The Thorn Birds

The Thorn Birds

The Thorn Birds is a television mini-series broadcast on ABC between 27 and 30 March 1983. It starred Richard Chamberlain, Rachel Ward, Barbara Stanwyck, Christopher Plummer, Richard Kiley, Bryan Brown, Mare Winningham, Philip Anglim and Jean Simmons. It was directed by Daryl Duke and based on a novel by Colleen McCullough. Set primarily on Drogheda, a fictional sheep station in the Australian outback, the story focuses on three generations of the Cleary Family and spans the years 1920 to 1962. In the novel, Meggie is totally ignorant of sexual matters until her wedding and has her own...
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quick facts
On the air:March 27, 1983-March 30, 1983
Network:American Broadcasting Company
Producer:David L. Wolper

Honors and awards

YearAward Won
1983 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Miniseries or a Movie, Barbara Stanwyck
1983 Primetime Emmy Award for Supporting Actor - Miniseries or a Movie, Richard Kiley
1983 Primetime Emmy Award for Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie, Jean Simmons
1984 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film, Barbara Stanwyck
1984 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Richard Chamberlain
1984 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film, Richard Kiley
1984 Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film, Stan Margulies
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YearAward Nomination
1983 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor - Miniseries or a Movie, Richard Chamberlain
1983 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress - Miniseries or a Movie, Barbara Stanwyck
1983 Primetime Emmy Award for Supporting Actor - Miniseries or a Movie, Christopher Plummer
1983 Primetime Emmy Award for Supporting Actor - Miniseries or a Movie, Bryan Brown
1983 Primetime Emmy Award for Supporting Actor - Miniseries or a Movie, Richard Kiley
1983 Primetime Emmy Award for Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie, Piper Laurie
1983 Primetime Emmy Award for Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie, Jean Simmons
1984 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Richard Chamberlain
1984 Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television, Rachel Ward
1984 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film, Richard Kiley
1984 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film, Bryan Brown
1984 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film, Barbara Stanwyck
1984 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film, Piper Laurie
1984 Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film, Jean Simmons
1984 Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film, Stan Margulies
1983 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Costume Design for a Limited Series or a Special, William Travilla
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Award-winners from The Thorn Birds

Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck
Born:July 16, 1907
Died:January 20, 1990

Barbara Stanwyck was an American actress. She was a film and television star, known during her 60-year career as a consummate and versatile professional with a strong screen presence, and a favorite of directors including Cecil B. DeMille, Fritz Lang and Frank Capra. After a short but notable...
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Richard Kiley
Richard Kiley
Born:March 31, 1922
Died:March 5, 1999

Richard Paul Kiley was an American stage, television, and film actor. He is best known for his voice work, as narrator of various documentary series, and for having played Don Quixote in the original 1965 production of the Broadway musical Man of La Mancha. Kiley was the first to sing and record...
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Jean Simmons
Jean Simmons
Born:January 31, 1929
Died:January 22, 2010

Jean Merilyn Simmons, OBE was an English actress. She appeared predominantly in films, beginning with those films made in Great Britain during and after World War II – she was one of J. Arthur Rank's 'well-spoken young starlets' – followed mainly by Hollywood films from 1950. Simmons...
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Richard Chamberlain
Richard Chamberlain
Born:March 31, 1934

George Richard Chamberlain is an American stage and screen actor and singer, who became a teen idol in the title role of the television show Dr. Kildare . Since then, he has appeared in several mini-series such as Shōgun and The Thorn Birds , many successful films, and performed classical...
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Cast of The Thorn Birds

Sydney Penny
Sydney Penny
Character:Meggie Cleary
Born:Aug. 7, 1971
Age:40
Barry Corbin
Barry Corbin
Born:Oct. 16, 1940
Age:71
Brett Cullen
Brett Cullen
Born:Aug. 26, 1956
Age:55
Ken Howard
Ken Howard
Born:Mar. 28, 1944
Age:68
Earl Holliman
Earl Holliman
Born:Sept. 11, 1928
Age:83
Christopher Plummer
Christopher Plummer
Born:Dec. 13, 1929
Age:82
Mare Winningham
Mare Winningham
Born:May 16, 1959
Age:52
Piper Laurie
Piper Laurie
Born:Jan. 22, 1932
Age:80
Rance Howard
Rance Howard
Born:Nov. 17, 1928
Age:83
Rachel Ward
Rachel Ward
Born:Sept. 12, 1957
Age:54
Bryan Brown
Bryan Brown
Born:June 23, 1947
Age:64
Philip Anglim
Philip Anglim
Born:Feb. 11, 1953
Age:59

The Thorn Birds seasons

Season
The Thorn Birds - Season 1
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The Thorn Birds
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