Linda Gray facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Linda Gray
Gray at The Heart Truth show in 2011
Born	Linda Ann Gray September 12, 1940 (1940-09-12) (age 84) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress director producer model (former)
Years active	1963–present
Spouse(s)	Ed Thrasher ​ ​ (m. 1962; div. 1983)​
Children	2

Linda Ann Gray (born September 12, 1940) is an American actress. She is most famous for playing Sue Ellen Ewing in the TV show Dallas. In this show, she was the wife of J.R. Ewing, played by Larry Hagman.

Linda Gray started her career in the 1960s by appearing in many TV commercials. In the 1970s, she acted in several TV series. She got the role of Sue Ellen Ewing in Dallas in 1978. After leaving Dallas in 1989, she appeared in the 1991 movie Oscar with Sylvester Stallone. She also starred in the TV series Models Inc. from 1994 to 1995. Linda Gray returned to play Sue Ellen in later Dallas movies and the new Dallas series (2012–2014).

On stage, Linda Gray played Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate in London in 2001. She also performed the role on Broadway in 2002. In 2007, she starred in a play called Terms of Endearment. After the second Dallas series ended in 2014, Gray acted as the Fairy Godmother in a London play of Cinderella.

Early Life and Modeling Career

Linda Gray was born in 1940 in Santa Monica, California. She grew up in Culver City, California. Her father, Leslie, was a watchmaker and had a shop there.

Before becoming a well-known actress, Linda Gray worked as a model in the 1960s. She also started her acting career by appearing in television commercials. She was in almost 400 commercials! She also had small parts in movies like Under the Yum Yum Tree and Palm Springs Weekend in 1963.

Starting Her Acting Journey

Linda Gray began her professional acting career in the 1970s. She had guest roles on many TV shows. These included Marcus Welby, M.D., McCloud, and Switch. She signed with Universal Studios in 1974.

She also appeared in the films The Big Rip-Off (1975) and Dogs (1976). In 1977, she played Carla Cord in the TV movie Murder in Peyton Place.

Becoming a Star in Dallas

Linda Gray with Larry Hagman in 2009

Linda Gray became very famous for her role as Sue Ellen Ewing in the CBS drama series Dallas. Sue Ellen was J.R. Ewing's wife, and her character faced many challenges. The show ran from 1978 to 1989, and she also appeared in 1991.

At first, Sue Ellen was a guest role for the first five episodes. But Linda Gray became a regular cast member in the second season (1978-1979). She stayed with the show until 1989. Many TV critics really liked her character. The Biography Channel said that people would never forget Sue Ellen Ewing from Dallas. She was known for her dramatic moments at Southfork Ranch. The Boulevard also mentioned how memorable the Ewing family was. They talked about the drama, lies, and scandals. Sue Ellen was a favorite character that viewers often supported.

Linda Gray was nominated for important awards for her acting in Dallas. These included two Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama nominations and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series nomination. She also won many international awards. These included Germany's Bambi Award and Italy's Il Gato. In 1982, the Hollywood Radio & Television Society named her Woman of the Year.

Life After Dallas

Gray speaking at the 2014 Arizona Ultimate Women's Expo

After Dallas, Linda Gray starred in the 1991 comedy movie Oscar with Sylvester Stallone. She also made guest appearances in the British drama Lovejoy. She acted in several TV movies too. These included The Entertainers (1991), Bonanza: The Return (1993), Moment of Truth: Why My Daughter? (1993), and Accidental Meeting (1994).

In 1994, she appeared in the Fox TV show Melrose Place. She played Hillary Michaels, who was the mother of Amanda Woodward (Heather Locklear). She continued this role in the Melrose Place spin-off show, Models Inc.. In Models Inc., her character Hillary ran a modeling agency. However, that show was canceled after one season.

Linda Gray also returned as Sue Ellen in the Dallas reunion TV movies. These were Dallas: J.R. Returns (1996) and Dallas: War of the Ewings (1998).

Gray and Patrick Duffy at the PaleyFest 2013 forum for Dallas

In 2001, Linda Gray played Mrs. Robinson in the West End theatre play The Graduate. This was special because her legs had appeared on the poster for the 1967 movie version of The Graduate. She also briefly played the role on Broadway in 2002. Linda Gray also directed a play called Murder in the First. Other plays she acted in include Terms of Endearment, Agnes of God, and Love Letters.

Recent Acting Roles

Linda Gray returned to television in 2004. She was a guest star in five episodes of the daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful. She played a character named Priscilla Kelly.

Gray also starred in several independent films. These included the drama Reflections of a Life (2006). In this movie, she played the best friend of a woman who was getting treatment for breast cancer. Other films include Expecting Mary (2010), The Flight of the Swan (2011), and Hidden Moon (2012).

In 2008, Gray appeared in The CW series 90210. This show was a spin-off from Beverly Hills, 90210. Linda Gray has now appeared in three shows from this TV series family.

In 2012, Linda Gray played Sue Ellen Ewing again in the TNT drama series Dallas. This show continued the story of the original series. In 2013, she was named one of the fifty best-dressed people over 50 by the Guardian newspaper. In April 2013, People magazine included her in their annual Most Beautiful Woman list.

Gray at the 2015 Texas Book Festival

During Christmas 2014, she performed in a pantomime in London. She played the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella. In 2015, she starred in the Hallmark Channel movie A Perfect Wedding. She was also cast as a grandmother in The CW comedy series, Significant Mother. She also appeared in the soap opera web series Winterthorne.

On August 17, 2016, it was announced that Linda Gray would join the cast of the British Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks. She played Tabitha Maxwell-Brown, who was the mother of Marnie Nightingale. Gray first appeared as Tabitha on November 15, 2016. She returned for more episodes in 2017.

In 2017, Gray joined the cast of the Amazon Studios drama series, Hand of God. She starred alongside Ron Perlman and Dana Delany.

On October 3, 2023, it was announced that Gray would be in the Lifetime film, Ladies of the '80s: A Divas Christmas. This movie is about five soap opera actresses who get ready for a reunion show. They try to help their director and producer find love during Christmas. The cast includes Linda Gray, Loni Anderson, Morgan Fairchild, Donna Mills, and Nicollette Sheridan.

Linda Gray's Family Life

Linda Gray was married to Ed Thrasher from 1962 to 1983. Ed Thrasher was an art director and photographer. They had two children together: Jeff Thrasher and Kehly Sloane. Kehly Sloane is an actress who appeared in the original Dallas as Sue Ellen's secretary. Sadly, Jeff passed away in November 2020. Linda Gray has two grandsons. Her younger sister, Betty, passed away in 1989. Linda Gray lives in Los Angeles, California.

Film and Television Roles

Linda Gray has had many roles in both movies and television shows throughout her career. Here are some of them:

Movies

Television Shows

Awards and Recognitions

Linda Gray has received several awards and nominations for her acting:

See also

In Spanish: Linda Gray para niños