''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 Mitchell Ryan (January 11, 1934 – March 4, 2022) was an American film, television, and stage actor, who in his six decades of television is known for playing Burke Devlin in the 1960s gothic soap opera ''Dark Shadows'', and later for his co- ...

), the board chairman of the company, and Howell Rutledge (

Stephen Elliott Stephen Elliott may refer to: Entertainment *Stephen Elliott (actor), (1918–2005), American actor * Stephen Elliott (author) (born 1971), American author and activist Sport *Steve Elliott (footballer, born 1958), English footballer *Steve Ellio ...

), 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 Leigh Joseph McCloskey (born June 21, 1955) is an American actor, artist, author and philosopher. Throughout his acting career, McCloskey appeared in numerous television series and movies, including the popular American soap opera ''Dallas'' an ...

), who has recently returned from Europe, and daughter Stacey (

Wendy Phillips Wendy Phillips (born January 2, 1952) is an American actress, known for her roles on television series including ''Falcon Crest'', '' Homefront'' and ''Promised Land''. Life and career Phillips was born in Brooklyn, New York. She made her scree ...

), 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 Madlyn Soloman Rhue (née Madeline Roche, October 3, 1935 – December 16, 2003) was an American film and television actress. Personal life - youth and education Rhue was born in Washington, D.C., graduated from Los Angeles High School, and st ...

), 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 William Byron Morrow (September 8, 1911 – May 11, 2006) was an American television and film actor. Early life Born in Chicago, Illinois, Morrow served in the Army in World War II, performing in theater productions during his tour of duty ...

), Malcolm Gibson (

Percy Rodriguez Percy Rodriguez (born Percy Rodrigues; June 13, 1918 – September 6, 2007) was a Canadian actor who appeared in many television shows and films from the 1950s to the 1980s. He was of Afro-Portuguese heritage and was born in the Saint-Henri neig ...

) and Anderson Galt (

William Smithers William Smithers (born July 10, 1927) is an American actor, perhaps best known for his recurring role as Jeremy Wendell in the television series ''Dallas''. He appeared in the series in 1981 and from 1984 to 1989. Early life and career Smith ...

), Tom Dalessio (

Paul Lambert Paul Lambert (born 7 August 1969) is a Scottish professional football manager and former player, who was most recently the manager of Ipswich Town. Lambert played as a midfielder and won the Scottish Cup in 1987 with St Mirren as a 17-year-ol ...

), Brian's boss at the chemical plant, his daughter Glory (

Joan Prather Joan Prather is an American actress, best known for her role as Janet McArthur Bradford (wife of David) in ''Eight Is Enough''. Early life Prather was born in Dallas, Texas. Prather first began acting in grade-school stage productions, and wa ...

), who is having an affair with Andy Galt, Glory's black roommate Summer ( Brenda Sykes), who becomes involved in an interracial romance with Brian, Mark's lover and former porn star Yvonne (

Trisha Noble Patricia Ann Ruth Noble (3 February 1944 – 23 January 2021) was an Australian singer and actress. Initially performing as Patsy Ann Noble, she was a teenage pop singer in the early 1960s, with regular appearances on the music and variety tele ...

) and union rep Harry Ragin ( Carl Weintraub). Recurring characters include Yvonne's husband and porn producer Burt Holland (

Lloyd Bochner Lloyd Wolfe Bochner (July 29, 1924 – October 29, 2005) was a Canadian actor. He appeared in many Canadian and Hollywood productions between the 1950s and 1990s, including the films ''Point Blank'' (1967), '' The Detective'' (1968), '' The ...

), 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 Scott Gregory Marlowe (born Ronald Richard DeLeo; June 24, 1932 – January 6, 2001)''Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014''. Social Security Administration was an American actor who had a starring role in the 1957 teen exploitation film '' ...

), 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! (film), Oh, God!'' and Riley on ''Kids Incorporated''. Drier had regula ...

), lumber company owner Paul Duquesne ( James Luisi), Sy Bookerman ( John Randolph), Summer's brother Walter (

Nat Jones Nat Jones (born July 24, 1976) is an American artist working primarily in comic books and film. Jones is best known for his work on Frank Frazetta's ''Death Dealer (comics), Death Dealer''. Bibliography Artist *''Crypt of Dawn'' (1996) *''The C ...

), 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 Ricardo is the Spanish and Portuguese cognate of the name Richard. It derived from Proto-Germanic ''*rīks'' 'king, ruler' + ''*harduz'' 'hard, brave'. It may be a given name, or a surname. People Given name *Ricardo de Araújo Pereira, Portugu ...

), who becomes involved with Helen.

Episodes

References

External links

* * *{{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