Carroll O’Connor and Larry Hagman both starred in iconic TV shows that broke new ground in their time. “All in the Family,” “I Dream of Jeannie,” and “Dallas” all etched themselves into the annals of pop culture history. Behind the scenes, these two actors shared a deep friendship and looked out for each other. One particularly harrowing incident saw Hagman stepping in to help O’Connor stay calm.
Larry Hagman and Carroll O’Connor: Longtime Friends
Before fans came to know Larry Hagman as Major Nelson on “I Dream of Jeannie” and J.R. Ewing on “Dallas,” he was honing his craft in theater. Similarly, Carroll O’Connor didn’t become Archie Bunker overnight; he also had a rich theater background. Their paths crossed while working on a stage play in the late 1950s, as detailed in Hagman’s memoir, Hello Darlin’!: Tall (and Absolutely True) Tales About My Life. This meeting sparked a friendship that would endure for 40 years. The two actors often stayed at each other’s houses, whether on the East or West Coast, and their families spent time together as well.
As their careers flourished, both men settled in California, with Hagman and his wife eventually buying a home in Malibu following the success of “I Dream of Jeannie.”
A Terrifying Encounter
Shortly after the Hagmans moved into their new house, the O’Connors visited with their 6-year-old son. Hagman’s son, Preston, was the same age, and the boys played on the beach while their parents chatted. Hagman recalled a terrifying moment when he and O’Connor were sitting in the bulkhead, marveling at their safe community, when a single-engine, open-cockpit, pre-World War II plane made an emergency landing on the beach. The plane narrowly missed their children by a mere five feet, kicking up sand onto the boys.
The two fathers sprinted towards their sons, finding the plane’s nose buried in the sand. Although the pilot was unharmed, he was belligerent, blaming the children for forcing him to make an emergency maneuver. “As soon as he saw us, he began yelling that he could’ve made a perfect landing if he hadn’t had to pull up and bounce over ‘the two little bastards playing in the sand.’ I had to physically restrain Carroll from attacking the guy and beating him into a bloody pulp,” Hagman recounted.
A Lasting Friendship
Despite the frightening incident, the Hagmans continued to live in the Malibu neighborhood for years. Later, they designed and built a new home in Ojai, California. After Hagman’s liver transplant, he and his wife stayed in one of O’Connor’s homes to be close to the hospital. Their friendship remained strong until O’Connor’s death, with Hagman always viewing his old friend as a mentor.
This enduring bond between two TV legends showcases the depth of their friendship, one that went beyond the screen and stood the test of time.
