When it got here to unforgettable TV rivalries, there was no feud fairly like J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman) versus Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval) on Dallas. From the second the present premiered in 1978, followers knew they had been in for a wild trip, however it was the infinite sparring between these two that stored everybody glued to the display screen. Whereas J.R. typically stole the highlight, it was Cliff who quietly grew to become one of the crucial hated characters on tv. And while you’re a part of a present stuffed with betrayal and sabotage on the flip of each nook, that’s saying one thing .
Kercheval died of pneumonia on April 21, 2019, on the age of 83 — however he would have turned 90 years previous on July 15, 2025. He was one in every of solely two actors to look within the unique collection from begin to end, together with on-screen rival Hagman. Their chemistry, rooted in deep-seated household grudges, gave the present a lot of its endurance — particularly as a result of Cliff wasn’t your typical villain. He was determined, unfortunate and always within the shadow of the Ewings, however that ended up being a part of his allure. You understand … the character you simply like to hate.