Larry Hagman has passed away.
While most will surely remember him for his work as an actor, director and producer, he would probably be happier to be noted for his work promoting organ donation (he himself was the recipient of a live-saving liver donation in 1995) and solar power, particularly his unflagging support of the Solar Electric Light Fund, dedicated to providing power and communications to the world's poorest.
While famous for playing JR Ewing, pop culture's most-loved villain of an age, Hagman was himself a generous and thoughtful man, widely-known throughout the acting community for putting fellow players at ease and making the set a place of fun and laughter. He never begrudged time spent with fans, either, though he would famously require autograph seekers to sing a song or recite a piece in exchange for his signature.
Diagnosed with cancer last fall, Hagman was determined to beat the disease, but, sadly, the tiny cells proved to be the ones who finally got "JR."
Hagman enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner Thursday at his home in Texas with his wife and family. He passed away yesterday in a Dallas hospital.
Rest in peace, sir, and thank you for all the smiles.