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Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones, also called The Mad Messiah, is a 1980 television miniseries about the Peoples Temple led by Jim Jones, and their 1978 mass suicide at Jonestown. Based on the book by Charles A. Krause, entitled Guyana Massacre: The Eyewitness Account, the film was originally shown on television on April 15, 1980.
Original Release
01/05/1982
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Powers Boothe | Rev. Jim Jones |
| Ned Beatty | Rep. Leo Ryan |
| Irene Cara | Alice Jefferson |
| Veronica Cartwright | Marceline 'Marcy' Jones |
| Rosalind Cash | Jenny Hammond |
| Brad Dourif | David Langtree |
| Meg Foster | Jean Richie |
| Michael C. Gwynne | Larry King |
| Albert Hall | Otis Jefferson |
| Diane Ladd | Lynette Jones |
Directors
Writers
Charles A. Krause, Ernest Tidyman
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Powers Boothe | Rev. Jim Jones |
| Ned Beatty | Rep. Leo Ryan |
| Irene Cara | Alice Jefferson |
| Veronica Cartwright | Marceline 'Marcy' Jones |
| Rosalind Cash | Jenny Hammond |
| Brad Dourif | David Langtree |
| Meg Foster | Jean Richie |
| Michael C. Gwynne | Larry King |
| Albert Hall | Otis Jefferson |
| Diane Ladd | Lynette Jones |
| Ron O'Neal | Col. Robles |
| Randy Quaid | Clayton Ritchie |
| Diana Scarwid | Sheila Langtree |
| Madge Sinclair | Mrs. Jefferson |
| Brenda Vaccaro | Jane Briggs |
| Dimitra Arliss | Sister Fleming / Mrs. Crow |
| LeVar Burton | Richard Jefferson |
| Colleen Dewhurst | Mrs. Myrtle Kennedy |
| Clifton James | Barber Charlie Amos |
| James Earl Jones | Father Divine |
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|
| Frank Konigsberg | Executive Producer |
| Sam Manners | Producer |
| Ernest Tidyman | Producer |
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 1980 | Emmy | Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Mixing | Nominated |
| 1980 | Emmy | Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
| 1980 | Emmy | Outstanding Drama or Comedy Special | Nominated |
| 1980 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special | Won |
