Jim Davis (actor)

Infobox actor
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name = Jim Davis


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birthname = Marlin Jim Davis
birthdate = birth date|1909|8|26|mf=y
location = Edgerton, Missouri, U.S.
deathdate = death date and age|1981|4|26|1909|8|26|mf=y
deathplace = Northridge, California, U.S.
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yearsactive = 1942-1981
spouse = Blanche Hammerer (1945-1981) (his death) 1 child (deceased)
Tara Diane (1953-70)
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Marlin "Jim" Davis (August 26 1909 – April 26 1981), was an American actor, best known for his role as Jock Ewing in the CBS prime-time soap Dallas, a role which he held up until his death in April 1981.

Biography

Born Marlin Davis in Edgerton, Missouri, his first major screen role was opposite Bette Davis in the 1948 melodrama "Winter Meeting". His lackluster film career consisted of mostly B movies, many of them Westerns, although he made an impression as a U.S. Senator in the Warren Beatty conspiracy thriller "The Parallax View". He is best remembered by most for playing the role of Jock Ewing on TV's "Dallas".

He played the role of Matt Clark in the TV-Series "Stories Of The Century" (39 Ep.).

Tragedy struck when his only child, daughter Tara Diane (1953-1970), was killed in a car crash at the age of sixteen. After years of roles in a large number of Western films, in 1978 he was given the part of family patriarch Jock Ewing in the "Dallas" TV series.

During season three, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma but continued to film the show as long as he could. In many scenes as that season progressed, he was seen seated, was obviously wearing a wig and looked and sounded fatigued. A storyline regarding the Takapa development and his separation from Miss Ellie was ended abruptly, and the writers had the couple leave to go on an extended second honeymoon (their departure in a limousine was Davis' final appearance on the show) when it became obvious Davis could no longer continue to work. He died of complications from his illness while season three was on the air.

Very popular with the audience, the show's writers made the decision not to write his death into the storyline right away. Initially, plans were made to replace him with another actor, but were dropped because of audience awareness. His character was kept alive for 13 episodes after his death with the storyline that he was in South America drilling for oil after taking care of Ewing Oil-related legislative business in Washington. The episode "The Search" confirmed the character's death in a helicopter crash was broadcast on January 8, 1982. [ [http://www.ultimatedallas.com/episodeguide/season4.htm Episode Guide] Ultimate Dallas web site] [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p81t5S6-QZY] Dallas Jim Davis 1909-1981] A portrait of Davis in his role as Jock Ewing often appeared as a memorial on "Dallas" after his death.

Davis, who had a close relationship with co-star Victoria Principal, had photographs of her and his daughter (who allegedly bore a strong resemblance to Principal) buried with him on the day of his funeral.

For his contribution to the television industry, Jim Davis has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6290 Hollywood Blvd.

Jim Davis is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0204824|name=Jim Davis

Persondata
NAME= Davis, Jim
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Davis, Marlin Jim
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Actor
DATE OF BIRTH= 1909-8-26
PLACE OF BIRTH= Edgerton, Missouri, U.S.
DATE OF DEATH= 1981-4-26
PLACE OF DEATH= Northridge, California, U.S.