Dallas (1978 – 1991): Hagman vs. Show Network CBS
Audiences love a good villain, and Dallas’ J.R. Ewing, played by Larry Hagman, perfectly fits the mold in the show about wealthy and feuding oil families. As J.R., Hagman played the foil to the show’s hero, J.R.’s brother Bobby. J.R. captured audiences, and Hagman reached new levels of fame. While the set itself was congenial, Hagman’s fame drove him to request higher pay, especially as “Who shot J.R.?” mania swept the country in response to the season finale cliffhanger. He tried to re-negotiate his contract with CBS and Lorimar Productions for a pay raise, but to no avail. Hagman decided to go on a one-man strike. He left the show. And the state. He refused to return without a raise. After ten days, Lorimar agreed to Hagman’s terms and brought Hagman back for $75,000 per episode, one of the biggest per-episode salaries of the time.