Bold headline: A luminous 1980s fashion icon and Dallas star has passed away, leaving a stream of unforgettable moments and a lasting imprint on popular culture.
Annabel Schofield, the Welsh-born model who helped shape London’s iconic 1980s fashion scene before taking a memorable turn on primetime television as Laurel Ellis opposite Larry Hagman in Dallas, died at age 62. She passed away on February 28 in Los Angeles after a battle with cancer, confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter.
Schofield became a staple of the era’s edgy, glamorous look, a fixture on London’s fashion pages when runways in Paris and Milan were dominated by more established haute couture houses. In a 2012 interview with Mirror80, she reflected on how London’s cutting-edge style—driven by movements like New Romantics and late-Punk, and brands such as Vivienne Westwood, Katherine Hamnett, BodyMap, and Buffalo—defined her generation’s aesthetic and sensibilities.
During her peak years, she was represented by Take Two Agency in London and appeared on numerous fashion magazine covers while fronting campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent, Rimmel, Revlon, and Boots No. 7. She gained international recognition for a standout Bugle Boy Jeans TV commercial in which she driving a black Ferrari and asked, “Excuse me, are those Bugle Boy jeans you’re wearing?”—a line that remains a memorable moment in 1980s advertising.
Melissa Richardson, the former owner of Take Two, described Schofield as one of David Bailey’s favorites who helped the agency’s rise. Richardson recalled Schofield as funny, real, beautiful, and relentlessly down-to-earth, noting she never lost the fresh, sweet spirit of the Welsh girl she began as. Schofield’s impact extended beyond modeling; her warmth and skill left an enduring impression on colleagues and fans alike.
Born September 4, 1963, in Llanelli, Wales, Schofield grew up amid film sets, thanks to her father, John D. Schofield, a British film production executive whose credits included Romancing the Stone, Jerry Maguire, and As Good as It Gets. At the height of her modeling career, she relocated to Los Angeles to join Dallas as Laurel Ellis, sharing the screen with Hagman’s iconic J.R. Ewing.
Her on-screen résumé also includes film roles such as Alex Noffee in Solar Crisis opposite Charlton Heston, as well as appearances in Dragonard and Eye of the Widow. Later, she transitioned into behind-the-camera work, taking on production roles for The Brothers Grimm, Doom, and City of Ember.
In 2010, Schofield founded Bella Bene Productions, a Burbank-based company, and served as an executive producer on commercials, music projects, and fashion ventures. She cultivated a creative partnership with director and graphic artist Nick Egan, known for collaborations with rock icons like The Ramones, The Clash, Duran Duran, and Oasis.
Her photography collaborations included work with Andrew McPherson, Ellen von Unwerth, and Michael Muller. She also produced with photographer Will Camden on a 3D Guerlain campaign featuring Angelina Jolie. Schofield authored The Cherry Alignment, a semi-autobiographical novel inspired by her 1980s acting and modeling life, and dedicated it to her late friend Heath Ledger, a colleague from The Brothers Grimm.
Schofield was predeceased by her father and her sister Amanda Schofield. She is survived by her mother.
What stands out most about Schofield is how seamlessly she moved between high-fashion runways and screen roles, leaving a footprint that captures the spirit of an era and the versatility of a talent who could adapt to numerous creative worlds. Her story invites us to reflect on the ways fashion and television can define a generation—and how a single memorable moment, like a desert-drive line in a bold commercial, can echo for decades.
Would you like to share a memory of Annabel Schofield or a moment from 1980s fashion that you think defined her era? Do you think the shift from traditional haute couture to more street-level style helped broaden opportunities for models, or did it dilute the exclusivity of high fashion? Your thoughts are welcome.
