"Airwolf" (1984) TV series 1984-1986

Creator:

Donald P. Bellisario
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

22 January 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Plot:

As part of a deal with an intelligence agency to look for his missing brother, a renegade pilot goes on missions with an advanced battle helicopter.

Plot Keywords:

Helicopter | Vietnam Veteran | Electronic Music Score | Attack Helicopter | Prototype

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Jan-Michael Vincent	...	Stringfellow Hawke (55 episodes, 1984-1986)
Alex Cord	...	Michael Coldsmith Briggs III / ... (55 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ernest Borgnine	...	Dominic / ... (55 episodes, 1984-1986)
Jean Bruce Scott	...	Caitlin O'Shannessy (44 episodes, 1984-1986)

Series Directed by
Virgil W. Vogel		(7 episodes, 1984-1985)
Sutton Roley		(5 episodes, 1984-1985)
Alan J. Levi		(5 episodes, 1984)
Harvey S. Laidman		(4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Bernard L. Kowalski		(3 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ray Austin		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Donald A. Baer		(2 episodes, 1984)
Georg Fenady		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bernard McEveety		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Tom Blank		(2 episodes, 1985)
Daniel Haller		(2 episodes, 1985)
Don Medford		(2 episodes, 1985)

Series Writing credits
Donald P. Bellisario		(55 episodes, 1984-1986)
Rick Kelbaugh		(6 episodes, 1985-1986)
Westbrook Claridge		(5 episodes, 1984-1985)
Chester Krumholz		(5 episodes, 1984-1985)
T.S. Cook		(4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Alfonse Ruggiero		(4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Burton Armus		(3 episodes, 1984)
Robert Janes		(3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Calvin Clements Jr.		(2 episodes, 1984)
Nicholas Corea		(2 episodes, 1984)
Edward J. Lakso		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Stephen A. Miller		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Robert Specht		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Michael Halperin		(2 episodes, 1985)
Al Martinez		(2 episodes, 1985)
Douglas Steinberg		(2 episodes, 1985)
B.W. Sandefur		(2 episodes, 1986)

Series Produced by
Carol Gillson	....	co-producer / associate producer (54 episodes, 1984-1986)
Leon Ortiz-Gil	....	associate producer (53 episodes, 1984-1986)
Mike Snyder	....	associate producer (33 episodes, 1984-1986)
Donald P. Bellisario	....	executive producer (33 episodes, 1984-1985)
Lester Wm. Berke	....	producer (22 episodes, 1984-1985)
Robert Janes	....	producer / supervising producer (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bernadette Joyce	....	associate producer (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bernard L. Kowalski	....	executive producer (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Stephen A. Miller	....	co-producer (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Richard Learman	....	associate producer (19 episodes, 1985-1986)
T.S. Cook	....	supervising producer (15 episodes, 1984-1985)
Everett Chambers	....	supervising producer (15 episodes, 1985-1986)
Calvin Clements Jr.	....	supervising producer (11 episodes, 1984)
John David	....	co-producer / associate producer (11 episodes, 1984)
Alan J. Levi	....	supervising producer / producer (11 episodes, 1984)
Alan Godfrey	....	producer / co-producer (11 episodes, 1985-1986)
Edward Ledding	....	associate producer (11 episodes, 1985)
Burton Armus	....	producer (10 episodes, 1984)
Carl Vitale	....	associate producer (8 episodes, 1984-1985)
Clyde Ware	....	producer (3 episodes, 1984)
John A. Kuri	....	line producer: Reno air race segments (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Sylvester Levay		(37 episodes, 1984-1986)
Udi Harpaz		(11 episodes, 1985)
Bernardo Segall		(3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Ian Freebairn-Smith		(2 episodes, 1984)

Series Cinematography by
Stan Lazan		(28 episodes, 1984-1985)
Howard Schwartz		(13 episodes, 1984-1986)
Seymour Hoffberg		(13 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Film Editing by
Bill Luciano		(15 episodes, 1984-1986)
Mario Di Gregorio		(14 episodes, 1984-1986)
Michael Berman		(10 episodes, 1984-1986)
Drake Silliman		(10 episodes, 1984-1986)
Henry Te		(4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Jeff Gourson		(2 episodes, 1984)
Robert L. Kimble		(2 episodes, 1984)
Carl Kress		(2 episodes, 1984)
Larry Strong		(2 episodes, 1984)

Series Casting by
Joe Reich		(20 episodes, 1984-1986)
Donna Dockstader		(11 episodes, 1984)

Series Production Design by
John Leimanis		(22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Stephen Geaghan		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Gary A. Lee		(31 episodes, 1984-1985)
Joseph M. Altadonna		(5 episodes, 1986)

Series Set Decoration by
W. Joe Kroesser		(14 episodes, 1985-1986)
Gregory Garrison		(13 episodes, 1984-1985)
Richard B. Goddard		(11 episodes, 1984)
Edward M. Parker		(8 episodes, 1985-1986)
Fred S. Winston		(8 episodes, 1985)

Series Costume Design by
Jean-Pierre Dorléac		(3 episodes, 1984)

Series Makeup Department
Sandra Henderson	....	hair stylist (1 episode, 1984)
Darrell McIntyre	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 1984)
Rod Wilson	....	special makeup effects artist (1 episode, 1985)

Series Production Management
Bud Grace	....	unit production manager (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Tom Blank	....	unit production manager (20 episodes, 1984-1985)
Richard Learman	....	unit production manager (19 episodes, 1985-1986)
Mitchell L. Gamson	....	unit production manager (5 episodes, 1984)
Ronald Martinez	....	unit production manager (4 episodes, 1985)
Zane Radney	....	unit production manager (3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Les Kimber	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
J. David Jones	....	second unit director (39 episodes, 1984-1985)
Warren Gray	....	first assistant director / second assistant director (26 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ryan Gordon	....	first assistant director / second assistant director (20 episodes, 1984-1985)
Robert D. Nellans	....	second assistant director (20 episodes, 1985-1986)
Ron Stein	....	second unit director (14 episodes, 1985-1986)
Richard W. Abramitis	....	second assistant director (12 episodes, 1984-1985)
Peter Jordan	....	second assistant director (12 episodes, 1985-1986)
Scott Cameron	....	second assistant director (7 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bob Bender	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1985-1986)
Charles A. Tamburro	....	second unit director (5 episodes, 1985-1986)
J. Tom Archuleta	....	second assistant director (5 episodes, 1985)
Clifford C. Coleman	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1984)
James Lansbury	....	second assistant director (4 episodes, 1984)
John Slosser	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1984)
S. Michael Formica	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1986)
Tom Blank	....	first assistant director (3 episodes, 1984)
Warren R. Turner	....	second assistant director (3 episodes, 1984)
Mack Bing	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1984)
Louis Race	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1984)
John Hockridge	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1985)
Stephen Southard	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1985)
John A. Kuri	....	second unit director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Lee Lazarow	....	set dresser (22 episodes, 1984-1986)
Paul Sonski	....	set designer (unknown episodes, 1985)
Ed Keyes	....	property master: second unit (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
John K. Kean	....	sound (44 episodes, 1984-1986)
Michael D. Wilhoit	....	sound editor / supervising sound editor (28 episodes, 1984-1986)
Michael H. Ford	....	sound editor (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bob Newlan	....	sound editor (10 episodes, 1984-1985)
Sam F. Shaw	....	sound editor (10 episodes, 1984)
Don Sharpless	....	sound (6 episodes, 1984)
Joe Kenworthy	....	sound (5 episodes, 1984)

Series Special Effects by
Clarence Fay Konkel	....	special effects technician (55 episodes, 1984-1986)
Johnny Borgese	....	special effects coordinator (44 episodes, 1984-1986)

Series Visual Effects by
Jim Michaels	....	visual effects producer (22 episodes, 1984-1986)
Neil Richmond	....	visual effects (22 episodes, 1984-1986)

Series Stunts
Ron Stein	....	stunt coordinator (53 episodes, 1984-1986)
Reid Rondell	....	stunt double: Jan-Michael Vincent (9 episodes, 1984-1985)
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts (8 episodes, 1985-1986)
Charlie Picerni	....	stunts (6 episodes, 1984-1986)
Monty Jordan	....	assistant stunt coordinator / action coordinator / ... (4 episodes, 1984-1985)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
George W. Borthwick	....	grip (44 episodes, 1984-1986)
Wayne Baker	....	aerial assistant camera (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Chris Helcermanas-Benge	....	still photographer (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Robert E. Collins	....	aerial director of photography (unknown episodes)
Dennis J. Laine	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Stan McClain	....	aerial camera operator (unknown episodes)
Serge Poupis	....	aerial first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Robert Schoenhut	....	camera operator / director of photography: second unit (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Joe Reich	....	casting (16 episodes, 1984-1986)
Donna Dockstader	....	casting (8 episodes, 1984)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
John Casey	....	costume supervisor (44 episodes, 1984-1986)
Barbara Lee Maccarone	....	costume supervisor (27 episodes, 1984-1985)
Diana Reynolds	....	costume supervisor (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Rudy Garcia	....	costume supervisor (11 episodes, 1984)
Arlene Zamiara	....	costume supervisor (9 episodes, 1985)
Ann Gray Lambert	....	costume supervisor (7 episodes, 1986)

Series Editorial Department
Bradley Carow	....	music assistant editor (13 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Music Department
James Thatcher	....	musician: french horn / musician: French horn (55 episodes, 1984-1986)
Gene L. Gillette	....	music editor (51 episodes, 1984-1986)
Sylvester Levay	....	composer: theme music (48 episodes, 1984-1986)
Jim Cox	....	musician: keyboards (41 episodes, 1984-1986)
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor: uncredited / orchestra contractor (23 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ron S. Herbes	....	first assistant music editor (19 episodes, 1984)
Arnold Schwarzwald	....	music editor (2 episodes, 1984)

Series Transportation Department
Gina August	....	driver (2 episodes, 1984)
Steven Salzman	....	transportation captain (unknown episodes, 1983-1986)

Series Other crew
J. David Jones	....	aerial coordinator (33 episodes, 1984-1985)
Chester Krumholz	....	executive story consultant (22 episodes, 1984-1985)
Devon Clark	....	production coordinator (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Del Reisman	....	executive story consultant (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Rick Kelbaugh	....	executive story editor (21 episodes, 1985-1986)
Peter McKernan	....	aerial coordinator (21 episodes, 1985-1986)
Westbrook Claridge	....	story editor (19 episodes, 1984-1985)
Alfonse Ruggiero	....	story editor (14 episodes, 1984-1985)
Phil Combest	....	story editor (2 episodes, 1984)
Steve Hinton	....	pilot (unknown episodes)
Mike Snyder	....	technical writer (unknown episodes)
Jeffrey T. Spellman	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Charles A. Tamburro	....	aerial coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Reid Rondell	....	in memory of (1 episode, 1985)

Production Companies

• Belisarius Productions
• Universal TV

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1984-1986) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Algemene Vereniging Radio Omroep (AVRO) (1988-1989) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Independent Television (ITV) (????) (UK) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Pictures
• Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV) (1986) (Japan) (TV)
• RTL Entertainment (1995-1996) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Studios USA Television
• Super! Drama TV (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD) (season 1)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD) (season 2)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (seasons 1 and 2)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (season 3)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (season 4)
• Universal TV
• V8 (2002-2003) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Veronica Television (1996) (Netherlands) (TV)

Also Known As:

"Lobo del aire" - USA (Spanish title)

Runtime:

60 min (58 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Netherlands:6

Filming Locations:

Baxter Pharmaceutical - 1 Baxter Way, Thousand Oaks, California, USA

Company:

Belisarius Productions

Trivia:

During filming, a Huey helicopter crashed during a maneuver in Pico Canyon in California. Reid Rondell, Jan-Michael Vincent's stunt double, was killed, and a special credit appeared at the end of that particular episode dedicating the installment to him.

Quotes:

Le Van 'Half-Pint' Hawke:I was so scared for you.
Stringfellow Hawke:They were no match for the Lady.
Michael Archangel:Come 'on Marlene; there must be something out here that desperately needs our attention.
Stringfellow Hawke:You know Half-Pint, How about coming and living with me? I'll make you part of the family, like Caitlan and Dom.
Le Van 'Half-Pint' Hawke:But what if your brother comes back, and it turns out he's not my dad?
Stringfellow Hawke:I'll be your dad.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Ride with the Angels: Making 'Blue Thunder' (2006) (V)

One of the last intelligent suspense shows!

AIRWOLF, which debuted as a heavily promoted CBS movie of the week in January 1984 (and continued as a weekly series until July 1986); was well written, produced (CBS kicked in a great deal of money for its production) and acted. It was a thinking person's action (and espionage) show, that truely emphasized personal relationships over technical gimickery. Every week Stringfellow Hawk and Dominic Santini (J.M. Vincent and Ernest Borgnine) fetched the ultra high tech AIRWOLF helicopter from its lair in the California desert to do the bidding of Archangel (Alex Cord) of the CIA to do one thing or another, though not usually until the last third of the episode which gave time to build a story amongst the players. The stories mostly centered around SoCal, but occasionally AIRWOLF took a trip overseas (curteousy of USAF tanker support) to fight a cold war type battle. Like most show's, the best episodes were in the first two seasons. However, by season three AIRWOLF started to look tired. By that time Jan Micael Vincent's alcholism problems caused serious production delays (in several 3rd season episodes Vincent is noticably intoxicated), such that CBS ultimately canceled the show; though not with out giving Vincent ample attempts to straighten himself out. The show still had legs, and was taken over by the USA Network (shot in Canada on a much tighter budget) for a fourth season with a new cast (Barry Van Dyke stepped in as Hawk's long lost older brother St John Hawk) to carry on the CIA's "chores". For the USA show's; cold war espionage was the theme of most of the stories as oposed to the CBS show's getting involved more in current events and family interests of Hawk's and Santini's. I liked the show alot, and was fortunate to have recorded many when USA rebroadcast them. It is of interest to note that Jan Michael Vincent went from a per episode salary of $250,000 (for the 58 CBS episodes 1984-1986) to now (2002) near poverty, and is living in a minimum security re-hab type jail, due to several arrests for public intoxication.