"Airwolf" (1984) TV series 1984-1986

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Creator:

Donald P. Bellisario
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

22 January 1984 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure

Plot:

As part of a deal for with a intelligence agency to look for his missing brother, a renegade pilot goes on missions with an advanced battle helicopter.

Plot Keywords:

Helicopter | Vietnam Veteran | Electronic Music Score

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Jan-Michael Vincent	...	Stringfellow Hawke (56 episodes, 1984-1986)
Alex Cord	...	Michael 'Archangel' Coldsmith Briggs III (56 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ernest Borgnine	...	Dominic Santini (56 episodes, 1984-1986)
Jean Bruce Scott	...	Caitlin O'Shaughnessy / ... (44 episodes, 1984-1986)

(more)

Series Directed by
Virgil W. Vogel		(7 episodes, 1984-1985)
Sutton Roley		(5 episodes, 1984-1985)
Alan J. Levi		(5 episodes, 1984)
Harvey S. Laidman		(4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Bernard L. Kowalski		(3 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ray Austin		(2 episodes, 1984-1985)
Donald A. Baer		(2 episodes, 1984)
Donald P. Bellisario		(2 episodes, 1984)
Georg Fenady		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bernard McEveety		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Tom Blank		(2 episodes, 1985)
Daniel Haller		(2 episodes, 1985)
Don Medford		(2 episodes, 1985)
Stephen Dollinger		(1 episode, 1984)
Sidney Hayers		(1 episode, 1985)
David Westheimer		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Donald P. Bellisario		(56 episodes, 1984-1986)
Rick Kelbaugh		(6 episodes, 1985-1986)
Westbrook Claridge		(5 episodes, 1984-1985)
Chester Krumholz		(5 episodes, 1984-1985)
T.S. Cook		(4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Alfonse Ruggiero		(4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Burton Armus		(3 episodes, 1984)
Robert Janes		(3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Calvin Clements Jr.		(2 episodes, 1984)
Nicholas Corea		(2 episodes, 1984)
Edward J. Lakso		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Stephen A. Miller		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Robert Specht		(2 episodes, 1985-1986)
Michael Halperin		(2 episodes, 1985)
Al Martinez		(2 episodes, 1985)
Douglas Steinberg		(2 episodes, 1985)
B.W. Sandefur		(2 episodes, 1986)

Series Produced by
Carol Gillson	....	co-producer / associate producer (54 episodes, 1984-1986)
Leon Ortiz-Gil	....	associate producer (53 episodes, 1984-1986)
Donald P. Bellisario	....	executive producer (34 episodes, 1984-1985)
Mike Snyder	....	associate producer (33 episodes, 1984-1986)
Lester Wm. Berke	....	producer (22 episodes, 1984-1985)
Robert Janes	....	producer / supervising producer (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bernadette Joyce	....	associate producer (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bernard L. Kowalski	....	executive producer (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Stephen A. Miller	....	co-producer (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Richard Learman	....	associate producer (19 episodes, 1985-1986)
T.S. Cook	....	supervising producer (15 episodes, 1984-1985)
Everett Chambers	....	supervising producer (15 episodes, 1985-1986)
Carol Vitale	....	associate producer (13 episodes, 1984-1985)
John David	....	co-producer / associate producer (12 episodes, 1984)
Alan J. Levi	....	supervising producer / producer (12 episodes, 1984)
Calvin Clements Jr.	....	supervising producer (11 episodes, 1984-1985)
Alan Godfrey	....	producer / co-producer (11 episodes, 1985-1986)
Edward Ledding	....	associate producer (11 episodes, 1985)
Burton Armus	....	producer (10 episodes, 1984)
Clyde Ware	....	producer (3 episodes, 1984)
John A. Kuri	....	line producer: Reno air race segments (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Sylvester Levay		(26 episodes, 1984-1986)
Udi Harpaz		(11 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bernardo Segall		(3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Ian Freebairn-Smith		(2 episodes, 1984)

Series Cinematography by
Stan Lazan		(28 episodes, 1984-1985)
Howard Schwartz		(14 episodes, 1984-1986)
Seymour Hoffberg		(13 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Film Editing by
Bill Luciano		(16 episodes, 1984-1986)
Mario Di Gregorio		(14 episodes, 1984-1986)
Michael Berman		(10 episodes, 1984-1986)
Drake Silliman		(10 episodes, 1984-1986)
Henry Te		(4 episodes, 1984-1985)
Carl Kress		(3 episodes, 1984)
Jeff Gourson		(2 episodes, 1984)
Robert L. Kimble		(2 episodes, 1984)
Leon Ortiz-Gil		(2 episodes, 1984)
Larry Strong		(2 episodes, 1984)

Series Casting by
Joe Reich		(36 episodes, 1984-1986)
Donna Dockstader		(20 episodes, 1984)

Series Production Design by
John Leimanis		(22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Charles R. Davis		(2 episodes, 1984)
Stephen Geaghan		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Gary A. Lee		(31 episodes, 1984-1985)
Joseph M. Altadonna		(5 episodes, 1986)

Series Set Decoration by
W. Joe Kroesser		(14 episodes, 1985-1986)
Gregory Garrison		(13 episodes, 1984-1985)
Richard B. Goddard		(12 episodes, 1984)
Fred S. Winston		(9 episodes, 1985)
Edward M. Parker		(8 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Costume Design by
Jean-Pierre Dorléac		(4 episodes, 1984)

Series Makeup Department
Sandra Henderson	....	hair stylist (2 episodes, 1984)
Darrell McIntyre	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1984)

Series Production Management
Bud Grace	....	unit production manager (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Tom Blank	....	unit production manager (20 episodes, 1984-1985)
Richard Learman	....	unit production manager (19 episodes, 1985-1986)
Mitchell L. Gamson	....	unit production manager (6 episodes, 1984)
Ronald Martinez	....	unit production manager (4 episodes, 1985)
Zane Radney	....	unit production manager (3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Les Kimber	....	production manager (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
J. David Jones	....	second unit director (40 episodes, 1984-1985)
Warren Gray	....	first assistant director / second assistant director (26 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ryan Gordon	....	first assistant director / second assistant director (21 episodes, 1984-1985)
Robert D. Nellans	....	second assistant director (20 episodes, 1985-1986)
Ron Stein	....	second unit director (14 episodes, 1985-1986)
Richard W. Abramitis	....	second assistant director (12 episodes, 1984-1985)
Peter Jordan	....	second assistant director (12 episodes, 1985-1986)
Scott Cameron	....	second assistant director (7 episodes, 1985-1986)
Bob Bender	....	first assistant director (5 episodes, 1985-1986)
Charles A. Tamburro	....	second unit director (5 episodes, 1985-1986)
J. Tom Archuleta	....	second assistant director (5 episodes, 1985)
Tom Blank	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1984)
Clifford C. Coleman	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1984)
James Lansbury	....	second assistant director (4 episodes, 1984)
John Slosser	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1984)
S. Michael Formica	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1986)
Warren R. Turner	....	second assistant director (3 episodes, 1984)
Mack Bing	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1984)
Louis Race	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1984)
John Hockridge	....	first assistant director (2 episodes, 1985)
Stephen Southard	....	second assistant director (2 episodes, 1985)
John A. Kuri	....	second unit director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Lee Lazarow	....	set dresser (44 episodes, 1984-1986)
Paul Sonski	....	set designer (unknown episodes, 1985)
Ed Keyes	....	property master: second unit (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
John K. Kean	....	sound (44 episodes, 1984-1986)
Michael D. Wilhoit	....	supervising sound editor / sound editor (28 episodes, 1984-1986)
Bob Newlan	....	sound editor (22 episodes, 1984-1985)
Michael H. Ford	....	sound editor (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Sam F. Shaw	....	sound editor (11 episodes, 1984)
Don Sharpless	....	sound (7 episodes, 1984)
Joe Kenworthy	....	sound (5 episodes, 1984)

Series Visual Effects by
Neil Richmond	....	visual effects (57 episodes, 1984-1987)
Jim Michaels	....	visual effects producer / visual effects (56 episodes, 1984-1986)
Charles Gibson	....	visual effects (2 episodes, 1984)

Series Stunts
Ron Stein	....	stunt coordinator (54 episodes, 1984-1986)
Reid Rondell	....	stunt double: Jan-Michael Vincent (26 episodes, 1984-1985)
Gregory J. Barnett	....	stunts (7 episodes, 1985-1986)
Charlie Picerni	....	stunts (6 episodes, 1984-1986)
Jean Coulter	....	stunts (6 episodes, 1984)
Eddy Donno	....	stunts (2 episodes, 1984)
Chad Randall	....	stunt double: Jan-Michael Vincent (2 episodes, 1985)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Wayne Baker	....	aerial assistant camera (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Robert E. Collins	....	aerial director of photography (unknown episodes)
Dennis J. Laine	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Stan McClain	....	aerial camera operator (unknown episodes)
Serge Poupis	....	aerial first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Robert Schoenhut	....	camera operator / director of photography: second unit (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
John Casey	....	costume supervisor (44 episodes, 1984-1986)
Barbara Lee Maccarone	....	costume supervisor (28 episodes, 1984-1985)
Diana Reynolds	....	costume supervisor (13 episodes, 1985-1986)
Rudy Garcia	....	costume supervisor (12 episodes, 1984)
Arlene Zamiara	....	costume supervisor (9 episodes, 1985)
Ann Gray Lambert	....	costume supervisor (7 episodes, 1986)

Series Editorial Department
Bradley Carow	....	music assistant editor (22 episodes, 1985-1986)

Series Music Department
Sylvester Levay	....	composer: theme music / composer: title theme (56 episodes, 1984-1986)
Gene L. Gillette	....	music editor (52 episodes, 1984-1986)
Ron S. Herbes	....	first assistant music editor (6 episodes, 1984)
Arnold Schwarzwald	....	music editor (2 episodes, 1984)

Series Transportation Department
Gina August	....	driver (12 episodes, 1984)
Chris Haynes	....	driver (5 episodes, 1985)
Steven Salzman	....	transportation captain (unknown episodes, 1983-1986)

Series Other crew
J. David Jones	....	aerial coordinator (34 episodes, 1984-1985)
Chester Krumholz	....	executive story consultant (22 episodes, 1984-1985)
Del Reisman	....	executive story consultant (22 episodes, 1985-1986)
Rick Kelbaugh	....	executive story editor (21 episodes, 1985-1986)
Peter McKernan	....	aerial coordinator (21 episodes, 1985-1986)
Westbrook Claridge	....	story editor (19 episodes, 1984-1985)
Alfonse Ruggiero	....	story editor (14 episodes, 1984-1985)
Phil Combest	....	story editor (2 episodes, 1984)
Carol Gillson	....	assistant to executive producer (2 episodes, 1984)
Helene Phillips	....	choreographer (2 episodes, 1984)
Steve Hinton	....	pilot (unknown episodes)
Mike Snyder	....	technical writer (unknown episodes)
Jeffrey T. Spellman	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Charles A. Tamburro	....	aerial coordinator (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Belisarius Productions
• Universal TV

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1984-1986) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Universal Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Independent Television (ITV) (????) (UK) (TV)
• MCA/Universal Pictures
• Nippon Television Network Corporation (NTV) (1986) (Japan) (TV)
• Studios USA Television
• Super! Drama TV (2007) (Japan) (TV)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (seasons 1 and 2)
• Universal TV
• Veronica Television (1996-????) (Netherlands) (TV)

Also Known As:

"Blackwolf" (USA) (working title)
"Lobo del aire" (USA: Spanish title)
"Lonewolf" (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

60 min (58 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | Netherlands:6

Filming Locations:

Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company:

Belisarius Productions

Trivia:

During filming, a Huey helicopter crashed during a maneuver in Pico Canyon in California. Reid Rondell, Jan-Michael Vincent's stunt double, was killed, and a special credit appeared at the end of that particular episode dedicating the installment to him.

Quotes:

Le Van 'Half-Pint' Hawke: I was so scared for you.
Stringfellow Hawke: They were no match for the Lady.
Michael Archangel: Come 'on Marlene; there must be something out here that desperately needs our attention.
Stringfellow Hawke: You know Half-Pint, How about coming and living with me? I'll make you part of the family, like Caitlan and Dom.
Le Van 'Half-Pint' Hawke: But what if your brother comes back, and it turns out he's not my dad?
Stringfellow Hawke: I'll be your dad.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Psych: Game, Set... Muuurder? (#1.13)" (2007)

String and Dom kicked @$$ when they showed 'em The Lady

Of course, Airwolf was one of the premier action shows of the 80s and was more believable than the sugar-coated antics of Knight Rider and A-Team, because it was set in the world of espionage and Stringfellow killed LOADS of bad guys when he battled them in The Lady. The series started off as a spy thriller with Airwolf duking it out with Russians, German terrorists, war criminals, renegade US agents and hardened mercenaries. If I remember rightly, ITV showed these episodes on Friday nights at 7pm back in November '84.

When the 2nd season kicked in, they moved it to an afternoon Saturday slot. This is when a new co-pilot Caitlin was introduced. She wasn't bad, and they still did good intrigue episodes such as the gripping thriller Moffatt's Ghost, Fallen Angel and HX-1 (Once A Hero was a spectacular actioner), but gradually, the series became cornier, as the Airwolf team began helping out ordinary people and there were some soapy stories such as String falling for a rock singer. They also started using stock footage in some episodes, more so in the third season.

The 3rd season got off to a cracking start with the menacing Horn Of Plenty. Richard Lynch did a good job as the manipulative Van Horn and Caitlin proved she could be a bad*** as well. Other top episodes were Airwolf II, Annie Oakley and Deadly Circle, but as I said before, they started over-using stock footage from previous series and the stories were becoming slushy. Despite this, Airwolf was arguably the best action-packed thriller on the small screen during the Reagan era.