Rich Man, Poor Man (1976)
- Starring:
- Peter Strauss, Nick Nolte, (more)
- Director(s):
- David Greene, Boris Sagal, (more
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More ambitious and expensive than ABC's first "novel for television" miniseries QB VII, the eight-episode, 12-hour Rich Man, Poor Man was the one that truly put the genre on the map, its phenomenal success in the ratings making possible the even more spectacular Roots. Adapted from the mammoth novel by Irwin Shaw, the miniseries covers the years from WWII to the 1960s, detailing the vacillating fortunes of the immigrant Jordache brothers. "Rich Man" Rudy Jordache (Peter Strauss) is determined to use his hard-earned education -- and his inherent ruthlessness -- to carve out a business and political empire not unlike that enjoyed by Joseph P. Kennedy and his progeny. "Poor Man" Tom Jordache (Nick Nolte), a quick-fisted hothead, goes an entirely different route, first as a professional boxer, then as a functionary of the evil gangster chieftain Falconetti (William Smith). Naturally, both brothers become entangled in romance along the way, with Julie Prescott (Susan Blakely) ending up as Rudy's benighted spouse. Originally telecast on February 1, 2, 9, 16, 23, and March 1, 8, and 15 in 1976, Rich Man, Poor Man earned 20 Emmy nominations and led to a weekly sequel, Rich Man, Poor Man -- Book 2, in the fall of 1976 (this version necessitated a title change for the original, which was rebroadcast as Rich Man, Poor Man -- Book 1 in the spring of 1977). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast:
- Peter Strauss - Rudy Jordache
- Susan Blakely - Julie Prescott
- Ed Asner - Axel Jordache
- Dick Butkus - Al Fanducci
- Andrew Duggan - Col. Deiner
- Norman Fell - Smitty
- Lynda Day George - Linda Quales
- Murray Hamilton - Sid Gossett
- Van Johnson - Marsh Goodwin
- George Maharis - Joey Quales
- Dorothy McGuire - Mary Jordache
- Ray Milland - Duncan Calderwood
- Robert Reed - Teddy Boylan
- Talia Shire - Teresa Santoro
- Craig Stevens - Asher Berg
- Dennis Dugan - Claude Tinker
- Frank Aletter - Mr. Tinker
- John Furlong - Dr. Tinker
- Bo Brundin - Harold Jordache
- Ben Archibek - Jay Ledbetter
- William Bronder - Theatre Manager
- Roy Jenson - Pete Tierney
- Harvey Jason - Pinky
- Gavan O'Herlihy - Phil McGee
- Michael Morgan - Wesley Jordache
- Nick Nolte - Tom Jordache
- Steve Allen - Bayard Nichols
- Bill Bixby - Willie Abbott
- Kim Darby - Virginia Calderwood
- Mike Evans - Arnold Simms
- Fionnula Flanagan - Clothilde
- Gloria Grahame - Sue Prescott
- Herbert Jefferson, Jr. - Roy Dwyer
- Kay Lenz - Kate
- Dorothy Malone - Irene Goodwin
- Tim McIntire - Brad Knight
- Lawrence Pressman - Bill Denton
- Dick Sargent - Richards
- William Smith - Falconetti
- Nicholas Hammond - Walters
- Mike Baird - Buddy Westerlake
- Josette Banzet - Miss Lenaut
- Ashlyn Martin - Martin
- Julius Harris - Augie
- Jo Ann Harris - Gloria Bartley
- Anthony Carbone - Lou Martin
- Ed Barth - Papadakis
- Helen Craig - Martha
- Leigh McCloskey - Billy
- Director(s):
- David Greene, Boris Sagal
- Producer(s):
- Jon Epstein
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- Subtitles:
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- 1976 - Rich Man, Poor Man - Golden Globe - Best Television Series - Drama
- 1976 - Rich Man, Poor Man - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
- 1976 - Rich Man, Poor Man - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama
- 1976 - Rich Man, Poor Man - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television
- 1976 - Rich Man, Poor Man - Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Best Television Series - Drama
