Linda Gray

Linda Ann Gray (born September 12, 1940, in Santa Monica, California) is an American actress, best known for her role as Sue Ellen Ewing on the television prime-time soap opera Dallas.

Career

Prior to acting, Gray began working as a model in the 1960s. Although the role was played by Anne Bancroft, Gray's legs were featured on the film poster of The Graduate (1967).

Gray began her professional acting career in the 1970s, with guest roles on series such as Marcus Welby, M.D. and McCloud. In 1978, she landed the role of Sue Ellen Ewing in the CBS series Dallas. Initially a recurring guest role for the five-episode first season, Gray became a series regular later in 1978 and remained with the show until 1989. She returned for the series finale in 1991 and also appeared in the Dallas reunion TV movies "J.R. Returns" (1996) and "War of the Ewings" (1998). Gray was nominated for an Emmy Award for her work on Dallas in 1981.

After Dallas

After Dallas, Gray made guest appearances in other series, including the British drama Lovejoy (starring her co-star and love interest from her final season on Dallas, Ian McShane). She also starred in several made-for-TV movies, including 1991's The Entertainers (with Bob Newhart), Bonanza: The Return (1993), Moment of Truth: Why My Daughter (1993) and Accidental Meeting (1994). Also in 1994, she made guest several appearances on the hit FOX primetime soap opera Melrose Place, playing businesswoman Hillary Michaels, the mother of Amanda Woodward (played by Heather Locklear). Her character was then given a spin-off series of her own, Models Inc., but this series only lasted a single season.

In 2001, Gray portrayed Mrs. Robinson in the West End theatre production of Charles Webb's The Graduate, a fitting casting choice since Gray had been the model whose stockinged leg appeared in the promotional poster for the film version of The Graduate 34 years earlier.

Gray returned to television soap operas in 2004, when she had a recurring role in the daytime series The Bold and the Beautiful, playing Priscilla Kelly.

In 2006, Gray co-starred in the short film Reflections of a Life, written, directed by and starring Kathi Carey. She portrayed the best friend of a woman undergoing treatment for breast cancer. She then toured the United Kingdom in a stage version of Terms of Endearment.

In 2008, Gray had a small role in the CW's series 90210, which, like Melrose Place and Models, Inc. before it, is a spin-off from the original Beverly Hills 90210. This means that Gray has now appeared in three of the four series in the franchise, though her role in 90210 was not Hillary Michaels, the character she played on Melrose Place and Models, Inc.

Personal life

Gray was married to Ed Thrasher for 21 years. The marriage resulted in two children: Jeff Thrasher and Kehly Sloane. Gray has two grandsons, Ryder and Jack Sloane. Her younger sister, Betty, died in 1989 from breast cancer.

According to her website, Gray recently traveled to Nicaragua to film a documentary on the health issues of women and children as part of her work as a United Nations goodwill ambassador.

External links

• Linda Gray's Official Web Site
• Linda Gray at the Internet Movie Database
• Listen to BBC interview with Linda Gray & read a review of her performance on stage in 'Terms of Endearment'