A.D.

1 9 8 5 (Italy/France/USA)
5 x 140 minute episodes

This 12-hour epic miniseries was created by NBC with Italian and French cooperation, and directed by Stuart Cooper.

The story begins where the 1977 miniseries Jesus of Nazareth ended, covering the years from 30 A.D (Anno Domini, the Year of the Lord) to 69 A.D.

Within that timeframe the opposing views of the Christians, Jews and native Italians during the peak of the Roman Empire are examined in the wake of Christ’s death.

Though political matters are considered in the teleplay by Vincenzo Labella and A Clockwork Orange author Anthony Burgess, plenty of room is given to sheer spectacle.

The grandeur is reasonably authentic since the programme was filmed in Tunisia over 10 months.

The series lured a wealth of internationally celebrated performers. In addition to the final performance by the late James Mason, the series offers Anthony Andrews, Colleen Dewhurst, Ava Gardner, David Hedison, John Houseman, Richard Kiley, Ian McShane, Jennifer O’Neill, Fernando Rey, Richard Roundtree, Susan Sarandon, Philip Sayer, Ben Vereen, and Jack Warden.

Nero
Anthony Andrews
Antonia
Colleen Dewhurst
Agrippina
Ava Gardner
Porcius Festus
David Hedison
Gamaliel
John Houseman
Claudius
Richard Kiley
Tiberius
James Mason
Caligula
John McEnery
Sejanus
Ian McShane
Messalina
Jennifer O’Neill
Mary
Millie Perkins
Peter
Denis Quilley
Seneca
Fernando Rey
Serpenius
Richard Roundtree
Livilla
Susan Sarandon
Ethiopian
Ben Vereen
Aquila
Tony Vogel
Nerva
Jack Warden
Pontius Pilate
Anthony Zerbe
Valerius
Neil Dickson
Caleb
Chris Humphreys
Sarah
Amanda Pays
Saul/Paul
Philip Sayer
Corinna
Diane Venora
Stephen
Vincent Riotta (as Vincenzo Ricotta)
Cleopas
Tom Durham
Caiaphas
Harold Kasket
Samuel
Ralph Arliss
Zacchaeus
Anthony Pedley
Pallas
Mike Gwilym
Thomas
Davyd Harries
Apicata
Norma Martinelli
Seth
Bruce Winant
Luke
Gerrard McArthur
Priscilla
Angela Morant
Agrippa II
Scott Hoxby (as Derek Hoxby)
Acte
Akosua Busia
Brittanicus
Andrea Prodan
Aaron
Jonathan Tafler
Ananias The Essene
Barrie Houghton
Apicata
Maggie Wickman
Barnabas
Alan Downer
Gaius Calpernius Piso
Martin Potter
James
Colin Haigh
James the Elder
Philip Anthony
Lucius Marinus
Renato Scarpa
Marcellus
Roderick Horn
Marcus I
John Wheatley
Petronius
David Brandon (as David Haughton)
Mathias
David Sumner
Nicanor
Stephen Finlay
Octavia
Katia Dandoulaki
Parmenas
Eddie Grossman
Thrasyllus
Robert Wentz
Herod Agrippa
Damien Thomas
Flavius Sabinus
Vernon Dobtcheff
Poppea
Jane How
Matthew
Joss Buckley
John/Lysias
Jeremy Gittins
Agrippa III/Ananias the Priest
Richard Kane