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Backstairs at the White House is a 1979 NBC television miniseries based on the book My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House by Lillian Rogers Parks. The series, produced by Ed Friendly Productions, is the story of behind-the-scenes workings of the White House and the relationship between the staff and the First Families.
Original Release
01/29/1979 on NBC
US Release
01/29/1979
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Leslie Uggams | Lillian Rogers Parks / Lillian Rogers |
| Olivia Cole | Maggie Rogers |
| Louis Gossett Jr. | Houseman Levi Mercer / Levi Mercer, Houseman |
| Robert Hooks | Doorman and Presidential Barber John Mays / John Mays / Chief Barber John Mays |
| Bill Overton | Doorman Jackson / Jackson, Doorman |
| David Downing | Butler Dixon / Dixon, Butler |
| Celeste Holm | Mrs. Florence Harding / Florence Harding |
| Lee Grant | Mrs. Grace Coolidge / Grace Coolidge |
| Larry Gates | President Herbert Hoover / Pres. Herbert Hoover |
| Jan Sterling | Mrs. Lou Hoover / Lou Hoover |
| # | Title | Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode 1.1 | Monday, 29 January 1979 |
| 2 | Episode 1.2 | Monday, 05 February 1979 |
| 3 | Episode 1.3 | Monday, 12 February 1979 |
| 4 | Episode 1.4 | Monday, 19 February 1979 |
Directors
Writers
Gwen Bagni, Paul Dubov, Lillian Rogers Parks, Frances Spatz Leighton
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Leslie Uggams | Lillian Rogers Parks / Lillian Rogers |
| Olivia Cole | Maggie Rogers |
| Louis Gossett Jr. | Houseman Levi Mercer / Levi Mercer, Houseman |
| Robert Hooks | Doorman and Presidential Barber John Mays / John Mays / Chief Barber John Mays |
| Bill Overton | Doorman Jackson / Jackson, Doorman |
| David Downing | Butler Dixon / Dixon, Butler |
| Celeste Holm | Mrs. Florence Harding / Florence Harding |
| Lee Grant | Mrs. Grace Coolidge / Grace Coolidge |
| Larry Gates | President Herbert Hoover / Pres. Herbert Hoover |
| Jan Sterling | Mrs. Lou Hoover / Lou Hoover |
| Eileen Heckart | Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt / Eleanor Roosevelt |
| John Anderson | President Franklin Delano Roosevelt / Pres. Franklin Delano Roosevelt |
| Harry Morgan | President Harry S. Truman / Pres. Harry S. Truman |
| Estelle Parsons | Mrs. Bess Truman / Bess Truman |
| Barbara Barrie | Mrs. Mamie Eisenhower / Mamie Eisenhower |
| Andrew Duggan | President Dwight D. Eisenhower / Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Leslie Nielsen | Ike Hoover / Chief Usher Ike Hoover |
| Hari Rhodes | Butler Coates / Coates, Butler |
| George Kennedy | President Warren G. Harding / Pres. Warren G. Harding |
| Ed Flanders | President Calvin Coolidge / Pres. Calvin Coolidge |
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|
| Ed Friendly | Executive Producer |
| Michael O'Herlihy | Producer |
| Robert Enrietto | Producer |
| Ed Friendly | Producer |
Editors
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 1980 | Golden Globe | Best Television Series - Drama | Nominated |
| 1979 | Emmy | Outstanding Achievement in Hairstyling | Nominated |
| 1979 | Emmy | Outstanding Achievement in Makeup | Won |
| 1979 | Emmy | Outstanding Art Direction for a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
| 1979 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
| 1979 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
| 1979 | Emmy | Outstanding Limited Series | Nominated |
| 1979 | Emmy | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
| 1979 | Emmy | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
| 1979 | Emmy | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
| 1979 | Emmy | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
| 1979 | Emmy | Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
