Patrick Duffy's Dallas Blooper Reel Helped Land Him His Second-Biggest Role Ever

Patrick Duffy, known for his role in Dallas, initially considered leaving the show during its Season 9 hiatus. Producer Leonard Katzman informed Dallas creators Thomas L. Miller and Robert Boyett, who had a successful lineup on ABC's TGIF block, about Duffy's potential departure. To their surprise, Katzman revealed that it was Duffy leaving, not Larry Hagman as they had expected.

Duffy quipped that he was indeed the funniest person on set. Katzman then presented them with the Dallas blooper reel, leading them to hire Duffy for a role in Step by Step. It took five years for Duffy to become available after his departure from Dallas, but he was eventually cast in Step by Step, playing Frank Lambert, who married Carol Foster (Suzanne Somers) after a brief romantic encounter in Jamaica.

The show ran for seven seasons on ABC, garnering a large audience and comparisons to The Brady Bunch. While Step by Step was eventually canceled due to declining ratings, it gave Duffy a fruitful experience and one of his most recognizable roles, making it his second-biggest job overall.