Top 70 Quotes & Sayings by Larry Hagman

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American actor Larry Hagman.

Last updated on December 23, 2024.

Larry Martin Hagman was an American film and television actor, director, and producer, best known for playing ruthless oil baron J. R. Ewing in the 1978–1991 primetime television soap opera Dallas and the befuddled astronaut Major Anthony Nelson in the 1965–1970 sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. Hagman had supporting roles in numerous films, including Fail-Safe, Harry and Tonto, S.O.B., Nixon, and Primary Colors. His television appearances also included guest roles on dozens of shows spanning from the late 1950s until his death, and a reprise of his signature role on the 2012 revival of Dallas. Hagman also worked as a television producer and director. He was the son of actress Mary Martin. Hagman underwent a life-saving liver transplant in 1995. He died on November 23, 2012, from complications of acute myeloid leukemia.

American - Actor | September 21, 1931 - November 23, 2012

Source: Wikipedia

Well, I decided to stop. And I did. I stopped smoking, and I stopped speed at the same time.

Larry Hagman

At that time I was making the largest salary known on television and I didn't want to see it die because those were the years paying off when I wasn't making anything.

Larry Hagman

I think that everybody in the world, whatever colour or creed, has a jerk like JR in his or her family somewhere. Whether it is a father, uncle, cousin or brother, everybody can identify with JR and that certainly had something to do with the success of 'Dallas.'

Larry Hagman

I'm not well versed on the verbiage of the internet.

Larry Hagman

There are very little things in this life I cannot afford and patience is one of them.

Larry Hagman

Later on when it became a routine it was not as exciting I'll admit that. The first three years were wonderful, the rest were just money making and having fun.

Larry Hagman

'Dallas' hit a chord back in the late Seventies and Eighties because it was the age of greed: here you have this unapologetic character who is mean and nasty and ruthless and does it all with an evil grin. I think people related to JR back then because we all have someone we know exactly like him. Everyone in the world knows a JR.

Larry Hagman

Good acting is all in the writing. If it isn't on the page, then it really won't make any difference. You cannot act on force of personality alone.

Larry Hagman

I don't watch a lot of television. Sports and news, that's it.

Larry Hagman

If you do your research on hot springs all over the world, they're usually places of peace. People, even in warring nations and so forth, they'll go and live in peace together around the hot springs, which were always considered medicinal. I firmly believe in water therapy.

Larry Hagman

Comedy is not funny. Comedy is hard work and timing and lots and lots of rehearsals.

Larry Hagman

Actors can't retire. What would they do?

Larry Hagman

We did 356 'Dallas' episodes between 1978 and 1991. The most memorable moment for me happened in 1980 when I got shot at the end of the third series. The rest is a blur.

Larry Hagman

When we started the show, 'Dallas' was known as the city where JFK was assassinated. By the end it was known as JR's home town.

Larry Hagman

It always annoys me when stars grumble about fans coming up to them in the street. I love it. These young stars today with all their airs and graces, they need to remember it is an honour and a privilege to make money from acting. How hard is it?

Larry Hagman

Marijuana you can give up, Iv given it up for fifteen years now and it never occurs to me to smoke it anymore.

Larry Hagman

I went to a military school between the ages of six and 12 and later into the air force. You learn discipline and strength of character.

Larry Hagman

I think they could of recast the children, I heard of people wanting to do something like that. That would be a nice little show to do but you know that show was of the 80's, I don't think the audience mind set is in that direction any longer.

Larry Hagman

After ten or twelve years you can only play something so long and then you start to parody it.

Larry Hagman

Major success feels a bit like a coronation. Like I'd become a king. I was one of the most famous people in the world, loved and hated in equal measure. I couldn't see anything bad with it. It made me a happy person.

Larry Hagman

I'd like to play Matt Damon's daddy. He's a wonderful actor, I really admire him, and I'd like to play his dad one day.

Larry Hagman

I liked Dallas better because it was more deceptive, you could do more with it.

Larry Hagman

I'm sure it is, I'm not for any kind of war, we've been engaged in several wars since the second world war and we lost in Korea, we lost in Vietnam, they are political wars, they have nothing to do with any real threat, nor does this one.

Larry Hagman

As J.R. I could get away with anything - bribery, blackmail and adultery. But I got caught by cancer. I do want everyone to know that it is a very common and treatable form of cancer. I will be receiving treatment while working on the new 'Dallas' series.

Larry Hagman

Well, I motorcycle, I hunt, fish, I do all that. I keep busy. I'm never bored. I've never been bored.

Larry Hagman

You know Hollywood is a weird and wonderful place, I didn't know I Dream of Jeanie had been cancelled after 5 years until I went back to go on the lot to pick up some clothes and things I had in my dressing room.

Larry Hagman

Well I think they broke the mould when they made me and being humble is one of my great assets.

Larry Hagman

I guess it was but I think peoples morality has changed. It's gotten more liberal and more diverse and even in a sense much more fundamental, you take the fundamental religious right in this country, its got to go back about 50 years.

Larry Hagman

No no there wasn't any planned 14th season, we all saw the writing on the wall. The ratings had been going down and so fourth, that curve goes on every show and in everybody's life.

Larry Hagman

If I really had to pinpoint my happiest days out of the United States, I'd choose those Fifties military days in Britain, particularly my time in South Ruislip. I had a ball.

Larry Hagman

Barbara Eden is the most beautiful girl in the world.

Larry Hagman

I have this wonderful personal chef who sources and stocks all my organic produce and I basically live on five smoothies a day. I'm totally vegan. I blend this green concoction with kale, cucumber, broccoli, string beans, avocado. My protein comes from protein powder. There is absolutely no milk, butter, cheese.

Larry Hagman

I didn't write the book to sell the book, but to tell my experiences.

Larry Hagman

I was born with success. Lucky for me I am able to handle it. Also, I damn well deserve it!

Larry Hagman

I did successfully kick tobacco at the age of 34. I smoked for like 20 years, from 14 to 34.

Larry Hagman

I never travel without my Stetson, but the more I wear it the more I realise that no one wears hats any more. When I was a kid everybody wore hats, especially in Texas, but I get off the plane in Dallas now and I'm the only guy with a hat. It's amazing.

Larry Hagman

It's my firm intention to whop cancer into submission and I truly believe I've given myself the best start possible by radically overhauling my diet and by staying true to my motto, which is: Don't worry, be happy, feel good. The first thing I did when I was diagnosed was to turn vegan.

Larry Hagman

I've travelled a huge amount, but almost all of it has been through work. I spent five years stationed in London in the special services of the American Air Force, producing and directing shows for the troops, which I absolutely loved.

Larry Hagman

I have been married for 58 years to the same woman. Our secret? Separate bathrooms.

Larry Hagman

I was shot when I think it was number one. That was the catalyst for the interest in the show. Certainly it went on for a long time after that but that's what really kicked it off. Of course a lot of people watched it just because of the novelty of the situation.

Larry Hagman

My definition of a redundancy is an air-bag in a politician's car.

Larry Hagman

Don't you find that the more you know, the more you don't know and can't ever learn because there's too much stuff out there?

Larry Hagman

I have thousands and thousands of hats. Some are the most outrageous hats in the world. They are my disguise. I hide beneath them.

Larry Hagman

I barely watch TV apart from the news. Most of it is rubbish. There's all this reality nonsense and dross. I think there's a market for a well-produced, well-written melodrama like 'Dallas.' It's pure entertainment.

Larry Hagman

I was sad to see anybody leave, we had a very nice family on that show. I was very sad to see momma go, Victoria and especially Linda. My god that was my wife on the show, in fact my wife calls her wife.

Larry Hagman

I'm happy to be here. I'm happy to be anywhere. I'm not kidding.

Larry Hagman

My television and movie career has also taken me all over the world. I've had great times in the Far East, Russia, South America and Sweden - where I met my wife of 55 years, Maj.

Larry Hagman

Once you get rid of integrity the rest is a piece of cake.

Larry Hagman

I admit the last couple of years shows were not up to par.

Larry Hagman

But there is no withdrawal, but with tobacco there is terrible withdrawal, it is almost impossible for a lot of people. I did, I went cold turkey, they never had any patches in those days but grass was not difficult, alcohol not difficult, but tobacco - oh my god.

Larry Hagman

Well yes so far, I was recently in Germany and they had me do six book signings a day and that was too much so I had them cut it down to about three. It becomes taxing at times but its a lot of fun and you meet a lot of nice people.

Larry Hagman

I exercise every morning. I do light weights - 5lb and 10lb arm exercises - and then lie and lift my arms and legs. It's all about keeping core strength. I do a lot of stretching too.

Larry Hagman

There used to be three networks, and now there are 40 million networks. There's a lot more competition out there, too. We would bring in 27 million people. Now, they're lucky if they have 17. I looked at the ratings, for the first time in 25 years, just to see, and there were 130 shows on. There used to be maybe 30.

Larry Hagman

I think JR would make a better President than the one we have now.

Larry Hagman

I got to a point where kind of a oneness with everything and a great compassion. It teaches you compassion. It was a great, enlightening experience, a spiritual experience. Not particularly religious, but spiritual. It was great. I can still go there.

Larry Hagman

Oil rich boys . . . had a nice, sweet smile but when you finished meeting with them your socks were missing and you hadn't even noticed they'd taken your boots.

Larry Hagman

My credo is etched on my mirror in my bathroom and I see it when I brush my teeth in the morning. It says, "Don't worry, Be Happy, Feel Good." When you see that first thing, and you reflect on it, the rest of the day seems to glide by pretty well.

Larry Hagman

Five hundred thousand Americans die from tobacco poisoning every year, and it's legal. I don't know, it just that's the - you can't stop giving people organs because of bad behavior. If you keep on having bad behavior, then of course they'll deny you a liver, or whatever you need.

Larry Hagman

We've got to find another way of producing energy.

Larry Hagman

Marijuana you can give up, I've given it up for fifteen years now and it never occurs to me to smoke it anymore.

Larry Hagman