FATHER MURPHY – THE COMPLETE SERIES (NBC 1981-83) RARE!!! Merlin Olsen, Moses Gunn, Katherine Cannon, Timothy Gibbs

Father Murphy is an American western drama television series that aired on the NBC network from November 3, 1981, to September 18, 1983. Michael Landon created the series, was the executive producer, and directed the show in partnership with William F. Claxton, Maury Dexter, Victor French and Leo Penn.

The series stars former NFL Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle football player and Little House on the Prairie actor Merlin Olsen as an 1870s frontiersman named John Michael Murphy who teams up with prospector Moses Gage (Moses Gunn) to shelter a group of orphans who are being threatened with internment in a workhouse. Murphy disguises himself as a priest and befriends a schoolmarm to help the children find a home.

At the end of the first season, John's true identity is revealed to the head of the workhouse, and the orphans seem destined for a life of labor. Instead, Murphy marries the schoolmarm and they get custody of the children.

The cast included:

• Merlin Olsen as John Michael Murphy
• Moses Gunn as Moses Gage
• Katherine Cannon as Mae Woodward
• Timothy Gibbs as Will Adams
• Scott Mellini as Ephram Winkler
• Lisa Trusel as Lizette Winkler
• Kirk Brennan as David Sims
• Byron Thames as Matt Sims
• Chez Lister as Eli Matthews
• Richard Bergman as Father Joe Parker
• Charles Tyner as Howard Rodman
• Ivy Bethune as Evelyn Tuttle
• Burr DeBenning as Paul/Richard Garrett
• Ted Markland as Frank
  

Notable guest appearances on the series include: Shannen Doherty, Mykelti Williamson, Kellie Martin, John M. Pickard, Eddie Quillan, Christina Applegate, Amanda Peterson, Donna Wilkes, Tina Yothers, Mary Beth Evans, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Jerry Hardin, and James Cromwell.

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Number of DVDs: 6

Number of Episodes: 34

Quality: 9.5/10

Running Time: 29 hrs 28 min (approx)

Aspect Ratio: Full Screen 1.33:1

NOTES: This is a fan-made DVD set. Not    a studio release.