A Look Back At The Most Loved 80's Soap Opera Superstars

Victoria Principal Then

The gorgeous Principal played the female lead in the classic CBS drama Dallas from 1978 to 1987. The series followed the dramatic highs and lows of two prominent warring families. For her portrayal of one of the lead female characters, Principal received a 1983 Golden Globe nomination as Best Actress in a Television Series.

Victoria Principal Now

After she quit the long-running show, Principal began her own television film production company. She established her own skincare range and jewelry line. The actress also penned a few books, “The Body Principal” (1983), “The Diet Principal” (1987) and “Living Principal” (2001).

Larry Hagman Then

The only character to appear in all 356 episodes of the original series, Larry Hagman played the manipulative and arrogant J.R. Ewing. Initially meant to be a smaller role, the breakout character made the actor a worldwide star. The iconic episode “Who Done It?,” which revealed who had tried to murder Ewing, was the highest-rated TV episode in U.S. history at the time.

Larry Hagman Now

After the show ended, Hagman reprised his egocentric character in two television films — “Dallas: J.R. Returns” (1996) and “Dallas: War of the Ewings” (1998). The actor has appeared in multiple feature films, including “Nixon” (1995) and “Primary Colors” (1998). Tragically, the actor passed away in 2012 after a long battle with leukemia.