1,826 days ago…

The world lost a marvelous entertainer… While there may be some debate about the year of his birth sadly there is no debate about the year of his death…November 7, 2004. Born on April 13, 1917 or 1919 (and if it was 1919 then it should also be noted that he would’ve been 90 this year) his break out role came in 1948 in The Small Voice. He showed off his singing leading man talents in other films such as Annie Get Your Gun, Show Boat, Calamity Jane, Kiss Me Kate and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. He charmed screen legends like Kathryn Grayson and Cyd Charisse. On television he lent his talent to such programs as “The Dinah Shore Chevy Show”, “The Bell Telephone Hour”, “Here’s Lucy”, “The Red Skelton Show”, “Death Valley Days”, “The Love Boat”, “Fantasy Island”, “Murder, She Wrote” and “Walker, Texas Ranger.” On February 20, 1981 he made his first appearance on the hit prime time soap opera “Dallas.” The show featured him as oil baron Clayton Farlow. In the beginning he battled the ruthless J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) in order to preserve the relationship between son Dusty (Jared Martin) and J.R.’s ex-wife (Sue Ellen). As time went on he became the new love interest for Miss Ellie Ewing (Barbara Bel Geddes and Donna Reed) and they eventually married in the episode “End Game” which originally aired on May 18, 1984. During the 1981-1982, 1982-1983, 1983-1984 television seasons he received “Special Guest Star” or “Also Starring” billing. Beginning in the fall of 1984 and ending in the spring of 1991 he was a regular cast member. He was a marvelous addition to the cast and fit into the Ewing family very well. As J.R.’s stepfather the battle was on. He had brilliant chemistry with both of the women who played his wife – If the change from Barbara Bel Geddes to Donna Reed for one season bothered him at all you’d never know it…he never missed a beat. By the time “Dallas” began its 14th season in November of 1990 Barbara Bel Geddes was gone from the cast after failing to renegotiate her contract. With Miss Ellie written out of the script Clayton saw very little airtime as well appearing in only four episodes during the show’s final year even though he appeared in the opening credits every week. Clayton made his final appearance on April 19, 1991 giving him a total of ten years with the show. Clayton and Miss Ellie’s absence was explained as having them taking an extended trip around the world. By 1996 apparently they were still taking that trip. In the reunion movie “J.R. Returns” which originally aired in November of that year Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) makes a reference to “Mama and Clayton dropping by occasionally but they have their own lives to lead now.” In 2004 the Ewing family and their friends reunited for a retrospective called “The Return to Southfork.” Its original airdate was November 7th the day “Dallas” lost its Clayton Farlow. Because of a football game the start of the special was delayed by forty-two minutes and the network ran it again the following week. This time the special feature an image of the late actor wearing his trademark cowboy hat and featured a moment of silence. His final screen appearance was in the film My Father’s House in 2002. A wonderful actor and a beloved star… Five years after we said good bye… In Memoriam Remembers: Howard Keel