Anecdotes

He was very close to Dallas (1978) co-star Victoria Principal, who bore a strong resemblance to his late daughter, and he had Principal's picture along with his daughter's in his pocket when he was buried.

Didn't have to walk too far in between scenes while doing Dallas (1978) prior to suffering his own health problems, but was determined to keep working until he was unable to. He had to leave the show when the cast (and he) knew that he was dying in 1981 (though he appeared in almost every episode of the 1980-81 season).

In April 1981 the writers of Dallas (1978) decided not to write his death into the storyline right away. They initially thought about replacing him with another actor, but out of respect decided that only Davis should play Jock Ewing. Jock was kept alive on the show (he was down in South America drilling for oil) until early 1982 when it was learned that he died in a plane crash.

The Search (1982), in which it was revealed that Jock was dead, was dedicated to his memory. Furthermore, the episode's end credits rolled in silence as a gesture of respect.

Only child Tara Diane (15 January 1953 - 9 February 1970) died in a car crash at age 17.

The oil painting of his character Jock Ewing was a staple throughout the run of Dallas (1978). Following the end of the show's run, Larry Hagman kept the painting at his Ojai estate. In June 2011, Hagman auctioned off most of his memorabilia including the painting which sold for $39,680.

Survived by his mother, Ethyl O. Davis, who died on January 10, 1984 in Overland Park, Kansas.

His parents owned and operated the Davis Funeral Home in Dearborn, Missouri from 1914 to 1948.

He was the son of Lucian Davis (1878-1954) and Ethyl Offutt Davis (1890-1984). They are buried in Camden Point Cemetery, Camden Point, Platte County, Missouri.

He was a heavy smoker for years.

Best remembered by the public for his role as Jock Ewing on the 1980s soap opera Dallas (1978).

Graduate of William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri, class of 1930.

He was the voice of the long running Winn-Dixie "Beef People" campaign.

His maternal grandparents were Otho Dock Offutt (1831-1912) and Elizabeth Rogers Hughes Offutt (1864-1937).