''Rooster'' is a 1982 made-for-television film starring

Paul Williams Paul Williams may refer to: Authors * Paul Williams (Crawdaddy) (1948–2013), American music and science fiction journalist; founder of ''Crawdaddy'' and the Philip K. Dick Society * Paul Williams (Irish journalist) (born 1964), Irish journalis ...

and Pat McCormick who were reunited after their pairing in the ''

Smokey and the Bandit ''Smokey and the Bandit'' is a 1977 American action comedy road film starring Burt Reynolds, Sally Field, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Pat McCormick, Paul Williams, and Mike Henry. The film marks the directorial debut of stuntman Hal Needham ...

'' movies. ''Rooster'' is an unsold television pilot written and produced by

Glen A. Larson Glen Albert Larson (January 3, 1937 – November 14, 2014) was an American television producer, writer, and composer. He created many series, including '' Alias Smith and Jones'', ''Battlestar Galactica'', '' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'', ' ...

for

20th Century Fox Television 20th Television, Inc. (formerly known as TCF Television Productions, Inc., 20th Century-Fox Television and 20th Century Fox Television) is the television studio arm of 20th Century Studios, owned by Disney Television Studios, a division of the Di ...

and broadcast as a two-hour movie on

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...

on August 19, 1982 and was rebroadcast on July 24, 1983.

Plot summary

A physically small police psychologist (Paul Williams) and a physically large insurance detective (Pat McCormick) team up on an arson case.

Cast

as Rooster Steele * Pat McCormick as Sweets McBride * J. D. Cannon as Chief Willard T. Coburn *

Ed Lauter Edward Matthew Lauter Jr. ( ; October 30, 1938 – October 16, 2013) was an American actor and stand-up comedian. He appeared in more than 200 films and TV series episodes in a career that spanned over 40 years. Early life Lauter was born and ...

as Jack Claggert *

Jill St. John Jill St. John (born Jill Arlyn Oppenheim; August 19, 1940) is an American retired actress. She is best known for playing Tiffany Case, the first American Bond girl of the James Bond film franchise, in 1971's '' Diamonds Are Forever''. Additiona ...

as Joanna Van Eegan *

Delta Burke Delta Burke McRaney (born July 30, 1956) is an American actress, producer and author. From 1986 to 1991, she starred as Suzanne Sugarbaker in the CBS sitcom '' Designing Women'', for which she received two Emmy Award nominations for Outstand ...

as Laura DeVega * Kathrine Baumann as Amy Hammond *

Charlie Callas Charlie Callas (born Charles Callias; December 20, 1927 – January 27, 2011) was an American actor and comedian. He was most commonly known for his work with Mel Brooks, Jerry Lewis, and Dean Martin, and his many stand-up appearances on televisio ...

as Francis A. Melville *

Henry Darrow Henry Darrow (born Enrique Tomás Delgado Jiménez; September 15, 1933 – March 14, 2021) was an American character actor of stage and film known for his role as Manolito "Mano" Montoya on the 1960s television series ''The High Chaparral''. In f ...

as Dr. Sanchez *

Pamela Hensley Pamela Hensley is an American actress and author. Her notable acting roles include Princess Ardala on the 1979–1981 television series '' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century'' and C.J. Parsons on the 1982–1985 television series ''Matt Houston''. S ...

as Bunny Richter *

Lara Parker Mary Lamar Rickey (October 27, 1938 – October 12, 2023), better known as Lara Parker, was an American actress and writer known for her role as the witch Angelique Bouchard Collins on the ABC-TV serial ''Dark Shadows'', which aired from 1966 to ...

as Janet *

William Daniels William David Daniels (born March 31, 1927) is an American actor who is known for his television roles, notably as Mark Craig on the drama series ''St. Elsewhere'', for which he won two Primetime Emmy Awards; the voice of KITT on the televisi ...

as Dr. DeVega *

John Saxon John Saxon (born Carmine Orrico; August 5, 1936 – July 25, 2020) was an American actor who worked on more than 200 film and television projects during a span of 60 years. He was known for his work in Westerns and horror films, often playing ...

as Jerome Brademan *

Eddie Albert Edward Albert Heimberger (April 22, 1906 – May 26, 2005) was an American actor. He is known for his roles on stage and screen and received nominations for two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and two Golden Globe Awards. Albert made his actin ...

as Rev. Harlan Barnum *

Marie Osmond Olive Marie Osmond (born October 13, 1959) is an American singer, actress, television personality, author, and businesswoman. She is known for her girl next door, girl-next-door image and her decades-long career in many different areas. Her musi ...

as Sister Mae Davis *

Dan Pastorini Dante Anthony Pastorini (born May 26, 1949) is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons, primarily with the Houston Oilers. He played college football for the Sa ...

as Himself *

Dusty Baker Johnnie B "Dusty" Baker Jr. (born June 15, 1949) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and Manager (baseball), manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for 19 seasons, most notably with the Los Angeles Dodgers. D ...

as Himself *

Jerry Reuss Jerry Reuss (born June 19, 1949)—pronounced "royce"—is an American former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, best known for his years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Reuss played for eight teams in his major league career; along wi ...

as Himself *

Mike Scioscia Michael Lorri Scioscia ( ; born November 27, 1958), nicknamed "Sosh" and "El Jefe" (Spanish for "The Boss"), is an American former Major League Baseball catcher and manager (baseball), manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). He managed the Los A ...

as Himself

Follow-ons

Rooster Steele and Sweets McBride, played by Paul Williams and Pat McCormick, would reappear in "How Do I Kill Thee...Let Me Count the Ways" episode of ''The Fall Guy'' in 1983.

External links

* 1982 films 1982 television films Television films as pilots Television pilots not picked up as a series 20th Century Fox Television films Films scored by Stu Phillips Films directed by Russ Mayberry {{US-tv-drama-film-stub