Sue Ellen Ewing

Sue Ellen Ewing
Dallas character
Screenshot of Linda Gray as Sue Ellen Ewing in the fifth season of Dallas.
First appearance	April 2, 1978 Digger's Daughter (Pilot)
Created by	David Jacobs
Portrayed by	Linda Gray
Information
Family	Patricia Shepard (mother) Kristin Shepard (sister; deceased)
Spouse(s)	J. R. Ewing (1970-1981, 1982-1988) Don Lockwood (1990-1996)
Children	John Ross Ewing III

Sue Ellen Ewing (née Shepard; later Lockwood) is a fictional character from the CBS soap opera Dallas , a long-running dramatic serial about a wealthy oil family living in Dallas, Texas. She is the wife of central character J.R. Ewing and the program's most prominent female character. Portrayed by actress Linda Gray, Sue Ellen was a series regular for the first eleven seasons of Dallas until Gray decided to leave the serial altogether in 1989 in the episode "Reel Life". However, Gray later returned for the series finale Conundrum Part II, the subsequent Dallas telemovies, and the reunion special titled "Dallas Reunion: The Return to Southfork" that was televised in 2004.

Sue Ellen was the long-suffering two-time wife of the nefarious J. R. Ewing. The actress has said of her character's personality: " I never wanted her to be boring. She was never boring before - she started out kind of boring, but I think that's the kiss of death because people will expect her to be interesting. By interesting, that doesn't mean she's drunk. I had to do a lot of thinking about what we would do with her. Where would she be now? I did a lot of homework finding out where she would be and what Texas women are like now. What has she gone through in her life? What has she come to grips with? What does she like about herself? What doesn't she like about herself? What kind of impact is she going to make on her life, on John Ross's life, on her future? Who is she?"

In 2010, TNT (sister company to Warner Bros. Television who are the current copyright owners of the series) announced they were producing a new, updated series of Dallas. The new series is a continuation of the original series and will primarily center around J.R. Ewing's son John Ross Ewing III, and Bobby Ewing's adopted son Christopher Ewing, though various stars of the original series will be reprising their roles. Gray has agreed to return to the new series and will once again play Sue Ellen once again in the upcoming continuation. The character of Sue Ellen was well received by television critics. The Biography Channel said, " Who could ever forget Dallas with the gin-swilling Sue Ellen Ewing, replete with shoulder pads long before Dynasty, staggering around Southfork Ranch with a permanently tearful expression as she suffered the brunt of J.R. Ewing’s evil ways?"

Characterization

In an interview with Digital Spy, Gray said of her character's persona: " I never wanted her to be boring. She was never boring before- she started out kind of boring, but I think that's the kiss of death because people will expect her to be interesting. By interesting, that doesn't mean she's drunk. I had to do a lot of thinking about what we would do with her. Where would she be now? I did a lot of homework finding out where she would be and what Texas women are like now. What has she gone through in her life? What has she come to grips with? What does she like about herself? What doesn't she like about herself? What kind of impact is she going to make on her life, onJohn Ross's life, on her future? Who is she?"

The character of Sue Ellen has gone through an addiction to alcohol, which she returned to every-time something went extremely wrong with her life. Gray was particularly fond of doing these scenes. She commented,

"I loved my drunk scenes. I know that may sound very strange to people! I got to just let go and just do a down and dirty version of Sue Ellen. It was like, 'Just let me at it and roll those cameras'. I remember being in makeup for 20 minutes, which normally took two hours. They put some kind of gel in my hair and some very light makeup and I loved it. I said, "Just let me go, please don't edit me, just let me go'." She added, "It was just one of those charming, charming, charming times where I just got to blow it out. I just wanted Sue Ellen to be raw unlike any other time in her life, where she was the victim and she was this and she was that; J.R. Ewing would do something and she would react, he would do something and she would have an affair or drink or whatever. This was just like, 'Let me go. Let Sue Ellen out of that box'"

During her time on the serial, Sue Ellen often suffered emotional abuse from her husband J.R., who was the primary antagonist of the show. Linda Gray described Sue Ellen as being, " one of the most interesting character on TV in the 1980s. She was the original Desperate Housewife. She led the way for all those girls." She also added, " The more successful we became the more glamorous and fashionable the clothes became. We set fashion trends in the 80s. Those shoulder pads did get a bit wild. They had to make doors bigger in the end." In an interview with The Telegraph, she said: " It was kind of exciting. I played this neurotic, psychotic, alcoholic weirdo. But I still say she was the most interesting female on television in the eighties."

Conception and casting

Larry Hagman starred as Gray's co-star and on-screen love for every season Sue Ellen appeared on Dallas.

When Gray originally tested for Dallas, the role of Sue Ellen was merely that of a background character. The actress recounts that the part was a "mere walk-on" and there hadn't been any need for a formal audition. In fact, Linda had to do an impromptu audition over the telephone because the role was not considered important enough to bring in another actor to test for the part, though the actress later stated that Newhart innkeeper Mary Frann was also considered to play the character while casting. In an interview with TV Guide, Gray confirmed: "She had the part. Victoria Principal was a brunet and so was I, and Mary was a blond, and [the producers] wanted that [visual] contrast. But the casting director [who had only recently tapped me to play a transsexual on All That Glitters] kept bugging them until they finally said, 'OK, we'll read her.'"

In 1979, Gray spoke with TV Guide (Canada) and recounted: "At first, they had no idea what to do with the part. Sue Ellen's lines ran to 'More coffee, darling?' and 'I have a headache.' Victoria Principal and Patrick Duffy were the goody-goddies. Jim Davis and Barbara Bel Geddes were parental. Hagman was the villain. And I was the redhead on the couch." However, Gray was upgraded to a starring role once Dallas was picked up for a full season following the five episode arc miniseries. The actress later stated that on-screen husband Larry Hagman had criticized one of her performances early on during the start of the series calling it "terrible", though he denied it. She joked, "I'm sorry. He said it to me loud and clear, and made me feel terrible, and it started one of our first fights on the way back [to the motel where everyone was staying]. I swear to you — he devastated me. Then, years later, he said, 'Oh, I didn't mean that.' I could have killed him!"

After staying with Dallas for eight seasons, Gray ran into trouble when she requested the producers of the show to allow her the ability to direct like that of male co-stars Duffy and Hagman in her contract. The request initially led to producers firing the actress from the serial, though the decision was later reversed when Dallas star Larry Hagman threatened to quit the show unless Gray was rehired. Gray stated in an interview with TV Guide, "The producers said, 'But you're doing so well.' I thought, 'Oh, look out! I'm on the warpath now.' It was a struggle, though, because it was a man's show. And they fired me. When I finally told Larry, he went with me into the office and said, 'If she doesn't come back, I don't come back. I can't be playing J.R. Ewing without Sue Ellen.' He was very loyal and, honestly, a very smart businessman. He knew that truly, it was a huge relationship to the show." We'll drink to that!"

The actress also recounted the story to Alan Mercer of Dazzling Diva.com, saying: "I told them I don't want any more money. I just want to direct one episode in the next two year cycle. I didn't think that was so horrible. I didn't want to direct six episodes. They still said no. Basically I was fired at the end of year eight. So I said good-bye and Larry said see you next season. I told him I won't be coming back. He said, "What!?!" I told him, "They fired me because I want to direct one episode and if that's there stance I'm out of here." He was stunned and he said if you go I go. He denies that to this day. He really went to bat for me." Gray remained a member of the principal cast until she left the show in its eleventh season. Her departure came as a surprise, but her publicist said that after eleven years on the show she wished to pursue other things. In 2010, TNT (sister company to Warner Bros. Television who are the current copyright owners of the series) announced they were producing a new, updated series of Dallas. The new series is a continuation of the original series and will primarily center around J.R. Ewing's son John Ross Ewing III, and Bobby Ewing's adopted son Christopher Ewing, though various stars of the original series will be reprising their roles. Gray has agreed to return to the new series and will once again play Sue Ellen in the upcoming continuation.

Character Arc

Original Series

Sue Ellen's storylines primarily revolved around her former husband, J.R.

When Sue Ellen wins the title of Miss Texas in 1967, she meets her future husband J.R., who is a judge for the pageant. After a courtship, they marry on February 15, 1970, but after several years, their marriage deteriorates, due in large part to J.R.’s numerous extramarital affairs and his disinterest in her. In 1979, a lonely Sue Ellen begins an affair with J.R.’s nemesis Cliff Barnes. Shortly thereafter, Sue Ellen finds herself pregnant and believes that Cliff is the father because she and J.R. had been married for years without conceiving and by this point, they barely had marital relations. Sue Ellen believes she loves Cliff, but is unable to leave J.R. To console herself, she starts drinking heavily during her pregnancy. Worried about the safety of her unborn child, J.R. has Sue Ellen committed to a sanitarium in 1979 to gain sobriety. However, Sue Ellen manages to continue drinking and escapes from the sanitarium drunk and crashes a car. While in the hospital, she gives birth to a son, John Ross Ewing III. After her son’s birth, Sue Ellen becomes severely depressed and shows no interest in the child.

She then begins an affair with rodeo cowboy Dusty Farlow and enters into psychiatric treatment. Eventually, she gains the strength to connect with her child. After Cliff sues for paternity of the baby, tests reveal that J.R. is in fact the actual biological father. Sue Ellen, meanwhile, makes plans to leave J.R. for Dusty, however, Dusty is reportedly killed in a plane crash and this news sends Sue Ellen back to the bottle. In 1981, Sue Ellen learns that Dusty is in fact alive, but has been horribly crippled as a result of the plane crash. Nonetheless, Sue Ellen remains dedicated to her love for Dusty and leaves J.R.—taking their son with her to live at the Southern Cross Ranch, the home of Dusty’s father, Clayton Farlow. Sue Ellen divorces J.R. and gains custody of John Ross, but her relationship with Dusty ends when Dusty regained the use of his legs and decides to resume his life’s passion as a rodeo cowboy.

Sue Ellen then moves back to Dallas with her son and enters into another short-lived romance with J.R.’s enemy, Cliff Barnes. When J.R. gets wind of this, he becomes jealous and courts Sue Ellen himself in an effort to win back custody of his son, and, in the process, obtain his voting shares in Ewing Oil, the Ewing oil company. In 1982, J.R. and Sue Ellen remarry, but their happiness is short-lived as J.R. quickly returns to his philandering ways and Sue Ellen catches him in bed with oil tycoon Holly Harwood. However, Sue Ellen decides to remain married to J.R., in name only, but moves out of his bedroom. In 1983, Sue Ellen enters into an affair with college student, Peter Richards, who had been her son’s camp counselor. In 1984, Sue Ellen miscarries a child, but doesn't know if J.R. or Peter is the father. When J.R. learns of Sue Ellen’s affair, he arranges for Peter to be arrested on trumped-up drug charges and blackmails him to leave Dallas for good.

In 1986, Sue Ellen goes into business by buying a partnership interest in a lingerie company. She successfully lures J.R.’s latest mistress, Mandy Winger, away from J.R. by offering her a promising career as model and then as an actress. Sue Ellen and J.R. enjoy a brief reconciliation, however, J.R.’s desire to regain Ewing Oil by having an affair with Kimberly Cryder destroys what is left of their marriage. Sue Ellen decides to leave J.R. for good, but he manages to take John Ross away and put him into hiding in a boarding school. Sue Ellen and her new lover, Nicholas Pearce, confront J.R. at his penthouse and demand he tell them where he hid John Ross. A scuffle breaks out between J.R. and Nicholas resulting in Nicholas being thrown over the balcony and killed. In response, Sue Ellen then shoots J.R. three times; however, he lives and neither she nor J.R. are indicted for any crimes.

In 1988, Sue Ellen divorces J.R. for a second time. Deciding to get revenge on J.R., Sue Ellen decides to make a feature film expose on her life with J.R. with the help of screenwriter Don Lockwood. She and Don soon become romantically involved and, in 1989, Sue Ellen moves to London with Lockwood, but not before blackmailing J.R. by threatening to release her film expose which would destroy his reputation. In 1991, J.R. learns that Sue Ellen and Don Lockwood had married. John Ross, her son by J.R., later joins her and Don in London. Sue Ellen appears in the final episode of the series during J.R.’s dream in which she is a successful actress married to her former love, Nicholas Pearce.

Reunion Movies: J.R. Returns and War of the Ewings

In 1996, when her marriage to Don was in trouble, Sue Ellen returned to Dallas with her son when J.R. was reportedly killed in a car accident. When J.R. was discovered alive, Sue Ellen reconciled with him. However, upon learning that J.R. faked his death to manipulate his family, Sue Ellen became partners with Bobby in the family company, Ewing Oil to spite J.R.