Ken Kercheval of 'Dallas' Fame Dies Aged 83

Veteran actor Ken Kercheval, best known as oil tycoon Cliff Barnes on the long-running CBS soap opera “Dallas,” passed away on April 21 at 83 years of age.

A spokeswoman at the Frist Funeral Home in Clinton, Indiana, Kercheval’s hometown, confirmed his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but she didn’t reveal details about it. Jeff Fisher, his talent agent, also confirmed the news.

Even though the actor worked in different shows, including “The Secret Storm,” "Search for Tomorrow,” and “How to Survive a Marriage,” his most outstanding performance was as J.R. Ewing’s rival in “Dallas.”

He and Larry Hagman, who portrayed Ewing,” were the only two members of the cast who were on the show throughout its entire run (from 1978 to 1991). Kercheval appeared in 342 out of the series’ 357 episodes.

The actor was a heavy smoker (two or three packs a day), which unfortunately led him to have lung cancer. In 1994, he underwent surgery to get part of his lung removed.

Kercheval is survived by five children. He had them with three of his four marriages, all of which ended in divorce.