How do you mistake your prostate for your throat? That’s not a joke, but a serious question for actor Larry Hagman, who’s reviving his iconic J.R. Ewing character in TNT’s Dallas reboot starting this week. Last summer, when it was revealed that Hagman had been stricken by cancer, you’ll recall, it was widely reported — and never refuted — that ol’ J.R. had come down with prostate cancer, a fairly common form of cancer, and that it was very easily treatable — nothin’ at all to worry about, so move along here.
Then, in January, Hagman told a British paper that he was sucking back five cucumber and kale smoothies a day, gettin’ along just fine, but he didn’t really want to get more specific about the disease, due to “insurance” concerns. Now that the Dallas reboot’s almost on the air, the truth is out: Hagman actually had been suffering during the past year from Stage Two throat cancer (sub. req.). Cynics might say the prostate cover was intended to protect all that dough invested in the TNT project; what’s Dallas without a talking lead villain, after all? Others, more kind, might say it was just J.R. being the slimy, a**-covering conniver he’s always been.
