Roots

Drama1977NR8 episodes1 seasonMiniseries

Tagline: The Saga of an American Family.

First aired: 1977-01-23

Synopsis

The epic tale of celebrated Pulitzer-prize winning author Alex Haley's ancestors as portrayed in the acclaimed twelve hour mini-series Roots, was first told in his 1976 bestseller Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The docu-drama covers a period of history that begins in mid-1700s Gambia, West Africa and concludes during post-Civil War United States, over 100 years later. This 1977 miniseries eventually won 9 Emmy awards, a Golden Globe award, and a Peabody award, and still stands as the most watched miniseries in U.S. history.

Creators

Alex Haley

Casting

  • John Amos
    Older Kunta Kinte
  • Madge Sinclair
    Bell Reynolds
  • LeVar Burton
    Kunta Kinte
  • Ben Vereen
    Chicken George Moore
  • Robert Reed
    Dr. William Reynolds
  • Olivia Cole
    Mathilda