For Donna Reed, Playing Miss Ellie on TV's 'Dallas' Proved To Be Devastating

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Donna Reed, who died in 1986 from pancreatic cancer, was a beloved actress in film and on television. Her big-screen movies include It's a Wonderful Life and From Here to Eternity, for which she won an Academy Award. Her small-screen productions include her multi-Emmy nominated performance on the sitcom, The Donna Reed Show (which she produced for ABC, 1958-1966) and her later portrayal as the matriarch on Dallas (which Lorimar Productions produced for CBS, 1978-1991)

However, working on Dallas proved to be a less-than-positive experience for the acclaimed actress.

A Closer Look

Half-way through the legendary 13-year run of include, some behind-the-scenes drama took place regarding Donna Reed and the role of Miss Ellie; a character that had been originally played by Barbara Bel Geddes (and before that, Molly Hagen).

Only a few days after completing the 1982–1983 season, Bel Geddes had emergency quadruple bypass surgery. As such, the character of Miss Ellie went unseen until the 12th episode of the 1983–1984 season when Bel Geddes returned.

With continued health challenges, Bel Geddes was replaced by Donna Reed for the entire 1984–1985 season. When she returned to health, Dallas producers asked Bel Geddes to return to the part for the 1985–86 season, where she remained through the character's final appearance in the 1989–90 season.

But Reed Was Not Pleased

In a subsequent legal suit, Donna Reed had said CBS and Lorimar renewed for two years the contract she signed in June 1984 to replace the physically challenged Bel Geddes.

Reed claimed the network and the studio violated her contract by telling her agent in April that she was being replaced. She sought $8.6 million in damages and an injunction forbidding the show from being filmed without her.

Ultimately, Reed's request was denied.

Only two years later, Donna Reed passed away.