Maj Hagman

May 13, 1928 Maj Axelsson Hagman of Los Angeles, California, died May 31st, 2016. The loving wife of Actor Larry Hagman, she was known as an amazing hostess and mainstay of the family. She will be sadly missed by family and friends. Born in May, 1928 in Eskilstuna, Sweden, she was the eldest of four sisters. Her father, who had a car dealership in Sweden, told her to "reach for the stars in order to get to the treetops" and Maj followed his advice moving to London and becoming an accomplished dress designer. In London she met the love of her life, a young serviceman named Larry Hagman, who had recently performed in the cast of the musical South Pacific, with his mother, the acclaimed Musical Theater star Mary Martin. She moved to New York City as a military bride and supported her husband Larry by designing and sewing costumes for night club singers while Larry worked in the theater. When Larry Hagman got a starring role in the early 1960s on I Dream of Jeannie, Maj turned her considerable talents to supporting his ascending career while continuing to design clothes, build extraordinary homes and even custom-made Jacuzzis. She later shared in the joys and successes of Larry Hagman's success as "JR Ewing" on the hit TV series Dallas that ran from the late 1970s through the 1980s. The couple supported many philanthropic causes from the Dallas and Ojai symphonies to organ donations and solar energy. They traveled the world together over five and a half decades of their marriage until Larry passed away in 2012. In the end, she surpassed the treetops and touched the stars. Maj is survived by her two children and five grandchildren. A private memorial is being planned.