# Rich Man, Poor Man (miniseries)

Rich Man, Poor Man is a 1976 American television miniseries based on the 1969 novel of the same name by Irwin Shaw that aired on ABC in one or two-hour episodes mostly on Monday nights over seven weeks, beginning February 1. It was produced by Universal Television and was the second time programming of this nature had been attempted. The first TV miniseries, QB VII, had aired — also on ABC — in 1974. These projects proved to be a critical and ratings success and were the forerunner for similar projects based on literary works, such as Roots and Shōgun. The miniseries stars Peter Strauss, Nick Nolte and Susan Blakely.
It spawned the sequel Rich Man, Poor Man Book II, which aired from September 1976 through March 1977. The network repeated the original series Tuesday nights at 9:00pm from May to June 1977.

## Plot

Based on the best-selling 1969 novel by Irwin Shaw, it spans the period 1945 through the late 1960s and follows the divergent career courses of the impoverished German American Jordache brothers. Rudy (Peter Strauss) is the titular rich man, a well-educated and very ambitious entrepreneur who triumphs over his background and constructs a corporate and political empire. Poor man Tom (Nick Nolte) is a rebel who eventually turns to boxing to support himself. Axel and Mary are their parents, and Julie Prescott is Rudy's lifelong sweetheart who eventually marries him.
Later, another important character appears: the dangerous and eccentric Falconetti, lifelong nemesis of the Jordache Brothers, who is intent on killing them.
The first series spans a twenty-year period between 1945 and 1965; the second series begins in 1968. The series became a huge success in the countries that aired it.

## Cast

| Actor | Role |
| Starring ||
| Peter Strauss | Rudy Jordache |
| Nick Nolte | Tom Jordache |
| Susan Blakely | Julie Prescott |
| Guest stars ||
| Steve Allen | Bayard Nichols |
| Edward Asner | Axel Jordache |
| Bill Bixby | Willie Abbott |
| Dick Butkus | Al Fanducci |
| Kim Darby | Virginia Calderwood |
| Andrew Duggan | Col. Deiner |
| Mike Evans | Arnold Simms |
| Norman Fell | Smitty |
| Fionnula Flanagan | Clothilde |
| Lynda Day George | Linda Quayles |
| Gloria Grahame | Sue Prescott |
| Murray Hamilton | Sid Gossett |
| Herbert Jefferson Jr. | Roy Dwyer |
| Van Johnson | Marsh Goodwin |
| Kay Lenz | Kate Jordache |
| George Maharis | Joey Quayles |
| Dorothy Malone | Irene Goodwin |
| Dorothy McGuire | Mary Jordache |
| Tim McIntire | Brad Knight |
| Ray Milland | Duncan Calderwood |
| Lawrence Pressman | Bill Denton |
| Robert Reed | Teddy Boylan |
| Dick Sargent | Eddie Heath |
| Talia Shire | Teresa Santoro |
| William Smith | Anthony Falconetti |
| Craig Stevens | Asher Berg |

## Episode list

| Nº | Title | Directed by | Teleplay by | Runtime | Original air date |
| 1 | "Part I: Chapters 1 and 2" | David Greene | Dean Riesner | 96 min. | February 1, 1976 (1976-02-01) |
| 2 | "Part II: Chapters 3 and 4" | David Greene | Dean Riesner | 95 min. | February 2, 1976 (1976-02-02) |
| 3 | "Part III: Chapter 5" | Boris Sagal | Dean Riesner | 48 min. | February 9, 1976 (1976-02-09) |
| 4 | "Part IV: Chapter 6" | Boris Sagal | Dean Riesner | 48 min. | February 16, 1976 (1976-02-16) |
| 5 | "Part V: Chapter 7" | Boris Sagal | Dean Riesner | 48 min. | February 23, 1976 (1976-02-23) |
| 6 | "Part VI: Chapter 8" | Boris Sagal | Dean Riesner | 48 min. | March 1, 1976 (1976-03-01) |
| 7 | "Part VII: Chapter 9" | David Greene | Dean Riesner | 48 min. | March 8, 1976 (1976-03-08) |
| 8 | "Part VII: Chapter 10" | David Greene | Dean Riesner | 48 min. | March 8, 1976 (1976-03-08) |
| 9 | "Part VIII: Chapters 11 and 12" | David Greene | Dean Riesner | 98 min. | March 15, 1976 (1976-03-15) |

## Production notes

Dean Riesner wrote all twelve episodes, and direction was shared by David Greene and Boris Sagal. The musical score was composed by Alex North.

## Awards and nominations

| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Television Series – Drama | Best Television Series – Drama | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama | Nick Nolte | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama | Peter Strauss | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama | Susan Blakely | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Television | Ed Asner | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actress – Television | Josette Banzet | Won |
| Grammy Awards | Best Album of Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special | Rich Man, Poor Man – Alex North | Nominated |
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | Hall of Fame – Television Programs | Hall of Fame – Television Programs | Inducted |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Limited Series | Harve Bennett and Jon Epstein | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series | Nick Nolte | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series | Peter Strauss | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series | Susan Blakely | Won |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Ray Milland | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Robert Reed | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Dorothy McGuire | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series | Ed Asner (for "Part I: Chapters 1 and 2") | Won |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Comedy or Drama Series | Bill Bixby (for "Part VI: Chapter 8") | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Comedy or Drama Series | Norman Fell (for "Part V: Chapter 7") | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Comedy or Drama Series | Van Johnson (for "Part VII: Chapter 9") | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Comedy or Drama Series | Kim Darby (for "Part II: Chapters 3 and 4") | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Comedy or Drama Series | Fionnula Flanagan (for "Part II: Chapters 3 and 4") | Won |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Single Performance by a Supporting Actress in Comedy or Drama Series | Kay Lenz (for "Part VIII: Chapters 11 and 12") | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series | David Greene (for "Part VII: Chapter 10") | Won |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series | Boris Sagal (for "Part V: Chapter 7") | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series | Dean Riesner | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction or Scenic Design – Single Episode of a Comedy, Drama or Limited Series | William Hiney and Joseph Stone (for "Part VII: Chapter 9") | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for Entertainment Programming for a Series | Howard Schwartz (for "Part I: Chapters 1 and 2") | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design for a Drama or Comedy Series | Charles Waldo (for "Part I: Chapters 1 and 2") | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for Entertainment Programming for a Series – For a Single Episode of a Drama or Limited Series | Richard Bracken (for "Part VII: Chapter 10") | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for Entertainment Programming for a Series – For a Single Episode of a Drama or Limited Series | Douglas Stewart (for "Part II: Chapters 3 and 4") | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series | Alex North | Won |
| TP de Oro | Best Foreign Series | Best Foreign Series | 2nd Place |
| TP de Oro | Best Foreign Actor | Peter Strauss | Won |
| TP de Oro | Most Popular Personage | William Smith | 2nd Place |
| TV Land Awards | Miniseries You Didn't Miss a Moment Of | Miniseries You Didn't Miss a Moment Of | Nominated |

## Home media

A&E Home Video released an edited version of Rich Man, Poor Man: The Complete Collection on Region 1 DVD in the United States on September 28, 2010.