80s Icon Overcomes Tragedy and Heartache—Her Remarkable Transformation at 84

This 80s Star Survived the Death of Her Son & Lived in a Loveless Marriage — She Stunned Fans with Her Transformation at 84

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Throughout her life, this legendary actress has had many struggles, one of which was leaving a bad marriage. After many years, she embraces her freedom and has become stronger as a result of these challenges.

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Playing Sue Ellen Ewing on the venerable television series “Dallas,” which enthralled viewers from 1978 to 1991, this Hollywood beauty rose to fame. Despite overcoming major obstacles in her life, she continues to dazzle admirers with her timeless beauty almost thirty years after the series ended.

Her stint on “Dallas” had a significant influence on her personal life in addition to shaping her career. Her mother battled alcoholism, therefore the part she played was personal to her. The actress tried to assist her mother by giving her the first five show scripts.

After that, she got clean and visited the Betty Ford Clinic. The actress said, “I sat there with her and she realized that she had a problem, and it was amazing for both of us.” Her journey toward sobriety was finally prompted by her mother’s recognition of the addiction portrayed in the writings.

The influence of “Dallas” went beyond the celebrity’s private life; it was essential to renewing her professional goals. When she thought back on the chance, she realized how profoundly the show changed her life.

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The Hollywood actor claimed that “Getting Dallas was a catalyst for me because it opened so many doors, philosophies, and ideas.” She also remembered that before securing their parts, the core cast—which included herself, Patrick Duffy, and Larry Hagman—were all unemployed actors.

The California native continued, “We were like, ‘Oh, here we are, trying the best we can,’ because we had no idea it was going to be successful.” The unexpected success of the play marked a sea change for her and her coworkers.

Even though “Dallas” was a career high point, her personal life was quite different. She had two kids at the time from her marriage to Grammy Award-winning art director Ed Thrasher.

But as the Hollywood star later disclosed in an interview, the couple’s 1962 marriage was everything but happy.

“I don’t like the word abusive because he was just living the life he knew how to live,” the actress clarified. She also mentioned that her husband was an artistic person who had aspirations of being a cowboy and owning a ranch with horses.

He kept his poultry and horses in the house they had planned and constructed together when their kids were small. But when she said that she wanted to become an actress, dad said, “No. When the kids are in college, you’ll pursue acting,” the former model recalled.

“My God, we’re living his dream, but what about mine?” she asked herself as she reflected on that moment. “Is that all there is?” she asked, despite the fact that many women of her time embraced remaining at home.

She was quite dissatisfied with the marriage, even with the life they had created. The strain of their relationship and the weight of her unmet goals became too much to handle.

“I felt awful. I believed that I would die if I didn’t leave this marriage. In her biography, “The Road to Happiness Is Always Under Construction,” she openly shared, “I went back and forth for months.”

In retrospect, the actress saw that the roots of her discontent had been sown from a young age. She married Ed at the age of 21, and even on their Acapulco honeymoon, she quickly realized something was up.

“Because we had sex I thought, ‘Oh, now I’m really an adult, a woman,’ but I didn’t feel loved and nurtured,” she said. Rather, she felt abandoned. Ed established a pattern of emotional control and detachment that would characterize their marriage when he left her alone in the hotel the very next morning while he spent the day taking pictures.

“It tore me apart but I just thought, ‘Well, I can make this work somehow.’” And she did, somehow. In a subsequent interview, however, she disclosed that “It took me 21 years to leave my marriage.” The pair spent more than 20 years together before formally divorcing in 1983. But a few years later, there was more grief.

The actress suffered a terrible loss in 1988 when her beloved sister, Betty, with whom she had previously confided, died at the age of 43 from breast cancer. “It was mind-boggling that someone could be here one minute and gone the next,” she said, recalling that agonizing experience. I learned how quickly life can pass and how fragile it is.

Her sister’s passing was just the start of a devastating chain of events. Ed died in 2006 at the age of 74. Then tragedy struck once more in 2020 when Jeff Thrasher, their son, passed away at the age of 56.

“A celebration of my son Jeff’s life,” Linda Gray wrote on Instagram as a heartfelt remembrance of her son. He was the sweetest, funniest, and most compassionate person in the world. He was adored by everyone. I hope he has a fantastic journey.

Despite all of the grief and loss, Linda continues to find solace in her remaining family. She now has two cherished grandkids and a daughter, Kehly Sloane, who has followed her own career path as an actor.

Linda accepted life as a single woman and found satisfaction in her freedom after leaving her unhappy marriage. “A lot of women are content on their own and don’t want a partner,” she said in a 2015 interview, reflecting on her decision. They desire their independence.

The producer’s beauty continues to enthrall her devotees even in her nineties. She posted a glowing picture of herself grinning on Instagram in June 2024, and soon after, the praise started to flood in.

One follower said, “Looking FABULOUS,” while another said, “You look stunning, Linda, wauw [sic].” Another fan said, “You are absolutely beautiful inside and out!!” in agreement with similar comments.

In a 2023 interview, Linda, who is still involved in the entertainment world, said that it would be difficult to decide whether to accept a part in a full-time television show. “To be honest, that’s a difficult decision. That’s quite a bit of labor. I’m not sure, but why not give it a try? she said.

Resilience, courage, and an unchanging sense of self have been hallmarks of Linda Gray’s life experience. She continues to be an inspiration, embracing her independence and valuing her family and supporters, from her legendary position on “Dallas” to her ongoing involvement in the entertainment industry.