Roots
1977 American TV miniseries
The epic tale of celebrated Pulitzer-prize winning author Alex Haley's ancestors as portrayed in the acclaimed twelve hour mini-series Roots , was first told in his 1976 bestseller Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The docu-drama covers a period of history that begins in mid-1700s Gambia, West Africa and concludes during post-Civil War United States, over 100 years later. This 1977 miniseries eventually won 9 Emmy awards, a Golden Globe award, and a Peabody award, and still stands as the most watched miniseries in U.S. history.
Cast ages at the series premiere (January 23, 1977)
- Robert Reed, as Dr. William Reynolds: 44
- Olivia Cole, as Mathilda: 34
- John Amos, as Toby: 37
- Madge Sinclair, as Bell Reynolds: 38
- Ben Vereen, as 'Chicken' George Moore: 30
- Leslie Uggams, as Kizzy Reynolds: 33
- Sandy Duncan, as Missy Anne Reynolds: 30
- Chuck Connors, as Tom Moore: 55
- LeVar Burton, as Kunta Kinte: 19
- Louis Gossett, Jr., as Fiddler: 40
- Vic Morrow, as Ames: 47
- Lynda Day George, as Mrs. Reynolds: 32
- Carolyn Jones, as Mrs. Moore: 46
- Edward Asner, as Capt. Thomas Davies: 47
- Ian McShane, as Sir Eric Russell: 34