79-Year-Old Soap Star: Texas Oil Heartthrob Now Strolling Rodeo Drive—Who Is He?

He was the troubled yet irresistible heartthrob of a hit 80s soap opera, transforming a wayward black sheep into a beloved icon and securing his place as one of the most recognizable faces in the genre. 

On the show, his character had multiple affairs, reunited with his first wife, got caught up in a scandalous murder, relapsed into alcoholism and inherited a fortune before losing it all. 

The show ran for 14 seasons, but this now 79-year-old actor first took on the role in its hit prequel, where he consistently clashed with his powerful Texas oil family. 

After the series found success, he tried his hand at made-for-TV movies. 

But he ultimately would make his way back to soaps, becoming a regular on the most recognizable modern daytime show up until the age of 71.

Can you guess who it is?

He was the troubled yet irresistible heartthrob of a hit 80s soap opera, transforming a wayward black sheep into a beloved icon and securing his place as one of the most recognizable faces in the genre

On Knots Landing, his character had affairs, reunited with his first wife, got caught up in a scandalous murder, relapsed into alcoholism and inherited a fortune before losing it all

The show ran for 14 seasons, but this now-79-year-old actor first took on the role in its hit prequel, where he consistently clashed with his powerful Texas oil family

It’s Ted Shackelford!

The handsome actor known for his rugged looks was spotted running errands on Friday in Beverly Hills near Rodeo Drive. 

He looked snazzy in a suede light brown blazer over a dark blue-collar shirt that was layered over a gray undershirt. 

For pants, he went with a more casual style, opting for dark-washed jeans coupled with gray sneakers. 

During his recent outing, the 79-year-old was seen walking with the aid of a stylish black-and-white houndstooth cane, a subtle reminder of the passage of time since his days as a soap opera heartthrob.

Yet even with the years behind him, he still carried that unmistakable charisma, dressed with flair and sporting the classic combed-back hair that made him a standout on screen. 

Ted Shackelford, 79, enjoyed his Friday wandering around Beverly Hills near Rodeo Drive, running errands and looking sleek in his light brown suede blazer over a dark blue-collar shirt layered over a gray undershirt

Even though his glory days are behind him, the actor kept his cane classy in a stylish black and white houndstooth print 

From 1979 to 1993, Shackelford starred as the front man on Knots Landing, a spinoff of Dallas, as Gary Ewing, who moves to a cul-de-sac in California alongside his wife Valene, played by Joan Van Ark

Shackelford’s turn as Gary Ewing proved a breakout success after he stepped into the role in 1979, replacing David Ackroyd as the conflicted middle son of oil tycoon Jock Ewing on Dallas.

His character became so popular that he was granted a spin-off show, Knots Landing, with the premise that he and his newly married wife Valene – played by Joan Van Ark – branched off from Texas to move to a cul-de-sac outside of Los Angeles in a classic soap opera format featuring affairs, murders, financial scandals and kidnappings.

As the charming front man, Shackelford’s character marries and divorces his wife Valene twice, having an affair with villainess Abby who he marries and then divorces, falls into alcoholism, gets implicated in a murder and loses his inheritance all before getting back with his first wife.

The show’s run between 1979 to 1993 was so successful that the cast came back for a mini-series only four years later. 

He also appeared on Dallas in 2013, where he reunited with his first wife, Valene, in his final episode. 

During his time on Knots Landing, the actor also tried his hand at made-for-television movies such as Baby of the Bride (1991) and Sweet Temptation (1996) while also guest-starring in shows such as The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Hotel.

His character, Gary, in true soap opera fashion, marries and divorces his wife, Valene, twice, has an affair, relapses into alcoholism, gets implicated in a murder and loses his inheritance all before getting back with his first wife 

A main plot point on the show was the sordid love triangle between Gary, on and off wife Valene and the villainous Abby, played by Donna Mills

Despite his exit from the show in the late 90s, Shackelford continued to star in soap operas up until the age of 71. 

From 2006 to 2015, he became a regular on the hit daytime drama The Young and the Restless, playing Genoa City’s district attorney William Bardwell. 

After the character’s on-screen death from a stroke, he returned as William’s twin brother, Jeffrey.

His most recent appearance on television was on NCIS in 2017 as a guest star.