Larry Hagman: 5 of His Most Fascinating Possessions

Larry Hagman, who died on Nov. 23 at age 81 in Dallas, will be long remembered for his portrayal of the deliciously Machiavellian John Ross "J.R." Ewing in the long-running (1978-91) CBS prime-time soap opera Dallas. During the famous March 21, 1980, "Who Shot J.R.?" episode, an astounding 300 million people in 57 countries tuned in to watch Hagman's character take a bullet from a mysterious assailant - who turned out to be his sister-in-law/mistress, Kristin Shepard (portrayed by Mary Crosby). When TNT revived the series in 2012, Hagman - ever the trouper - returned as an integral part of the series, despite being ill with cancer at the time. "I like to work, and I like to work with my buddies," he explained.

See also: Behind-the-scenes video with 'Dallas' stars

But Hagman wasn't just larger-than-life on the small screen. In June 2011, Hagman staged one of the most spectacular celebrity memorabilia auctions in history at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills. "There comes a time, even in J.R. Ewing's life, when you have to downsize," he said, tongue-in-cheek. Hagman garnered an impressive $500,000 for his horde of 413 items.

Here are five of the items that went on the auction block (along with the winning bids):

• A ceramic figurine of J.R. Ewing, which a bidder purchased for $384.
• A reproduction of the the signature purple genie bottle from Hagman's first TV hit, the 1965-70 comedy I Dream of Jeannie. It brought $10,000.
• A fancy silver-and-diamond-studded parade saddle that Hagman used that same week to ride along Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills with Linda Gray, his Dallas co-star. The saddle fetched $76,800, the highest price of any item in the auction.
• A plaster-cast replica of Hagman's hand and footprints, which drew $1,375.
• A pair of "J.R." brown alligator cowboy boots, which sold for $1,216.

 

Here's a glimpse of the auction reception: