''Executive Suite'' is an American primetime soap opera which premiered on September 20, 1976. Loosely based on the
1954 film of the same name, it follows the personal and professional pressures of board members at the Cardway Corporation, a large conglomerate based in California.
The show was cancelled after five months, with its last episode airing on February 11, 1977.
Cast and characters
''Executive Suite'' revolves around the power struggle between Don Walling (
Mitchell Ryan), the board chairman of the company, and Howell Rutledge (
Stephen Elliott), his chief rival and the company's hard-nosed senior vice president. Don is supported by his wife Helen (
Sharon Acker), prodigal son Brian (
Leigh McCloskey), who has recently returned from Europe, and daughter Stacey (
Wendy Phillips), who is often involved in radical politics, to her family's dismay. Howell is assisted in his schemes by his equally conniving wife, Astrid (Gwyda Donhowe).
Other major characters include Hilary Madison (
Madlyn Rhue), Cardway's only female board member and vice president of advertising, Mark Desmond (
Richard Cox), head of consumer relations, members of the board Pearce Newberry (
Byron Morrow), Malcolm Gibson (
Percy Rodriguez) and Anderson Galt (
William Smithers), Tom Dalessio (
Paul Lambert), Brian's boss at the chemical plant, his daughter Glory (
Joan Prather), who is having an affair with Andy Galt, Glory's black roommate Summer (
Brenda Sykes
Brenda Sykes (born June 25, 1949) is an American actress who made a number of films and appeared in television series in the 1970s. She was discovered on ''The Dating Game''.
Life and career
Sykes was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, the daughte ...
), who becomes involved in an interracial romance with Brian, Mark's lover and former porn star Yvonne (
Trisha Noble) and union rep Harry Ragin (
Carl Weintraub
Carl Weintraub (born March 27, 1946) is an American actor who appeared on numerous television shows from the 1970s to the 2000s in addition to several films.
Weintraub had a starring role in ''Coins in the Fountain''. He appeared in ''Beverly H ...
).
Recurring characters include Yvonne's husband and porn producer Burt Holland (
Lloyd Bochner), Cardway's business rival Sharon Coby (
Joanna Barnes
Joanna Barnes (November 15, 1934 – April 29, 2022) was an American actress and writer.
Early life and education
Barnes was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the eldest daughter of John Pindar Barnes and Alice Weston Mutch. She had two younger ...
), her spy Nick Koslo (
Scott Marlowe), who becomes involved with Hilary, Nick's son B.J. (
Moosie Drier
Gary Drier, known professionally as Moosie Drier (born August 6, 1964) is an American television and film actor. He is best known for his roles as Adam Landers in '' Oh, God!'' and Riley on '' Kids Incorporated''. Drier had regular appearances o ...
), lumber company owner Paul Duquesne (
James Luisi), Sy Bookerman (
John Randolph), Summer's brother Walter (
Nat Jones), who disapproves of her relationship with Brian, Galt's wife Leona (Patricia Smith), who has a lesbian affair with Julie (
Geraldine Brooks) that ends in tragedy, and theatre director David Valerio (
Ricardo Montalban), who becomes involved with Helen.
Episodes
References
External links
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*{{epguides, ExecutiveSuite
1976 American television series debuts
1977 American television series endings
1970s American drama television series
English-language television shows
CBS original programming
Television shows set in Los Angeles
Television series by MGM Television
Live action television shows based on films