RIP Ken Kercheval

Ken Kercheval, who played JR Ewing's arch rival Cliff Barnes, has died.  On the show, Cliff was the brother of Pam, who married JR's brother, Bobby.  In spite of that, Cliff hated the Ewings, especially, Jr.
Cliff was  outmatched by JR, who was smooth as he was dastardly.  Cliff, on the other hand, was principally clumsy and gullible.  

Larry Hagman and Ken Kercheval were the only actors who stayed through the entire run of the series. 

A heavy smoker, Kercheval was 83.

So Long, JR!

Larry Hagman, whose iconic character, JR Ewing, invoked everything people dispise about the Texas oil industry, is dead at 81.He had been suffering from cancer.   Hagman originally played astronaut Tony Nelson in the comedy, I Dream Of Jeanie. 
Hagman's mother was broadway legend Mary Martin.  Hagman had recently been starring in a revival of the Dallas series, with most of the original actors, but featuring the rise of  the next generation of Ewings.  Ironically, Hagman's TV brother, Bobby is depicted in the show as suffering from terminal cancer.