Blue Thunder 40 years old

Blue Thunder

Blue Thunder is a 1984 ABC television series based on the movie of the same title featuring the Blue Thunder helicopter. The series uses the converted Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopter and large portions of stock footage from the 1983 film. A ground unit named "Rolling Thunder" backed up the helicopter in the television series. This was a large support van with a desert camouflage off-road vehicle stored inside. The television series cast includes James Farentino, Dana Carvey, and former professional American football players Bubba Smith and Dick Butkus. The series was canceled by ABC after they felt the similar Airwolf on CBS would win the ratings battle. Also, the series aired at the same time as the CBS soap opera Dallas on Friday nights, and lost. Eleven episodes were made before the series was cancelled.

Credits

Cast

Name Character
John Hancock He was 246 , 56 years old when he died
Geoffrey Lewis He was 48 , 79 years old when he died
Carolyn Seymour She was 36 , now 77 years old
Ray Wise He was 36 , now 77 years old
James Farentino He was 45 , 73 years old when he died as Frank Chaney
Darleen Carr She was 33 , now 74 years old
Kelly Preston She was 21 , 57 years old when she died as Amy Braddock
George Gaynes He was 66 , 98 years old when he died as Dr. Willi Von Hartig
Gregory Sierra He was 42 , now 83 years old
Beverly Todd She was 37 , now 78 years old
Paul Koslo He was 39 , 74 years old when he died
Joseph Whipp He was 42 , now 83 years old
Sandy McPeak She was 47 , 61 years old when she died as Captain Braddock
Scott Hylands He was 41 , now 81 years old
Matthew Faison He was 39 , now 80 years old
Richard Lynch He was 43 , 72 years old when he died
Dana Carvey He was 28 , now 69 years old as Clinton Wonderlove
Tracy Scoggins She was 30 , now 71 years old
Dick Butkus He was 41 , now 82 years old as Richard Butowski
Thalmus Rasulala He was 44 , 51 years old when he died
Belinda Montgomery She was 33 , now 74 years old
Kurtwood Smith He was 40 , now 81 years old
Bubba Smith He was 38 , 66 years old when he died as Lyman Kelsey
John Fox He was 121 , 149 years old when he died
Liz Torres She was 36 , now 77 years old
Leigh Lombardi
Robert DoQui He was 49 , 73 years old when he died
Robert Donner He was 52 , 75 years old when he died
Ralph Manza He was 62 , 78 years old when he died
Troy Evans He was 35 , now 76 years old

Crew

Name Job title
Roy Huggins Production He was 69 , 87 years old when he died Producer
Roy Huggins Production He was 69 , 87 years old when he died Executive Producer
Gilbert M. Shilton Directing Director
Earl Bellamy Directing He was 66 , 86 years old when he died Director
Guy Magar Directing He was 36 , now 76 years old Director
Blue Thunder poster
Blue Thunder (40 years)

Canceled

  • First Air Date: 1984-01-06
  • Runtime: [49] minutes
  • Number of Episodes: 11