Roots 1977 Main Cast
The 1977 miniseries Roots features a large ensemble cast portraying multiple generations of an African American family. LeVar Burton stars as young Kunta Kinte, while John Amos plays his father, Kunta Kinte. Cicely Tyson portrays Kizzy, and Ben Vereen plays Chicken George.
Supporting and Historical Figures
Other notable cast members include Georg Stanford Brown as Tom Harvey, Lynn Carlin as Missy Anne Reynolds, and Moses Gunn as Fiddler. The series also features several actors in historical roles tied to the antebellum South and the Civil War era.
Production and Legacy
Roots was adapted from Alex Haley's novel and produced by David L. Wolper. The miniseries aired on ABC and became one of the most watched television events in U.S. history. Its cast and story helped bring widespread attention to the history of slavery in America. For more background on the series, see the Roots Wikipedia page.
