Guests in attendance include Cliff Barnes (Ken Kercheval), J.R.'s longtime rival who comes to pay his "disrespects"; Gary Ewing (Ted Shackelford),[1] J.R.'s reformed alcoholic brother; Ray Krebbs, J.R.'s half brother;[1] Lucy Ewing (Charlene Tilton), Gary's daughter and J.R.'s niece;[1] J.R.'s second wife Cally Harper Ewing (Cathy Podewell); and Mandy Winger (Deborah Shelton), J.R's longtime mistress in the 1980s.
As a result of Hagman's death, and therefore his character's, the remaining season's plot will focus on the same question raised in the original series, "Who shot J.R.?"
"[3][4] Larry Hagman appeared in seven of the fifteen episodes slated for the season before his death.
[5] Producers were keen for Victoria Principal's character, Pamela Barnes Ewing to make a return appearance to the show, especially following the death of J.R.[6] In response to rampant speculation, Principal released a statement explaining the reason she would not be appearing any more as Pam.
[9] As negotiations with the actors were completed, the roles of the series veterans were restored in the pilot and beyond.