Should Jock have been re-cast immediately after Jim Davis passed away?

[Seaviewer]

But, if they had to, I think the only way it could've worked was if they hired someone who not only fit the mold, but was a much bigger star than Jim was even in 1981, and certainly much bigger than he was when Dallas started.

I don't think so. That's the mistake they made with Donna Reed.
The best recasts are those that are as much like the original actor as possible and not known for anything else. Look at the new Taylor in The Bold & Beautiful: I had to look twice when she first appeared to be certain and even now I can easily forget that she's not Hunter Tylo. Margaret Michaels was in that vein as well.

 

[DallasFanForever]

The best recasts are those that are as much like the original actor as possible and not known for anything else. Look at the new Taylor in The Bold & Beautiful: I had to look twice when she first appeared to be certain and even now I can easily forget that she's not Hunter Tylo. Margaret Michaels was in that vein as well.

I would tend to agree with you for the most part, but I do think that recasts have generally been easier to pull off on daytime than in prime time over the years. I think the fact that they air about 260 episodes a year as opposed to a weekly prime time show has a lot to do with that obviously. The recasts on daytime are easier to accept as we see these characters five days a week. We get used to them faster, even though many of them we may not like at first.

 

[Snowcat]

No, if we were going to accept a recast it had to happen several years after Jim Davis died. The fans need time to get used to Jock being gone.
The reason Donna Reed didn’t work is because she was nothing like Ellie in dress or mannerisms. Whereas, I think Margaret Mitchel nailed it as Pam. Albeit, we only saw her in one scene. Wes was somewhere in between in my opinion. Sometimes the fire in his eyes & the boldness channeled the spirit of Jock.
I agree some of the best storylines were created by Jocks death. There are several points in the show when you can feel his presence. I think Clayton should have had a heart attack & died in Season 10. Then bring back Wes (Jock) as Ewing Oil is being taken away. The reason for his return would have been Miss Ellie. Then he learns what is happening. It would have been interesting to see Jock, Bobby & JR fight to get the company back.

It could have also been emotionally riveting to see the boys realize it is their daddy. I picture it as Jock yelling at his boys and naming all sorts of personal things from their childhood. In Jock Ewing fashion, he would say “Damn it boys. Who else would know…..but your Daddy. Look into my eyes and deny it”

it’s hard to say if it would have worked. Dallas went so downhill in the last 3 seasons, it may have been worth a try. The loss of Pam, Sue Ellen & Donna really hurt the show. The new characters didn‘t make up for this. I hate seeing JR as such a bozo

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

No, if we were going to accept a recast it had to happen several years after Jim Davis died. The fans need time to get used to Jock being gone.
The reason Donna Reed didn’t work is because she was nothing like Ellie in dress or mannerisms. Whereas, I think Margaret Mitchel nailed it as Pam. Albeit, we only saw her in one scene. Wes was somewhere in between in my opinion. Sometimes the fire in his eyes & the boldness channeled the spirit of Jock.
I agree some of the best storylines were created by Jocks death. There are several points in the show when you can feel his presence. I think Clayton should have had a heart attack & died in Season 10. Then bring back Wes (Jock) as Ewing Oil is being taken away. The reason for his return would have been Miss Ellie. Then he learns what is happening. It would have been interesting to see Jock, Bobby & JR fight to get the company back.

It could have also been emotionally riveting to see the boys realize it is their daddy. I picture it as Jock yelling at his boys and naming all sorts of personal things from their childhood. In Jock Ewing fashion, he would say “Damn it boys. Who else would know…..but your Daddy. Look into my eyes and deny it”

it’s hard to say if it would have worked. Dallas went so downhill in the last 3 seasons, it may have been worth a try. The loss of Pam, Sue Ellen & Donna really hurt the show. The new characters didn‘t make up for this. I hate seeing JR as such a bozo

On original transmission I fully expected Wes to come back when we heard the Justice department where investigating Ewing Oil.

I was sad it didn't happen because with all the references to Jock and Wes mysteriously disappearing I figured the show was going to reveal Wes as being Jock when he returns to save Ewing Oil at the end of the season. A big shame it never happened that way.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

I would tend to agree with you for the most part, but I do think that recasts have generally been easier to pull off on daytime than in prime time over the years. I think the fact that they air about 260 episodes a year as opposed to a weekly prime time show has a lot to do with that obviously. The recasts on daytime are easier to accept as we see these characters five days a week. We get used to them faster, even though many of them we may not like at first.

Dallas only really succeeded with recasts if they were minor characters who only guest starred like the various versions of Jenna Wade or Kristin.

The only main character they recast I suppose didn't work out for them, poor Donna Reed didn't deserve the treatment she got for taking over the role of Miss Ellie.

As for Jock himself although I like to think Wes really was Jock all along and Steve Forrest had the gravitas to be a great Jock Ewing at the end of the day that character really belonged to Jim Davis.

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

At the time, there were rumors that Buddy Ebsen would be cast. I would haved loved to see that!

 

[Snowcat]

Dallas only really succeeded with recasts if they were minor characters who only guest starred like the various versions of Jenna Wade or Kristin.

The only main character they recast I suppose didn't work out for them, poor Donna Reed didn't deserve the treatment she got for taking over the role of Miss Ellie.

As for Jock himself although I like to think Wes really was Jock all along and Steve Forrest had the gravitas to be a great Jock Ewing at the end of the day that character really belonged to Jim Davis.

View attachment 41755

I agree with you. An essential part of Jock‘s character was his authority over the family. One word from him put Bobby & JR back in line immediately. They may have argued with him but they would not cross him. Jim Davis’ stance & voice gave him that quality. I don’t see the Steve Forest‘s character being able to carry the Patriarch role. He could have fought in the business sector for Ewing Oil. He could not take authority as head of the household the way Jim Davis did

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

I agree with you. An essential part of Jock‘s character was his authority over the family. One word from him put Bobby & JR back in line immediately. They may have argued with him but they would not cross him. Jim Davis’ stance & voice gave him that quality. I don’t see the Steve Forest‘s character being able to carry the Patriarch role. He could have fought in the business sector for Ewing Oil. He could not take authority as head of the household the way Jim Davis did

I always wondered if they considered James Arness for the role, in large part for that reason

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

I agree with you. An essential part of Jock‘s character was his authority over the family. One word from him put Bobby & JR back in line immediately. They may have argued with him but they would not cross him. Jim Davis’ stance & voice gave him that quality. I don’t see the Steve Forest‘s character being able to carry the Patriarch role. He could have fought in the business sector for Ewing Oil. He could not take authority as head of the household the way Jim Davis did

I'll have to agree to disagree with you that Steve couldn't carry the role of being the Ewing Patriarch. Just look at the scene where he goes to Ewing Oil to tell the boys that he's leaving Dallas. When JR & Bobby position themselves either side of Jim Davis's picture as JR calls out to him we get a pretty good representation of what Jock Ewing would do in those circumstances. I could almost hear the voice of Jim Davis as Steve Forrest berates the boys for not believing him.

The same with the scene when JR tries to buy him off when he sarcastically says "Hello Daddy!"

"I've been gone so long you boys have forgotten something about me! Jock Ewing can't be bought off and he can't be scared off, so like it or not your Daddy's back to stay!"

I wish he had stayed, Steve Forrest was such a great actor and very believeable as Jock returned from South America.

 

[Snowcat]

I'll have to agree to disagree with you that Steve couldn't carry the role of being the Ewing Patriarch. Just look at the scene where he goes to Ewing Oil to tell the boys that he's leaving Dallas. When JR & Bobby position themselves either side of Jim Davis's picture as JR calls out to him we get a pretty good representation of what Jock Ewing would do in those circumstances. I could almost hear the voice of Jim Davis as Steve Forrest berates the boys for not believing him.

The same with the scene when JR tries to buy him off when he sarcastically says "Hello Daddy!"

"I've been gone so long you boys have forgotten something about me! Jock Ewing can't be bought off and he can't be scared off, so like it or not your Daddy's back to stay!"

I wish he had stayed, Steve Forrest was such a great actor and very believeable as Jock returned from South America.

I agree there are times when Steve Forest really did sound like Jock. I go back and forth on this topic. I really wanted Jock back. But I don’t want Jocks memory sullied. I also don’t know what they would have done with Miss Ellie & Clayton. There’s no way they could have kept her with Clayton

 

[Swellin]

I think James Coburn would have been a good recast - he was in alot of westerns too like JD

 

[southfork88]

I could tolerate recasts on daytime soap operas, whereas I would never accept any Jock other than ... Jim Davis. What do you think of the recast of Digger Barnes?

 

[Jock Ewing Fan]

I think James Coburn would have been a good recast - he was in alot of westerns too like JD

View attachment 41906

I think he would have been a great choice

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

I could tolerate recasts on daytime soap operas, whereas I would never accept any Jock other than ... Jim Davis. What do you think of the recast of Digger Barnes?

Keenan Wynn was a good actor but to be honest I preferred David Wayne.

The look he gives Pam when Cliff says"Jock Ewing's boy!" is terrific, and also the scene where he sells Pam to Jock.

David Wayne was an exceptional actor and very underrated.

No one could act drunk better than David Wayne.

 

[southfork88]

The two actors who played the role gave a different interpretation of Digger.

Certainly David Wayne was the best, the scenes mentioned are legendary as well as when Digger dances and sings at the Ewing barbecue. And how can we forget Pam's humiliated look in that scene which for me is still proof of Victoria Principal's professionalism.

Keenan Wynn offers a more conventional version of a drunkard, also suffering from fibromatosis.

As a kid I really believed that the actor was always the same, but writers had forced him to grow a beard, made up and greased him up to play a sick Digger. I could not imagine that a character could be played by two different actors !

 

[Snowcat]

The 2nd Digger looked more like Cliff’s father

 

[Monzo]

I know when Jim Davis passed away, there was speculation that James Arness would play Jock.

Was it just tabloid speculation or did the name come from Lorimar or CBS? Was it ever known if CBS wanted a Jock recast and the producers objected or vice versa? Or was everyone behind the scenes in agreement that Jim Davis shouldn't be replaced?

Does anyone know how the press and tabloids dealt with Jim Davis' death? Was there wild speculation about a recast or was the end of Dallas predicted without the patriarch?

 

[Barbara Fan]

Was there wild speculation about a recast or was the end of Dallas predicted without the patriarch?

Not really - there was no speculation about a recast as they announced very early on after his death that he would be written out and Jock would die

There was speculation about how they would write him out and it was announced that he would be seen to "be alive " on Dallas at the end of a phone for several episodes

 

[Jon Ewing Jr.]

I always thought if they were going to recast him that the character that played Punk could have done it. He came across as a tough guy most of the time.

 

[Luke_Krebbs_Ewing]

I always thought if they were going to recast him that the character that played Punk could have done it. He came across as a tough guy most of the time.

Morgan Woodward was originally up for the role of Jock Ewing on Dallas.