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Roots > Credits and Details
Episodes
Part I Part I
In 1750, in Gambia, West Africa, Kunta Kinte, son of Omoro and Binta, distinguishes himself among his tribesmen in manhood training rituals. But he does not enjoy his...
January 23, 1977
Part II Part II
Despite a violent rebellion, the slave ship Lord Ligonier completes its voyage in 1767, and Kunta Kinte endures the indignity of an Annapolis slave auction. Fiddler,...
January 24, 1977
Part III Part III
In 1776, John Reynolds sells the now adult Kunta Kinte to his brother William. Kunta tries to escape again, this time with dire consequences. He also meets his match...
January 25, 1977
Part IV Part IV
By 1780, Kunta accepts his fate, settles down with Bell and they have a daughter named Kizzy. Several years later, Kizzy befriends Anne, the young girl who was the...
January 26, 1977
Part V Part V
In 1806, Kunta's teenage daughter Kizzy falls in love with a slave called Noah, who later tries to escape. Unfortunately, he is quickly caught and tortured until he...
January 27, 1977
Part VI Part VI
In 1824, Kizzy is allowed to visit the plantation of her previous owner, Dr. William Reynolds, and learn the ultimate fate of her parents. Meanwhile, old slave Mingo...
January 28, 1977
Part VII Part VII
In 1861, "Chicken George" returns home hoping to free his enslaved family.
January 29, 1977
Part VIII Part VIII
The war is over, the Confederacy having surrendered, freeing the slaves. Mr. Harvey invites the slaves to stay if they wish, maybe sharecropping. The rest of the...
January 30, 1977
Directed by
Marvin J. Chomsky Marvin J. Chomsky  
David Greene David Greene  
John Erman John Erman  
Gilbert Moses Gilbert Moses  
Written by
Alex Haley Alex Haley ... book
James Lee James Lee ... writer
William Blinn William Blinn ... adaptation / written for television by
Ernest Kinoy Ernest Kinoy  
M. Charles Cohen M. Charles Cohen ... written by
Cast
Robert Reed Robert Reed ... Dr. William Reynolds (4 episodes)
Louis Gossett Jr. Louis Gossett Jr. ... Fiddler (3 episodes)
Lynda Day George Lynda Day George ... Mrs. Reynolds (3 episodes)
John Amos John Amos ... Older Kunta Kinte / Toby (3 episodes)
Madge Sinclair Madge Sinclair ... Bell Reynolds (3 episodes)
Leslie Uggams Leslie Uggams ... Kizzy Reynolds (3 episodes)
Ben Vereen Ben Vereen ... Chicken George Moore (3 episodes)
Olivia Cole Olivia Cole ... Matilda Moore (3 episodes)
Edward Asner Edward Asner ... Capt. Thomas Davies (2 episodes)
Ralph Waite Ralph Waite ... Slater (2 episodes)
Ji-Tu Cumbuka Ji-Tu Cumbuka ... Wrestler (2 episodes)
Renn Woods Renn Woods ... Fanta (2 episodes) (as Ren Woods)
LeVar Burton LeVar Burton ... Kunta Kinte / Toby (2 episodes)
Lorne Greene Lorne Greene ... John Reynolds (2 episodes)
Vic Morrow Vic Morrow ... Ames (2 episodes)
Stan Haze Stan Haze ... Field Singer (2 episodes)
Tanya Boyd Tanya Boyd ... Genelva (2 episodes) (as Tanya L. Boyd)
Thayer David Thayer David ... Harlan (2 episodes)
Fred D. Scott Fred D. Scott ... Luther (2 episodes)
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs ... Noah (2 episodes)
Chuck Connors Chuck Connors ... Tom Moore (2 episodes)
Sandy Duncan Sandy Duncan ... Missy Anne Reynolds (2 episodes)
Lillian Randolph Lillian Randolph ... Sister Sara (2 episodes)
Lloyd Bridges Lloyd Bridges ... Evan Brent (2 episodes)
Georg Stanford Brown Georg Stanford Brown ... Tom Harvey (2 episodes)
Brad Davis Brad Davis ... Old George (2 episodes)
Hilly Hicks Hilly Hicks ... Lewis Harvey (2 episodes)
Lynne Moody Lynne Moody ... Irene Harvey (2 episodes)
Richard McKenzie Richard McKenzie ... Sam Harvey (2 episodes)
Sally Kemp Sally Kemp ... Lila Harvey (2 episodes)
Austin Stoker Austin Stoker ... Virgil Harvey (2 episodes)
Lane Binkley Lane Binkley ... Martha Johnson (2 episodes)
O.J. Simpson O.J. Simpson ... Kadi Touray
Maya Angelou Maya Angelou ... Nyo Boto
Moses Gunn Moses Gunn ... Kintango
Thalmus Rasulala Thalmus Rasulala ... Omoro
Hari Rhodes Hari Rhodes ... Brima Cesay (as Harry Rhodes)
William Watson William Watson ... Gardner
Cicely Tyson Cicely Tyson ... Binta
Ernest Thomas Ernest Thomas ... Kailuba
Rebecca Bess Rebecca Bess ... Girl on Ship
Henry Butts Henry Butts ... Sitafa
Kermit Echols Kermit Echols ... Vilars
Ronnie Leggett Ronnie Leggett ... Kalilu
Tajh Abdul-Samad Tajh Abdul-Samad ... Baby Kunta Kinte
Paul Shenar Paul Shenar ... John Carrington
Tina Andrews Tina Andrews ... Aurelia
Ann Weldon Ann Weldon ... Mary
Big Joe Turner Big Joe Turner ... The Singer (as Joe Turner)
Fred Covington Fred Covington ... Auctioneer
Maurice Hunt Maurice Hunt ... The Doctor
Brooks Clift Brooks Clift ... McAlmon
Joe Dorsey Joe Dorsey ... Calvert
Bill Gribble Bill Gribble ... Seaman Grimes
Roosevelt Smith Roosevelt Smith ... James
Cindy Henderson Cindy Henderson ... Bess
Rachel Longaker Rachel Longaker ... Caroline
Betty Cole Betty Cole ... Sassy Woman
Gary Collins Gary Collins ... Grill
Lee de Broux Lee de Broux ... Trumbull (as Lee Jones-de Broux)
Lee Kessler Lee Kessler ... Miss Constable
Hank Rolike Hank Rolike ... John
Allen Williams Allen Williams ... Robert Calvert
Beverly Todd Beverly Todd ... Maggie (Fanta)
Raymond St. Jacques Raymond St. Jacques ... The Drummer
Helen Martin Helen Martin ... Aunt Sukey
John Schuck John Schuck ... Ordell
Roxie Roker Roxie Roker ... Malizy
Elma V. Jackson Elma V. Jackson ... Mama Ada (as Elma Jackson)
Brion James Brion James ... Slaver
Richard Farnsworth Richard Farnsworth ... Trumbull
Macdonald Carey Macdonald Carey ... Squire James
Scatman Crothers Scatman Crothers ... Mingo
George Hamilton George Hamilton ... Stephen Bennett
Carolyn Jones Carolyn Jones ... Mrs. Moore
Ian McShane Ian McShane ... Sir Eric Russell
Richard Roundtree Richard Roundtree ... Sam Bennett
Wally Taylor Wally Taylor ... Reverend
Davis Roberts Davis Roberts ... Leonard
Pat Corley Pat Corley ... Referee
John Dennis Johnston John Dennis Johnston ... Man at Cockfight
Doug McClure Doug McClure ... Jimmy Brent
Burl Ives Burl Ives ... Senator Arthur J. Justin
Charles Cyphers Charles Cyphers ... Fred Drake
John Quade John Quade ... Sheriff Charlie Biggs
Macon McCalman Macon McCalman ... Poston
Robert Phalen Robert Phalen ... Rufus Jackson
Wayne Heffley Wayne Heffley ... Telegrapher
Todd Bridges Todd Bridges ... Bud Harvey
Uncredited Cast
Tracey Gold Tracey Gold ... Missy Anne Reynolds
Sonny Jim Gaines Sonny Jim Gaines ... Field Hand
Produced by
Stan Margulies Stan Margulies ... producer
Donald A. Ramsey Donald A. Ramsey ... associate producer
Malcolm Alper Malcolm Alper ... associate producer
David L. Wolper David L. Wolper ... executive producer
William Beaudine Jr. William Beaudine Jr. ... associate producer
Original Music by
Gerald Fried Gerald Fried  
Quincy Jones Quincy Jones  
Special Effects by
John Frazier John Frazier ... special effects supervisor
Stunts
Craig R. Baxley Craig R. Baxley ... stunts
Ernest Robinson Ernest Robinson ... stunt performer
Eddie Smith Eddie Smith ... stunt coordinator
Thanks
Randy Miller Randy Miller ... special thanks
Additional Info
Premiere: January 23, 1977
DVD Release: January 15, 2002
Country: United States
Distributor: Warner Brother Studios
Websites: IMDb Wikipedia
Ratings
IMDb

8.4 / 10

Production Companies
David L. Wolper Productions
Warner Bros. Television
Distributors
American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
  (1977) (United States) (original airing) (TV)
Warner Home Video
  (1994) (United States) (VHS)
Warner Home Video
  (2002) (United States) (DVD)
TV One
  (2007) (United States) (TV)
Warner Home Video
  (2007) (United States) (DVD)
Warner Home Video
  (2011) (United States) (DVD)
Filming Locations
Administration Building, Malibu Creek State Park - 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, California, USA
  (plantation house)
California, USA
Georgia, USA
Laramie Street, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA
  (demolished in May 2003 and replaced by Warner Village)
Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden - 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California, USA
Santa Clarita, California, USA
Savannah, Georgia, USA
St. Simons Island, Georgia, USA
USA
Site Ranking (#4,573 / 33,091)
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