Rich Man, Poor Man (1976)
The landmark ABC miniseries that redefined American television, tracing two brothers through ambition, heartbreak, and the American dream.
Rich Man, Poor Man - Series Information
- Original Title: Rich Man, Poor Man
- First Air Year: 1976
- Last Air Year: 1976
- Created by: Irwin Shaw
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Soap
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (60 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 12
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: February 1, 1976 (United Kingdom - 12), February 1, 1976 (Spain - 12)
- Networks: ABC
- Alternative Titles: Le riche et le pauvre (FR), Rikas, rakas, köyhä, varas (FI), De Jordaches (NL), Reich & arm (DE), Il ricco e il povero (IT), Rich Man, Poor Man Book I (US), Pogoda dla bogaczy (PL), Zengin ve Yoksul (TR)
- Production Companies: Universal Television, Harve Bennett Productions
- Production Countries: United States of America
Rich Man, Poor Man - Plot
Based on the best-selling 1969 novel by Irwin Shaw, the series follows the divergent career courses of the impoverished German American Jordache brothers.
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Rich Man, Poor Man - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Irwin Shaw
Main Cast
- Peter Strauss
- Nick Nolte
- Susan Blakely
- Ed Asner
- Dorothy McGuire
- Bill Bixby
- Ray Milland
- Robert Reed
- Murray Hamilton
- Dorothy Malone
Writers
- Dean Riesner
Executive Producers
- Harve Bennett
Rich Man, Poor Man - FAQs
Is Rich Man, Poor Man based on a true story?
Rich Man, Poor Man is not based on a true story, but it draws from Irwin Shaw's acclaimed 1969 novel of the same name. Shaw crafted a richly fictional portrait of postwar American life through the Jordache brothers, weaving themes of class, ambition, and family conflict that felt deeply authentic to audiences of the era.
What made Rich Man, Poor Man a television landmark?
Rich Man, Poor Man is widely credited with pioneering the modern miniseries format on American television. Its 1976 debut on ABC drew massive audiences and earned 23 Emmy nominations, proving that serialized, novel-length storytelling could captivate prime-time viewers and paving the way for prestige limited series to follow.
Who are the main actors in Rich Man, Poor Man?
The series stars Peter Strauss as the ambitious Rudy Jordache and Nick Nolte as his rebellious brother Tom, with Susan Blakely as Julie Prescott. The ensemble also features Ed Asner, Dorothy McGuire, Bill Bixby, Ray Milland, Robert Reed, Murray Hamilton, and Dorothy Malone in key supporting roles.
Where can I watch Rich Man, Poor Man?
You can find streaming and viewing options for Rich Man, Poor Man on JustWatch, which lists current availability across platforms in your region. Availability may vary depending on your location, so checking JustWatch is the easiest way to find the most up-to-date options.
Did Rich Man, Poor Man win any awards?
Rich Man, Poor Man earned 23 Emmy Award nominations in 1976, a remarkable achievement that reflected its cultural impact. Susan Blakely won the Emmy for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, and the miniseries' success at the awards helped establish the limited series as a prestigious television format.
How many episodes does Rich Man, Poor Man have?
Rich Man, Poor Man consists of 12 episodes across a single miniseries season, each running approximately 60 minutes. Originally broadcast on ABC beginning in February 1976, the episodes aired over several weeks, allowing the sprawling Jordache family saga to unfold in a format closer to a novel than a traditional TV series.
Was Nick Nolte's career launched by Rich Man, Poor Man?
Rich Man, Poor Man was a career-defining breakthrough for Nick Nolte. His raw, magnetic portrayal of Tom Jordache turned him into a household name virtually overnight and earned him an Emmy nomination. Before the miniseries, Nolte was a relatively unknown actor; afterward, he became one of Hollywood's most sought-after leading men.
What are similar series to Rich Man, Poor Man?
Fans of Rich Man, Poor Man often enjoy other multigenerational family dramas such as Brothers and Sisters, Empire, and Parenthood, which share its focus on family conflict and ambition. For classic soap-inflected drama, Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless offer a similar emotional intensity rooted in long-form storytelling.
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