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The Thorn Birds is an American television miniseries broadcast on ABC from March 27 to 30, 1983. It starred Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, Barbara Stanwyck, Christopher Plummer, Piper Laurie, Jean Simmons, Richard Kiley, Bryan Brown, Mare Winningham and Philip Anglim. It was directed by Daryl Duke and based on a novel of the same name by Colleen McCullough. The series was enormously successful and became the United States' second highest-rated miniseries of all time behind Roots; both series were produced by television veteran David L. Wolper.
Original Release
03/27/1983 on ABC
US Release
03/27/1983
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Richard Chamberlain | Ralph de Bricassart |
| Rachel Ward | Meggie Cleary |
| Christopher Plummer | Archbishop Vittorio Contini-Verchese |
| Bryan Brown | Luke O'Neill |
| Brett Cullen | Bob Cleary |
| Stephanie Faracy | Judy |
| Barry Corbin | Pete |
| John de Lancie | Alastair MacQueen |
| Barbara Stanwyck | Mary Carson |
| Jean Simmons | Fiona 'Fee' Cleary / Fee Cleary |
Directors
Writers
Colleen McCullough, Carmen Culver
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Richard Chamberlain | Ralph de Bricassart |
| Rachel Ward | Meggie Cleary |
| Christopher Plummer | Archbishop Vittorio Contini-Verchese |
| Bryan Brown | Luke O'Neill |
| Brett Cullen | Bob Cleary |
| Stephanie Faracy | Judy |
| Barry Corbin | Pete |
| John de Lancie | Alastair MacQueen |
| Barbara Stanwyck | Mary Carson |
| Jean Simmons | Fiona 'Fee' Cleary / Fee Cleary |
| Earl Holliman | Luddie Mueller |
| Philip Anglim | Dane O'Neill |
| John Friedrich | Frank Cleary |
| Stephen W. Burns | Jack Cleary |
| Bill Morey | Angus MacQueen |
| Holly Palance | Miss Carmichael |
| Allyn Ann McLerie | Mrs. Smith |
| Ken Howard | Rainer Hartheim |
| Richard Kiley | Paddy Cleary |
| Mare Winningham | Justine O'Neill |
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|
| David L. Wolper | Executive Producer |
| Edward Lewis | Executive Producer |
| Swifty Lazar | Producer |
| Stan Margulies | Producer |
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 1984 | Golden Globe | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Won |
| 1984 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Nominated |
| 1984 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Won |
| 1984 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Won |
| 1984 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Nominated |
| 1984 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Nominated |
| 1984 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Won |
| 1984 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Achievement in Makeup | Won |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Limited Series or a Special (Dramatic Underscore) | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Art Direction for a Limited Series or a Special | Won |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Costume Design for a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Film Editing for a Limited Series or a Special | Won |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Film Editing for a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special | Won |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Limited Series | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special | Won |
