David Jacobs, creator of hit American soap opera Dallas dies aged 84 following Alzheimer’s battle

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
The creator of Dallas and Knots Landing, David Jacobs, has died aged 84 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s

David Jacobs, the producer and writer behind hit American soap opera Dallas, has died aged 84 following a battle with Alzheimers. Aaron, Jacobs’ son, told The Hollywood Reporter that his dad died Sunday.

The 84-year-old is credited with ‘changing television’ and also created Knots Landing. He had battled Alzheimers over the years but recently died on Sunday (August 20), of complications from a series of infections.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Speaking to Deadline, Jacobs’ son said: “He had Alzheimer’s for many years, and recently he had recurring infections that led to his death.” David celebrated his 84th birthday just eight days before he died.

Dallas first aired in 1978, and aired on CBS from April 2, 1978, to May 3, 1991. The series revolves around an affluent and feuding Texas family, the Ewings, who own the independent oil company Ewing Oil and the cattle-ranching land of Southfork.

The show produced a staggering 357 episodes, making it one of the longest lasting full-hour prime time dramas in American TV history behind the likes of Gunsmoke, Grey’s Anatomy, Law & Order and more.

Getty Images

Dallas, which featured the likes of Larry Hagman, Linda Gray, Patrick Duffy and othersIt was labelled a hit show by its second season, and was the number one  show on TV for three of the next five seasons, and number two for two of them.

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.

News you can trust since 1852
Follow us
©National World Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice