Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysHalloween PicksScary Good HorrorHispanic Heritage MonthMAMISTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Greatest American Hero

  • TV Series
  • 1981–1983
  • TV-14
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
6.4K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,644
267
The Greatest American Hero (1981)
Home Video Extra (Clip) from Anchor Bay Entertainment
Play trailer2:01
5 Videos
99+ Photos
AdventureComedySci-Fi

A teacher is asked to be a superhero using a special alien suit with powers he can barely understand or control.A teacher is asked to be a superhero using a special alien suit with powers he can barely understand or control.A teacher is asked to be a superhero using a special alien suit with powers he can barely understand or control.

  • Creator
    • Stephen J. Cannell
  • Stars
    • William Katt
    • Connie Sellecca
    • Robert Culp
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    6.4K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,644
    267
    • Creator
      • Stephen J. Cannell
    • Stars
      • William Katt
      • Connie Sellecca
      • Robert Culp
    • 83User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys
      • 1 win & 8 nominations total

    Episodes44

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos5

    The Greatest American Hero: Season Two
    Clip 2:00
    Watch The Greatest American Hero: Season Two
    The Greatest American Hero: Season Two
    Clip 1:45
    Watch The Greatest American Hero: Season Two
    The Greatest American Hero: Season Three
    Trailer 2:01
    Watch The Greatest American Hero: Season Three
    The Greatest American Hero: Season One
    Trailer 3:11
    Watch The Greatest American Hero: Season One
    The Greatest American Hero: Season 2
    Trailer 1:45
    Watch The Greatest American Hero: Season 2

    Photos156

    William Katt in The Greatest American Hero (1981)
    William Katt and Robert Culp in The Greatest American Hero (1981)
    The Greatest American Hero (1981)
    Dennis Lipscomb in The Greatest American Hero (1981)
    Connie Sellecca in The Greatest American Hero (1981)
    William Katt and Connie Sellecca in The Greatest American Hero (1981)
    Connie Sellecca in The Greatest American Hero (1981)
    The Greatest American Hero (1981)
    William Katt in The Greatest American Hero (1981)
    The Greatest American Hero (1981)
    William Bogert in The Greatest American Hero (1981)
    William Katt in The Greatest American Hero (1981)

    Top cast

    Edit
    William Katt
    William Katt
    • Ralph Hinkley
    Connie Sellecca
    Connie Sellecca
    • Pam Davidson…
    Robert Culp
    Robert Culp
    • Bill Maxwell
    Michael Paré
    Michael Paré
    • Tony Villicana
    Faye Grant
    Faye Grant
    • Rhonda Blake
    Jesse D. Goins
    Jesse D. Goins
    • Cyler Johnson
    Don Cervantes
    • Paco Rodriguez
    William Bogert
    William Bogert
    • Les Carlisle…
    Paul Carafotes
    Paul Carafotes
    • Joey…
    Deborah Mays
    • Tammy
    Edward Michael Bell
    • Principal Knight…
    Robert Weaver
    Robert Weaver
    • Coach Ray Buck
    Brandon Williams
    • Kevin Hinkley
    Glenn R. Wilder
    Glenn R. Wilder
    • Capt. Franklin…
    James Whitmore Jr.
    • Byron Bigsby…
    Anthony Charnota
    • Mike…
    Red West
    Red West
    • Charley…
    Eugene Peterson
    • Clarence Carter…
    • Creator
      • Stephen J. Cannell
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      William Katt's real-life mother, Barbara Hale, played Ralph's mother Paula Hinkley in the second-season episode "Who's Woo in America".
    • Quotes

      Ralph Hinkley: It's a bird. It's a plane. It's...

      [chuckles]

      Ralph Hinkley: Ralph Hinkley.

    • Crazy credits
      Throughout the show's production, save for the original pilot, the copyright disclaimer toward the end of each episode's credits had an error, spelling the name of the United States as "THE UNTED STATES"
    • Alternate versions
      In 1986, three years after the series ended, a pilot film entitled "The Greatest American Heroine" was produced which reunited the original series cast. The pilot was not broadcast, so the film was reedited as an episode of "Greatest American Hero" (complete with original opening credits) for syndication. It was also included on the 2005 DVD release.
    • Connections
      Featured in I Love the '80s: 1981 (2002)

    User reviews83

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Great show. Every episode was a winner. Culp & Katt perfect pair.
    This was one of my favorites. It had everything, drama, comedy, adventure and suspense.

    A space ship landed on earth and left a suit with special "super powers" for William Katt. Robert Culp, the "know it all secret agent", is sent by the government to control this great new weapon. With secrecy of the utmost importance, Culp couldn't even brag to his fellow agents about his fabulous assignment. Part of his job was to keep the suit out of the hands of foreign powers. Because of his "superior" training, he felt he should be allowed to use the suit himself. He constantly projected "senerios" on how it should work and how William Katt should use it. This was high-lighted, in one episode, with Culp trying to use the suit when Katt couldn't. He then learned that the suit was a one man suit.

    Katt was secretly proud of the job he did but his lack of confidence and fear of heights and flying caused problems. Though he was super, when wearing the suit, he couldn't keep from ducking bullets. If he lost his confidence while flying, he'd fall from the sky and crash into buildings.

    Connie Sellecca acted as referee when the two went at each others throats during disagreements.

    It's a great treat in my book. These are great actors with a great story line. Don't miss it.
    helpful•7
    0
    • trouble13
    • Jan 16, 2005

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 18, 1981 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 霹靂超人
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Clarita, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Stephen J. Cannell Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    The Greatest American Hero (1981)
    Top Gap
    By what name was The Greatest American Hero (1981) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit pageAdd episode

    More to explore

    Production art
    List
    The Best New Shows and Movies in October
    See our picks
    Production art
    Photos
    21st Century Scream Queens
    See the gallery

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.