The writers characterized JR as caring, but ruthless if betrayed, explaining the latter by way of his difficult upbringing. The character's softer personality has been attributed to his mother, Dixie Cooney, as well as to his son, AJ, and true love Babe Carey (who was killed off by the series in 2008). Credited as significantly complex, he has been cited as a television anti-hero, and "bad boy," and his struggles with family, romantic partners, and alcohol addiction have been documented in literature.