Series synopsis
Angels in America is an American drama sci-fi & fantasy television series that premiered on HBO on December 7, 2003. It ended on December 14, 2003. It was created by Tony Kushner. It stars Al Pacino, Justin Kirk, Ben Shenkman and Mary-Louise Parker.
God has abandoned Heaven. It's 1985: the Reagans are in the White House and Death swings the scythe of AIDS. In Manhattan, Prior Walter tells Louis, his lover of four years, he's ill; Louis leaves but as disease and loneliness ravage Prior, guilt invades Louis. Joe Pitt, a Mormon Republican attorney, is pushed by right-wing fixer Roy Cohn toward a job at the Justice Department. Pitt and Cohn are closeted: Pitt, out of shame and religious turmoil; Cohn, to preserve his power and access. Pitt's wi ...
Premise
God has abandoned Heaven. It's 1985: the Reagans are in the White House and Death swings the scythe of AIDS. In Manhattan, Prior Walter tells Louis, his lover of four years, he's ill; Louis leaves but as disease and loneliness ravage Prior, guilt invades Louis. Joe Pitt, a Mormon Republican attorney, is pushed by right-wing fixer Roy Cohn toward a job at the Justice Department. Pitt and Cohn are closeted: Pitt, out of shame and religious turmoil; Cohn, to preserve his power and access. Pitt's wife Harper is strung out on Valium, aching to escape a sexless marriage. An angel invites Prior to be a prophet in death.
Premise: The messenger has arrived.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Al Pacino as Roy Cohn
- Justin Kirk as Prior Walter / Leatherman in the Park
- Ben Shenkman as Louis Ironson / The Angel Oceania
- Mary-Louise Parker as Harper Pitt
- Meryl Streep as Hannah Pitt / Ethel Rosenberg / The Rabbi / The Angel Australia
- Jeffrey Wright as Norman 'Belize' Ariaga / Mr. Lies / Homeless man / The Angel Europa
- Patrick Wilson as Joe Pitt
- Emma Thompson as Nurse Emily / Homeless Woman / The Angel
Guest cast
- Brian Markinson as Martin Heller
- James Cromwell as Roy's Doctor
- Florence Kastriner as Mrs. Ironson
- Howard Pinhasik as Mr. Ironson
- Melissa Wilder as Louis' Sister
- Fatima Da Silva as Cousin Doris
- Robin Weigert as Mormon Mother
- David Zayas as Super
- Flotilla DeBarge as Singer in Church
- Lisa LeGuillou as Nurse
- Michael Gambon as Prior Walter Ancestor #1 (uncredited)
- Simon Callow as Prior Walter Ancestor #2 (uncredited)
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 6 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 6 | December 7, 2003 | December 14, 2003 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Millennium Approaches: Bad News Prior Walter is diagnosed with AIDS that changes his life and he must deal with such new obstacle. Moreover, his partner abandoned him. He has also increasing hallucinations and Mormon's mother comes to New York in order to save her son's marriage. Meanwhile, Roy Cohn checks into the hospital. |
December 7, 2003 |
| 2 |
Millennium Approaches: In Vitro Louis abandons a hospitalized Prior; Joe and Roy confide in each other over drinks. Later, Prior hears voices from his hospital bed while Louis solicits sex from strangers, and Joe makes a drunken confession to his mother. |
December 7, 2003 |
| 3 |
Millennium Approaches: The Messenger Prior returns home and is visited by a pair of spectral namesake ancestors who herald the arrival of the messenger; a tussle with Joe leaves Roy with the ghost of Ethel Rosenberg. Later, Joe and Louis hook up in Central Park while Prior meets the angelic messenger. |
December 7, 2003 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | HBO |
|---|---|
| First aired | December 7, 2003 |
| Last aired | December 14, 2003 |
| Runtime | 58 minutes |
| Status | Ended |
| Schedule | Sunday |