ABC says Hagman will play a love interest of Stella Wingfield, who is played by Polly Bergen on that network's prime-time soap opera. Stella is the mother of the character played by series star Felicity Huffman.
The 79-year-old Hagman, best-known as ruthless oil baron J.R. Ewing a quarter-century ago on the long-running "Dallas," more recently had a recurring role on "Nip/Tuck."
ABC didn't say Friday how soon Hagman would arrive on "Desperate Housewives" or how many episodes he is signed for.
