Brit 80s fashion pioneer turned Dallas actress dies aged 62 after cancer battle
A TRAILBLAZING 80s supermodel who starred alongside TV titan Larry Hagman in Dallas has died aged 62.
Annabel Schofield – once one of the defining faces of Britain’s style revolution – passed away on February 28 in Los Angeles following a battle with cancer, it has been confirmed.
The Welsh-born beauty became synonymous with the bold, rule-breaking glamour of 1980s London.
At the height of her fame, she was represented by London’s powerhouse Take Two Agency and became a cover girl sensation.
She fronted hundreds of fashion magazines and landing major campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent, Rimmel, Revlon and Boots No. 7.
Her international breakthrough came in unforgettable fashion – roaring through the desert in a black Ferrari for a Bugle Boy Jeans TV advert before delivering the now-iconic line: “Excuse me, are those Bugle Boy jeans you’re wearing?”
She later crossed into primetime television, playing Laurel Ellis opposite Larry Hagman in the hit US soap Dallas – cementing her place in pop culture history.
Melissa Richardson, former owner of London’s Take Two Agency, paid tribute in an emotional statement.
“She was one of David Bailey’s favorites and appeared in countless shoots for Italian Vogue. She was the forerunner of Take Two without her, we could never have made it as we did.
“We loved her because she was funny and real and beautiful and down to earth. She never changed from the sweet little 17-year-old Welsh girl I first met.
“She was directly loyal, caring, and above all, a raging beauty. She knew her craft. She was the best.”
Born on September 4, 1963 in Llanelli, Wales, Schofield was trained in the art of the silver screen.
Her father was British film production executive John D. Schofield – a powerhouse behind major box office hits including Romancing the Stone, Jerry Maguire and As Good as It Gets.
At the height of her modelling fame, Schofield made the bold move to Los Angeles – and swiftly landed a coveted role in 12 episodes of Dallas, playing Laurel Ellis opposite Larry Hagman’s legendary oil tycoon J.R. Ewing.
She starred as Alex Noffee in Solar Crisis alongside screen icon Charlton Heston, and went on to appear in Dragonard and Eye of the Widow.
In later years, she quietly built a formidable career behind the scenes, working in production on major films including The Brothers Grimm, Doom and City of Ember.
In 2010, she launched her own Burbank-based company, Bella Bene Productions, carving out a new chapter as an executive producer.
She developed commercials, music ventures and high-end fashion projects.
Schofield formed a creative partnership with director and graphic artist Nick Egan – famed for his work with music royalty including The Ramones, The Clash, Duran Duran and Oasis.
The beauty also collaborated with celebrated photographers Andrew McPherson, Ellen von Unwerth and Michael Muller.
She served as a producer alongside photographer Will Camden on the striking 3D Guerlain campaign starring Angelina Jolie.
