Barbara Bel Geddes (October 31, 1922 - August 8, 2005)

Barbara Bel Geddes was a magnificent lady! In 1955, she originated the role of Maggie the Cat in the stage production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." Some of her films include I Remember Mama and Vertigo. On television she appeared in four episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." Bel Geddes appeared in one of the series most famous and best remembered stories. In the episode "Lamb to the Slaughter" which originally aired on April 13, 1958, Bel Geddes appears as Mary Maloney, a housewife who comes home to find out that her husband is leaving her. In a fit of rage she strikes him over the head with a frozen leg of lamb and kills him. Mary then prepares an alibi for herself. Eventually the police are called and after a long investigation they still can not find the murder weapon. That is when Mary offers to fix them a nice roast leg of lamb. Let's face it though, Barbara Bel Geddes will always be remembered for her role as Eleanor "Miss Ellie" Southworth Ewing Farlow on the prime time soap opera smash hit "Dallas." She appeared in the role from 1978 to 1984 and again from 1985 to 1990. I don't think there has ever been an actress that has ever taken to a role so perfectly. Miss Ellie could be soft, warm, loving and embracing one minute and in the next she could be your worst enemy. She had a great amount of power in her hands when it came to reeling in her villianous eldest son, J.R. (Larry Hagman). But in addition to J.R. she also put daughter-in-law Sue Ellen (Linda Gray), middle son Gary (David Ackroyd then Ted Shackelford), granddaughter Lucy (Charlene Tilton) and even first husband Jock (Jim Davis) in their place. And all of the credit belonged to Barbara Bel Geddes who embraced the role with her natural talent. I think one of her greatest scenes is in the episode "Acceptance" which originally aired on April 2, 1982. While having dinner with her family Miss Ellie looks across the table to see her husband's chair empty. She stands up without say a word and rushes to the kitchen. After dismissing the servant she breaks down and smashes some dishes uttering the words "Jock why'd you leave me why? Jock why did you die?" After spending one half of the season in denial, she finally realized that Jock was never coming home. I have goosebumps right now just thinking about the scene. Barbara Bel Geddes was the only member of the "Dallas" cast to win an Emmy award for her work on the show. Another episode that showcased Barbara's dedication to the role was called "Ellie Saves the Day" which originally aired on November 30, 1979. During this particular season J.R. has mortgaged the family ranch known as Southfork in order to purchase some Asian oil leases. It looks as if the bank is going to foreclose until Miss Ellie steps in and puts up Section 40 as colateral. Section 40, as J.R. puts it, "has more oil under there than the permine basin." However, Miss Ellie's father, Aaron Southworth made her promise that there would never be drilling on section 40. Thinking back to how Ewing Oil once paid off the Southfork debts Miss Ellie agrees to sign the papers. She tells Jock "Ewing Oil once saved Southfork, it's time for Southfork to return the favor." She goes to the Ewing offices and signs the papers. Without saying a word she gets up from the desk and walks towards the door. Before making her exit she turns and faces her son and says "I may never forgive you for this J.R." and the credits role. Barbara and J.R. Ewing's Mama will always be part of our television heritage.