‘Dallas’ star Linda Gray carries on

Star Linda Gray forges on without co-star Hagman

‘Dallas” grande dame Sue Ellen Ewing has had her battles. No one knows that better than Linda Gray, the actress behind the exwife of series villain J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman).

But as the drama returns for its second season tomorrow at 9 p.m. on TNT both Sue Ellen and Gray are learning to adjust without their leading man.

“Larry was there for the first (several) shows, then to have (a new) show ... without him is just heartbreaking,” Gray told the Herald.

Hagman, 81, died in November from complications from leukemia.

“I literally expect him to walk through the door. I expect J.R. and Sue Ellen scenes in the scripts. It’s bittersweet. The character of J.R. so permeated the show, so he’s right there (but not physically),” said the 72-year-old Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated entertainer.

Last week, executive producer Cynthia Cidre revealed Hagman’s death will be written into the series as a whodunit, with the hope that “Who Killed J.R.?” will rival the popularity of the “Who Shot J.R.?” arc of the 1980s.

Gray remained mum on what role Sue Ellen will play, if any, in her ex-husband’s demise.

“This is a fasten-your-seatbelt season,” she said.

Despite playing the character for more than a decade, Gray admits she is as surprised as viewers by the twists and turns her storyline takes.

“There’s not a lot you know about Sue Ellen. She’s in the middle,” Gray said.

During the 1980s, her character battled alcoholism while stuck between J.R.’s deceptions and his power struggles with brother Bobby (Patrick Duffy).

“Sue Ellen began with nothing. In 1978, I had three lines,” she said. “The growth of Sue Ellen was stunning. She was really complicated and interesting. As an actor, that is the stuff you sink your teeth into.”

Sue Ellen has since emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Gray admits a little of J.R. may have rubbed off on her.

“I think Sue Ellen in not the Sue Ellen of the ’80s,” Gray said. “She runs for governor, she loses. She’s a philanthropist. She’s heavily involved in the Dallas community. Because of being with J.R., she knows all the oil deals, the good, the bad and the ugly. She’s very aware.”

While J.R. may be gone, Gray cautioned not to count him out of the Southfork mayhem.

“I think that’s the beauty of J.R. There will always be surprises,” Gray said. “There will always be something that nobody really thought about. He did this 30 years ago and it rears its head again. Larry Hagman would have loved it.”