RIP BELOVED ACTOR LARRY HAGMAN (J.R. EWING) - WORLD'S FAVORITE TV VILLAIN

Mary Nash Stoddard
Nov. 24, 2012

Remembering Mr. Larry Hagman, phenomenal actor, and equally phenomenal humanitarian and friend. Those of us who knew and loved him miss him very much - along with the remainder of the entire world! 

I will be telling my stories about my time spent on-the-set of both DALLAS TV Series, (Old & New), as well as campaigning together for one of our favorite Texas Legislators, Sen. Bob Krueger. 

Since 1993, Hagman gave moral support to the work of Aspartame Consumer Safety Network and Pilot Hotline, an all-volunteer organization I began, in 1987, to help save lives of victims around the planet. Larry truly cared about his fellow human beings, both in and out of the business.

Larry cared about the safety of our Food Supply and toward the end of his life, he became a vegetarian. We had lunch together fairly recently, on the SET of the New DALLAS Series (we were both in Scenes to be Shot that day, and Larry was dutifully dining on all-veggie dishes and salad.) 

I'd introduced Larry to the Stevita Stevia products made by my dear friend, Oscar Rodes, at the local Arlington Texas company I represented, as public relations director, for a number of years. I gave he and wife, Maj, our information Fact Sheet on Aspartame Sweeteners at a Reception/Fund Raiser for Sen. Krueger, Feb. 28th 1993, at Southland Center Hotel. He looked over the Fact Sheet with everyone gathered around, and asked, "What do you recommend we use instead?" That's when I told him about the Stevita Stevia alternative. When he shared my info with his friends, he would refer to me as the "Aspartame Lady from Dallas." This was just prior to his receiving a Liver Transplant. 

A few years later, I was interviewed for a film documentary on Aspartame, as the Pioneer Campaigner since the mid-eighties, and I mentioned in passing Larry Hagman's being one of our friend/supporters, so the producer, Cori Brackett, contacted him for an interview, which he granted. He was then contacted by other Aspartame webmasters on the Internet, after they learned of his involvement with ACSN. 

In 2012, we reconnected on the DALLAS SET, where we were both working. We had a 'running schtick' the last few months, about the beautiful gold watch he designed and wore. He was mischievous and fun-loving wherever he went. It was obvious he loved his work! And, everyone loved Larry!

Thank you, Larry Hagman for being that generous, talented person who gave us countless joyous hours of entertainment, along with motivating us to get actively involved in saving the planet and the people on it. We will be forever grateful to have known and worked with one of the TV and Film Industry Giants. Truly a National Treasure! Having the added benefit of his friendship was 'frosting' on the proverbial cake!

RIP, J.R., Sir. You will be missed!
Mary Nash Stoddard Founder
Aspartame Consumer Safety Network and Pilot Hotline (since 1987)

(I am saving a wonderful story about a hysterical interaction between Larry, my teenage daughter and me when we were Guests on the SET for Lunch and an entire day spent with the Cast on Southfork Ranch. It happened in the early/mid-eighties and when reminded of it years later ... Larry remembered and had a good laugh. I'll be sure to include it in a Stoddard's POV Blog later.)