Linda Gray, best known for her role in the popular TV show “Dallas,” was the true owner of the famous legs in the iconic movie poster for “The Graduate,” not Anne Bancroft as many believed. Despite being famous for her long legs and nickname “the b*tch with the long legs,” Gray’s legs were paralyzed when she contracted polio as a child. Her mother’s depression and alcoholism added to her burden, but her parents rejected the traditional therapy of iron lungs and opted for an alternative therapy that involved exercise and dancing, which helped her recover.
After a troubled childhood, Gray started working as a model and later married Ed Thrasher, a renowned record album cover artist, but their 21-year marriage was abusive and deceptive. Gray was kept at home while Thrasher relied on her advertisements to bring in money, leading to her eventual decision to take back control of her life and pursue her acting career.
Gray’s role as Sue Ellen, the drunken wife of oil millionaire JR Ewing in “Dallas,” helped her confront her traumas and learn to set boundaries with her mother and later with her ex-husband. After 11 years on the show, she moved on to a new phase of her life, embracing her sexuality and continuing to act in “Dallas” reboots between 2012 and 2014.
Throughout her life, Gray faced numerous challenges, but her resilience and determination helped her overcome them and achieve success in her career and personal life.
