This iconic actress has faced numerous hardships throughout her life, including escaping a toxic marriage. Despite these struggles, she has emerged stronger, and after many years, she embraces her independence.
This Hollywood star became a household name playing Sue Ellen Ewing on the iconic TV show “Dallas,” which captivated audiences from 1978 to 1991. Even more than thirty years after the series concluded, she continues to impress fans with her ageless beauty, all while overcoming significant hardships in her life.
The actress pictured on February 1, 1978, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Her time on “Dallas” not only shaped her career but also had a profound impact on her personal life. The role she portrayed hit close to home, as her mother struggled with alcoholism. In an effort to help, the actress gave her mother the first five scripts of the show.
Back row, from left, Patrick Duffy, Victoria Principal, Barbara Bel Geddes, and Larry Hagman. Front row, from left, Charlene Tilton, Jim Davis, and the actress pictured in a promotional photo for “Dallas” on January 1, 1979, in Dallas, Texas. | Source: Getty Images
“She then became sober and she went to Betty Ford clinic. It was amazing for both of us because I sat there with her and she realized that she had a problem,” the actress shared. Her mother’s realization of the addiction depicted in the scripts ultimately led to her journey toward sobriety.
The actress photographed on January 1, 1980 | Source: Getty Images
The impact of “Dallas” extended beyond the celebrity’s personal life—it was pivotal in reviving her career aspirations. Reflecting on the opportunity, she acknowledged how much the show transformed her path.
The actress attends the Sixth Annual People’s Choice Awards on January 24, 1980, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
“Getting Dallas was a catalyst for me because it opened so many doors, philosophies, and ideas,” said the Hollywood star. She also recalled how the main cast, including Larry Hagman, Patrick Duffy, and herself, were all out-of-work actors before landing their roles.
“We had no idea it was going to be successful, so we were like, ‘Oh, here we are, trying the best we can,'” the California native added. The show’s unexpected success became a turning point for her and her colleagues.
While “Dallas” marked a high point in her career, her personal life told a different story. At the time, she was married to Grammy Award-winning art director Ed Thrasher, with whom she had two children.
Ed, Jeff, Kehly Thrasher and Linda Gray depart the Regency Hotel on November 27, 1982, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images
However, the couple’s marriage, which began in 1962, was far from fulfilling, as the Hollywood star later revealed in an interview.
The actress and Ed Thrasher pictured on January 1, 1980 | Source: Getty Images
“I don’t like the word abusive because he was just living the life he knew how to live,” the actress explained. She added that her spouse was a creative individual, and part of his dream was to become a cowboy and run a ranch with horses.
The actress and Ed Thrasher attending the People’s Choice Awards on January 1, 1980 in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
When their children were young, they moved to the house they had designed and built together, where he had his horses and chickens. However, when she expressed her desire to pursue acting, his response was, “No. You’ll become an actor when the children are in college,” recalled the former model.
Ed Thrasher and the actress attend the 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on September 13, 1981, in Pasadena, California. | Source: Getty Images
Reflecting on that time, she thought, “My God, we’re living his dream, but what about mine?” While many women of that era accepted staying home, she questioned, “Is that all there is?”
Ed Thrasher and the actress attend the Hollywood Radio & Television Society’s 22nd Annual International Broadcasting Awards on March 23, 1982, in Century City, California. | Source: Getty Images
Despite the life they had built, she found herself deeply unhappy in the marriage. The weight of her unfulfilled dreams and the strain of their relationship became too much to bear.
The actress and Ed Thrasher pose for a portrait on January 1, 1984, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
“I was miserable. I thought, if I don’t get out of this marriage, I will die. I went back and forth for months,” she candidly revealed in her memoir, “The Road to Happiness Is Always Under Construction.”
The actress and Ed Thrasher photographed on January 1, 1984, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Looking back, the actress realized the seeds of her unhappiness were planted early on. She married Ed at just 21, and it didn’t take long for her to sense something was wrong—even on their honeymoon in Acapulco.
“Because we had sex I thought, ‘Oh, now I’m really an adult, a woman,’ but I didn’t feel loved and nurtured,” she admitted. Instead, she felt neglected. The very next morning, Ed left her alone in the hotel while he spent the day taking photos, setting a pattern of emotional distance and control that would define their marriage.
The actress and Ed Thrasher at the Wrap-Up Parties for the Fifth Season of “Dallas” and the Third Season of “Knots Landing” on February 6, 1982, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
“It tore me apart but I just thought, ‘Well, I can make this work somehow.'” And somehow, she did. But, as she later revealed in an interview, “It took me 21 years to leave my marriage.” The couple officially divorced in 1983, after more than two decades together. However, more heartache followed just a few years later.
Ed Thrasher and the actress pictured at the musical “Dancin” on February 24, 1982 | Source: Getty Images
In 1988, the actress faced a devastating loss when her beloved sister, Betty, whom she used to confide in, passed away from breast cancer at 43. Reflecting on that painful moment, she shared, “It was mind-boggling that someone could be here one minute and gone the next. It showed me the fragility of life and how fast it can go.”
The actress posing for a portrait on January 1, 1988, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
The loss of her sister was only the beginning of a series of heartbreaking events. In 2006, Ed passed away at 74. Then, in 2020, tragedy struck again when their son, Jeff Thrasher, died at 56.
Linda Gray honored her son’s memory with a touching tribute on Instagram, writing, “A celebration of my son Jeff’s life. He was the kindest, funniest, sweetest human being….. he brought the world such love and was loved by everyone! May his journey be a magical one.”
Amidst all the loss and heartache, Linda still finds comfort in the family she has left. She now has her daughter, Kehly Sloane, who has pursued her own path as an actress, and two beloved grandchildren.
