Roots (1977– )

A dramatization of author Alex Haley's family line from ancestor Kunta Kinte's enslavement to his descendants' liberation.

Stars:

Olivia Cole, Ben Vereen, LeVar Burton

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 15 wins & 35 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Olivia Cole	...	Mathilda (5 episodes, 1977)
Ben Vereen	...	'Chicken' George Moore (5 episodes, 1977)
LeVar Burton	...	Kunta Kinte (4 episodes, 1977)
John Amos	...	Toby (4 episodes, 1977)
Leslie Uggams	...	Kizzy Reynolds (4 episodes, 1977)
Carolyn Jones	...	Mrs. Moore (4 episodes, 1977)
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Fiddler (4 episodes, 1977)
Vic Morrow	...	Ames (4 episodes, 1977)
Chuck Connors	...	Tom Moore (4 episodes, 1977)
Ji-Tu Cumbuka	...	Wrestler (3 episodes, 1977)
Edward Asner	...	Capt. Thomas Davies (3 episodes, 1977)
Ralph Waite	...	Slater (3 episodes, 1977)
Robert Reed	...	Dr. William Reynolds (3 episodes, 1977)
Lynda Day George	...	Mrs. Reynolds (3 episodes, 1977)
Madge Sinclair	...	Bell Reynolds (3 episodes, 1977)
Scatman Crothers	...	Mingo (3 episodes, 1977)
George Hamilton	...	Stephen Bennett (3 episodes, 1977)
Richard Roundtree	...	Sam Bennett (3 episodes, 1977)
Lloyd Bridges	...	Evan Brent (3 episodes, 1977)
Georg Stanford Brown	...	Tom Harvey (3 episodes, 1977)
Brad Davis	...	Ol' George Johnson (3 episodes, 1977)
Hilly Hicks	...	Lewis (3 episodes, 1977)
Lynne Moody	...	Irene Harvey (3 episodes, 1977)
Lane Binkley	...	Martha Johnson (3 episodes, 1977)
Austin Stoker	...	Virgil (3 episodes, 1977)
Sandy Duncan	...	Missy Anne Reynolds (3 episodes, 1977)
Tracey Gold	...	Young missy reynolds (3 episodes, 1977)
Moses Gunn	...	Kintango (2 episodes, 1977)
Thalmus Rasulala	...	Omoro (2 episodes, 1977)
Hari Rhodes	...	Brima Cesay (2 episodes, 1977)
William Watson	...	Gardner (2 episodes, 1977)
Renn Woods	...	Fanta (2 episodes, 1977)
Lorne Greene	...	John Reynolds (2 episodes, 1977)
Thayer David	...	Harlan (2 episodes, 1977)
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs	...	Noah (2 episodes, 1977)
Roxie Roker	...	Melissa (2 episodes, 1977)
Lillian Randolph	...	Sister Sara (2 episodes, 1977)
Davis Roberts	...	Leonard (2 episodes, 1977)
Maya Angelou	...	Nyo Boto (2 episodes, 1977)
Richard McKenzie	...	Sam Harvey (2 episodes, 1977)
John Quade	...	Sheriff Biggs (2 episodes, 1977)
Doug McClure	...	Jemmy Brent (2 episodes, 1977)
Cicely Tyson	...	Binta (2 episodes, 1977)
Tina Andrews	...	Aurelia (2 episodes, 1977)
Rebecca Bess	...	Girl on Ship (2 episodes, 1977)
Henry Butts	...	Sitafa (2 episodes, 1977)
Joe Dorsey	...	Calvert (2 episodes, 1977)
Kermit Echols	...	Vilars (2 episodes, 1977)
Richard Farnsworth	...	Slave catcher (2 episodes, 1977)
Ronnie Leggett	...	Kalila (2 episodes, 1977)
Rachel Longaker	...	Caroline (2 episodes, 1977)
Ernest Thomas	...	Kailuba (2 episodes, 1977)

Storyline

A saga of African-American life, based on Alex Haley's family history. Kunta Kinte is abducted from his African village, sold into slavery, and taken to America. He makes several escape attempts until he is finally caught and maimed. He marries Bell, his plantation's cook, and they have a daughter, Kizzy, who is eventually sold away from them. Kizzy has a son by her new master, and the boy grows up to become Chicken George, a legendary cock fighter who leads his family into freedom. Throughout the series, the family observes notable events in U.S. history, such as the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, slave uprisings, and emancipation.

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Plot Keywords:

family history | america | african american | slavery | slave | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 January 1977 (USA)

Also Known As:

Raíces

Filming Locations:

Administration Building, Malibu Creek State Park - 1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

David L. Wolper Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (10 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The series takes place from 1750 to 1870.

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Goofs

Right after Kunta Kente is bought by Mr.Reynolds in Episode 2 and Fiddler is about to take Kunta, before the next scene is cutaway, there is a white vehicle passing in front of the gray building in the background, in the back left corner. Automobiles weren't in existence back in the 1700.

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Quotes

Kunta Kinti: Chains ain't right for niggers, Fiddler!

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Connections

Referenced in Everybody Hates Chris: Everybody Hates Superstition (2006)

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Soundtracks

"Oluwa"
by Quincy Jones

User Reviews

Amazing

I recently viewed all of this Mini series on the Hallmark Channel, and let me say, it was amazing! I was born 3 years after Roots was on television and never had the chance to see it growing up. I knew that Hallmark was showing it, so I made plans to see all 6 parts this week. It made me angry, it made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me happy, it made me open my eyes. The range of emotions ran the table this week. Now I know why it got all the acclaim that it rightly deserves.