Purlie 43 years old

Based on Davis' 1961 play Purlie Victorious (which was later translated into the 1963 film Gone Are the Days! and which included all of the original Broadway cast, including Ruby Dee, Alan Alda, Beah Richards, and Godfrey Cambridge), Purlie is a musical with a book by Ossie Davis, Philip Rose, and Peter Udell, lyrics by Udell, and music by Gary Geld. It won two Tony Awards and was also nominated for Best Musical. This 1981 television adaptation is directed by Rudi Goldman and stars Broadway cast members Guillaume, Moore, Hemsley, and Hopkins, with Brandon Maggart as Cotchipee, Clarice Taylor as Idilla, and Don Scardino as Charlie. The production won a CableACE Award.

Credits

Robert Guillaume as

Sherman Hemsley as

Don Scardino as

Clarice Taylor as

Melba Moore as

Brandon Maggart as

Purlie Cast

Name	Character
Robert Guillaume He was 53, 89 years old when he died
Sherman Hemsley He was 43, 74 years old when he died
Don Scardino He was 33, now 76 years old
Clarice Taylor She was 64, 93 years old when she died
Melba Moore She was 35, now 79 years old
Brandon Maggart He was 47, now 90 years old
Linda Hopkins She was 56, 92 years old when she died
Rhetta Hughes She was 27, now 71 years old
Pauletta Washington She was 31, now 74 years old	as Ensemble

Purlie Crew

Name	Department
Ossie Davis as Writer. He was 63 (87) years old when He died	Writing

Purlie (43 years)

Release day: Monday, October 12, 1981
Runtime: 142 minutes