in with him at the Southern Cross Ranch, but she is reluctant to leave the security of Southfork. Dusty finally gives her an ultimatum: she must decide whether to leave or stay with J.R. by the time he returns from a rodeo on the other side of Texas. Sue Ellen ultimately decides to leave J.R. and move in with Dusty; however, soon after making her choice, she learns on the news that Dusty's plane came down over a forest and he is presumed dead. The shock of his supposed death sent Sue Ellen back into alcoholism on the same night that J.R. was shot, to the extent that she could not remember where she had been or what she had done. As the prime suspect for J.R.'s shooting, Sue Ellen was arrested, although she was released when her bail was paid by an unidentified person. Sue Ellen began investigating and eventually discovered that Dusty was still alive, living in a house just outside Dallas, and had paid her bail at the police station. Their reunion was bittersweet, as Dusty was now paralysed from the waist down, and he didn't want Sue Ellen to give up her life caring for him. However, Sue Ellen was adamant that she loved Dusty, and left J.R. for him. As J.R. was unwilling to let her leave with John Ross, she convinced sister-in-law Pam (Victoria Principal