Linda Gray became famous for playing Sue Ellen Ewing on Dallas, appearing in over 300 episodes. While she enjoyed major success, her personal life was filled with challenges — including illness, addiction struggles in her family, and an unhappy marriage.
Born in 1940 in Santa Monica, Gray battled polio as a child and grew up with a mother who drank heavily, forcing Linda and her sister to take care of the home. She married young, at 21, but the marriage was emotionally cold and held her back from pursuing an acting career.
Despite setbacks, she worked as a model and later took acting classes. Her big break came in 1978 when she landed the role of Sue Ellen on Dallas. Her chemistry with co-star Larry Hagman became iconic, making her one of TV’s most recognizable faces. The show broke ratings records, and Gray received award nominations for her performance.
She divorced her husband in 1983 and continued acting. Tragedy struck in 2020 when her son Jeff died from leukemia.
Today, at 84, Linda Gray remains strong, active, and admired for both her resilience and her long career.