Linda Gray

Linda Ann Gray (born September 12, 1940) is an American actress, director, producer, and former model known for her portrayal of Sue Ellen Ewing, the troubled wife of J.R. Ewing, on the CBS series *Dallas* (1978–1989, 1991, 2012–2014). For this role, she received a 1981 Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and won two Golden Globe Awards.

Gray began her career in the 1960s with television commercials and later appeared in numerous TV series during the 1970s before landing the role of Sue Ellen Ewing in 1978. After leaving *Dallas* in 1989, she appeared in the 1991 film *Oscar* alongside Sylvester Stallone. From 1994 to 1995, she played a leading role in the Fox drama *Models Inc.* and starred in TV movies such as *Moment of Truth: Why My Daughter?* (1993) and *Accidental Meeting* (1994). She later reprised her role as Sue Ellen in *Dallas: J.R. Returns* (1996), *Dallas: War of the Ewings* (1998), and the TNT revival of *Dallas* (2012–2014).

Gray also has an extensive stage career. She portrayed Mrs. Robinson in *The Graduate* in the West End in 2001 and on Broadway in 2002. In 2007, she played Aurora Greenaway in the world premiere of *Terms of Endearment* at the Theatre Royal, York, and toured the UK with the production. After the 2014 cancellation of the *Dallas* revival, she appeared as the Fairy Godmother in a London production of *Cinderella*.

Linda Gray was born in Santa Monica, California, and raised in Culver City, where her father, Leslie, was a watchmaker who owned a shop.

Before entering acting, Gray was a model in the 1960s and appeared in nearly 400 television commercials. She also made brief appearances in feature films, including *Under the Yum Yum Tree* and *Palm Springs Weekend* in 1963.

Gray began her professional acting career in the 1970s with guest roles on series such as *Marcus Welby, M.D.*, *McCloud*, and *Switch*. In 1974, she signed with Universal Studios and appeared in the films *The Big Rip-Off* (1975) and *Dogs* (1976). In 1977, she played Linda Murkland, a fashion model and the first transgender regular character on American television, in the series *All That Glitters*. The show, a parody of the soap opera format, was canceled after 13 weeks. Gray then portrayed Carla Cord in the 1977 TV movie *Murder in Peyton Place*.