WHY Dallas star shuttered his beloved ranch for good!
To help cope with his wife’s advancing Alzheimer’s disease, Larry Hagman made the heartbreaking decision to move out of his beloved ranch outside Santa Barbara, Calif. After living at the sprawling country estate for 21 years, the former Dallas and I Dream of Jeanie star and wife Maj, 81, moved to a Santa Monica condo, The ENQUIRER has learned, where it is easier for Larry to care for her.
"Leaving the ranch is breaking Larry’s heart, but it’s for Maj’s safety," a longtime family friend told The ENQUIRER.
"He wants her life as simple and stress-free as possible. He wants to be close to her doctors, and he’s also getting home health assistance to make her more comfortable."
The move was prompted by a harrowing incident aboard a plane in midsummer when Maj was traveling without the 77-year-old star, said the friend.
"Maj became disoriented. She forgot where she was going and grabbed another passenger’s cell phone to try to call Larry.
"Flight attendants calmed her down, and Larry was told about Maj’s panic attack after the flight had landed."
Maj – the love of Larry’s life – was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about a year ago. The couple were married in 1954 and have two grown children – Kristina, 51, and Preston, 47.
The actor – who has survived liver cancer and a transplant – is also in fragile health. But Maj is his No. 1 priority and he is her primary caretaker, according to those close to the couple.
"Maj IS Larry’s whole world," explained the friend.
