Linda Gray is best known for playing Sue Ellen Ewing, the long-suffering yet fiercely resilient wife of J.R. Ewing on the iconic primetime soap opera Dallas.
But behind the glamorous character was an actress who brought depth, complexity, and dignity to a role that could have easily been one-dimensional. With a career spanning decades, Linda Gray became not just a TV star but a symbol of strength, elegance, and second chances.
From Modeling to Stardom
Born on September 12, 1940, in Santa Monica, California, Linda Gray started her career as a model in the 1960s, appearing in hundreds of commercials and print ads.
Her striking beauty and elegant presence eventually led her into acting, though her early roles were modest. She even worked briefly as a body double — famously for Anne Bancroft’s leg in The Graduate’s poster — before landing her first major break.
That big break came in 1978, when she was cast as Sue Ellen Ewing on CBS’s Dallas. What began as a supporting role quickly evolved into one of the most compelling characters on the show, thanks to Gray’s nuanced performance.
Becoming Sue Ellen
On Dallas, Sue Ellen was originally introduced as the beautiful but emotionally fragile wife of oil baron J.R. Ewing (played by Larry Hagman). But as the series unfolded, Gray transformed Sue Ellen into a fully realized character — a woman trapped in a toxic marriage, battling alcoholism, but ultimately rediscovering her self-worth.
Her performance resonated with millions of viewers and turned her into a fan favorite. She was nominated for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe, and Sue Ellen became one of television’s most iconic female characters of the 1980s.
Gray remained with Dallas for 12 seasons, returning again for the reunion movies and the 2012 reboot, which brought her and other original cast members back into the spotlight for a new generation of fans.
Career Beyond Dallas
After Dallas, Gray continued acting on both stage and screen. She appeared in series like Melrose Place, Models Inc., and The Bold and the Beautiful. She also earned praise for her stage work, including playing Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate on London’s West End — a full-circle moment considering her earlier connection to the film.
Gray also directed episodes of Dallas, becoming one of the few women at the time to step behind the camera in primetime television.
Personal Life and Memoir
Linda Gray was married to art director Ed Thrasher for over 20 years, and they had two children together before divorcing in the 1980s. Her son, Jeff Thrasher, later became a director and producer. Tragically, he passed away in 2020 — a loss Gray described as “the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced.”
In 2015, she published a memoir titled The Road to Happiness Is Always Under Construction, in which she reflected on her personal journey, professional ups and downs, and her evolving perspective on aging, relationships, and resilience.
