''The Kennedys of Massachusetts'' is a 1990 TV miniseries that aired on ABC. Focusing mainly on the fifty-four year marriage of Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and

Rose Kennedy Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald Kennedy (July 22, 1890 – January 22, 1995) was an American philanthropist, socialite, and matriarch of the Kennedy family. She was deeply embedded in the " lace curtain" Irish American community in Boston. Her father ...

. The events depicted in the series are based upon the book by

Doris Kearns Goodwin Doris Helen Kearns Goodwin (born January 4, 1943) is an American biographer, historian, former sports journalist, and political commentator. She has written biographies of several U.S. presidents, including ''Lyndon Johnson and the American Drea ...

titled ''The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys : An American Saga''. The series aired across three nights, and earned an Emmy and a Golden Globe.

Synopsis

The series begins in Boston in 1906, prior to John F. Fitzgerald being sworn in as city mayor. The Kennedys, as well as Fitzgerald's daughters, most notably

Rose A rose is either a woody perennial flowering plant of the genus ''Rosa'' (), in the family Rosaceae (), or the flower it bears. There are over three hundred species and tens of thousands of cultivars. They form a group of plants that can be ...

attend the swearing in ceremony. Joe Kennedy is shown to be smitten with Rose. The first episode covers their courtship, education, marriage and growth of their family, as well as Joe's affair with actress

Gloria Swanson Gloria May Josephine Swanson (March 27, 1899April 4, 1983) was an American actress and producer. She first achieved fame acting in dozens of silent films in the 1920s and was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Actress, most f ...

. Although Rose briefly leaves Joe, John persuades his daughter to return to her husband. The second episode focuses on the eldest Kennedy children Joe Jr,

Jack Jack may refer to: Places * Jack, Alabama, US, an unincorporated community * Jack, Missouri, US, an unincorporated community * Jack County, Texas, a county in Texas, USA People and fictional characters * Jack (given name), a male given name, ...

and Kathleen, as well Joe's appointment as Ambassador to England. Joe Jr's academic success and his father's favouritism bothers Jack, who feels he is equally as intelligent as his brother.

Cast

William Petersen William Louis Petersen (born February 21, 1953) is an American actor and producer. He is best known for his role as Gil Grissom in the CBS drama series ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'' (2000–2015), for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Aw ...

as Joseph P. "Joe" Kennedy, Sr. * Annette O'Toole as

Charles Durning Charles Edward Durning (February 28, 1923 – December 24, 2012) was an American actor who appeared in over 200 movies, television shows and plays.Schudel, Matt (December 26, 2012) "''In real life and on the screen, he played countless role ...

as John F. Fitzgerald *

Tracy Pollan Tracy Jo Pollan (born June 22, 1960), is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Ellen Reed on the sitcom ''Family Ties'' (1985–1987). Early life Pollan was born on Long Island, New York, the daughter of Corinne Elaine "Corky ...

as Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy **Kelsey Nichols: Ages 8–9 * Pat Hingle as P.J. Kennedy * Steven Weber as John F. "Jack" Kennedy **Christina Nikitas: Ages 2–3 **Thomas Krajewski: Ages 9–12 *

Campbell Scott Campbell Scott (born July 19, 1961) is an American actor, producer and director. His roles include Steve Dunne in '' Singles'', Mark Usher in '' House of Cards'', Joseph Tobin in ''Damages'', and Richard Parker in '' The Amazing Spider-Man'' an ...

as Joseph P. "Joe" Kennedy, Jr. **Dante Magnani: Ages 2–4 **Michael Goodwin: Ages 11–12 * Madolyn Smith as

* Olek Krupa as Erich Von Stroheim *

Josef Sommer Maximilian Josef Sommer (born June 26, 1934) is a retired German-American stage, television, and film actor. Early life He was born in Greifswald, Germany, and raised in North Carolina, the son of Elisabeth and Clemens Sommer, a professor of Art ...

Franklin D. Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt (; ; January 30, 1882April 12, 1945), often referred to by his initials FDR, was an American politician and attorney who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945. As the ...

*Randle Mell as Robert F. "Bobby" Kennedy **Will Gardner: Age 7 **

Casey Affleck Caleb Casey McGuire Affleck-Boldt (born August 12, 1975) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Satellite Award. He ...

: Ages 12–15 *Kristen Kelly as Patricia Kennedy **Karen Chaffee: Ages 13–14 *Ryan Shaugnessy and Matthew Dundas as Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy: Shaughnessy plays Ted ages 5–6, and Dundas plays him at ages 12–14. *Beth Herzig as Jean Kennedy **Danielle Schonback: Ages 9–12 *

Deirdre Lovejoy Deirdre Lovejoy (born June 30, 1962) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Assistant State's Attorney Rhonda Pearlman on HBO’s ''The Wire''. She is also known for her roles as a serial killer Heather Taffet (aka "The Gr ...

Rosemary Kennedy Rose Marie "Rosemary" Kennedy (September 13, 1918 – January 7, 2005) was the eldest daughter born to Joseph P. Kennedy Sr. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. She was a sister of President John F. Kennedy and Senators Robert F. and Ted Kennedy. ...

**Jennifer Walsh: Ages 1–4 **Remi Nichols: Ages 8–11 *Halina Radosz as Eunice Kennedy

Ratings

References

External links

* Kennedy family 1990s American television miniseries American biographical series Films about John F. Kennedy Films about Robert F. Kennedy Films directed by Lamont Johnson Films scored by Laurence Rosenthal Cultural depictions of John F. Kennedy Cultural depictions of Robert F. Kennedy Cultural depictions of Franklin D. Roosevelt American Broadcasting Company original programming {{Tv-episode-stub

Synopsis

Cast

Ratings

See also

References

External links