Actor Larry Hagman, 81, reported to have died

The Dallas Morning News says that the longtime actor died this afternoon of cancer complications in a Dallas hospital. He was reportedly in town to film episodes of the TNT remake of the hit TV show "Dallas," in which Hagman played star J.R. Ewing. The Dallas paper is the only original source yet to report the news, but it quotes the city's mayor and a family statement discussing Hagman's passing. Here in the LA area, where Hagman used to live in Malibu, Fox 11 anchor Carlos Amezcua tweeted a photo of Hagman and the personal message: "'Dallas' star and great friend Larry Hagman has died at 81. Malibu and all your pals will miss you!"

Hagman, the son of the late actress Mary Martin, began performing on stage in 1950 and 51, sometimes with his mother, and had a long Hollywood film and TV career. Before playing J.R. Ewing, he was probably best known for starring as Major Tony Nelson, the keeper of "genie" Barbara Eden in "I Dream of Jeannie."

Twitpic of Hagman posted by Carloa Amezcua