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He played the rebellious heartthrob in a Texas oil dynasty… now 79, this soap star carries the same charisma walking down Rodeo Drive… can you guess who?

BBG News

In the ’80s, he was the enigmatic and captivating lead actor on a popular soap opera, turning a rebellious outcast into an adored character and cementing his status as a highly identifiable figure within the genre.

In the series, his persona was involved in numerous extramarital relationships, reconnected with his original spouse, found himself entangled in a sensational homicide case, succumbed to a drinking problem again, and temporarily acquired a vast wealth that eventually vanished.

The series spanned 14 seasons, yet it was only when this current 79-year-old performer initially assumed the role in its successful spinoff that he repeatedly butted heads with the influential Texas oil dynasty.

Or more casually:

The show ran for 14 seasons, but our senior actor joined the cast first during the hit prequel, where he frequently had disagreements with the powerful Texas oil family.

After the series found success, he tried his hand at made-for-TV movies. 

Eventually, he returned to soap operas, appearing regularly on the most renowned contemporary daytime series until he was 71 years old.

Can you guess who it is?

It’s Ted Shackelford!

On a bustling Friday in Beverly Hills, close to Rodeo Drive, a well-known actor, recognized for his manly good looks, was seen running some errands.

He sported a stylish look with a light brown suede blazer, wearing it over a collared dark blue shirt, which itself was layered on top of a gray undershirt.

He chose a laid-back look for his pants, selecting dark-tinted denim paired with gray athletic shoes.

In his latest excursion, the 79-year-old gentleman was spotted strolling with the assistance of a chic black-and-white houndstooth cane, a discreet nod to the elapsed years since his reign as a popular soap opera romantic lead.

Despite the passing years, his unique charm remained undiminished, showcased through his stylish attire and the timeless, swept-back hairstyle that gave him an unmissable presence on the silver screen.

Back in ’79, I found myself utterly captivated when Shackelford slid into Gary Ewing’s shoes on Dallas, taking over from David Ackroyd. As the troubled heart of the Ewing clan, the oil tycoon’s middle son, he absolutely knocked it out of the park! What a performance!

Originally, his character gained such widespread appeal that he received a separate television series titled “Knots Landing.” This series revolved around him and his newly wedded spouse Valene (portrayed by Joan Van Ark), who departed from Texas to establish a home on a dead-end street outside Los Angeles. The show followed the classic soap opera structure, encompassing storylines of infidelities, murders, financial misdeeds, and abductions.

In a captivating turn of events, Shackelford’s character experiences two marriages and divorces with his wife Valene, engages in an affair with the villainess Abby, who he later divorces as well. He spirals into alcoholism, finds himself implicated in a murder, loses his inherited wealth, and eventually reconciles with his first wife.

The incredibly popular series aired from 1979 to 1993, and just four years after its conclusion, the original cast reunited for a mini-sequel.

In addition, he made an appearance on the show “Dallas” in 2013. During this appearance, he had a reunion with his first wife, Valene, in what turned out to be his last episode.

In Knots Landing, the actor additionally ventured into television films like “Baby of the Bride” (1991) and “Sweet Temptation” (1996). He also made appearances on shows including “The Twilight Zone”, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, and “Hotel”.

Even though he left the show in the late 90s, Shackelford remained a prominent figure in soap operas until he was 71 years old.

Between 2006 and 2015, he frequently appeared on the popular daytime soap opera The Young and the Restless, portraying the role of district attorney William Bardwell in Genoa City.

Following his on-screen demise due to a stroke, the character reappeared as William’s identical twin brother, Jeffrey.

His most recent appearance on television was on NCIS in 2017 as a guest star. 

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2025-07-04 20:48

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