Who’s Still Alive From ‘Family’?

When Family premiered on ABC on March 9, 1976, it offered a more complicated portrait of family life than viewers were used to seeing on television at the time. Created by Jay Presson Allen, the show began as a six-episode limited series. Mike Nichols produced the pilot, while Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg oversaw the series. Strong ratings kept Family going for five seasons and 86 episodes, through June 25, 1980.

The family was headed by Sada Thompson and James Broderick, who starred as Kate and Doug Lawrence, with Gary Frank as their son, Willie, and Kristy McNichol as their younger daughter, Letitia “Buddy” Lawrence. Elayne Heilveil originated the role of their eldest daughter, Nancy Lawrence Maitland, before Meredith Baxter took over the part. John Rubinstein recurred as Nancy’s husband, Jeff Maitland, while Quinn Cummings joined the cast during the fourth season as Annie Cooper.