Father Murphy

Father Murphy is an American Western drama television series that aired on the NBC network from November 3, 1981 to September 18, 1983. Michael Landon created the series, was the executive producer, and directed the show in partnership with William F. Claxton, Maury Dexter, Victor French, and Leo Penn.

Synopsis
The series stars former NFL Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle football player and Little House on the Prairie actor Merlin Olsen as an 1870s frontiersman named John Michael Murphy who teams up with prospector Moses Gage (Moses Gunn) to shelter a group of orphans who are being threatened with internment in a workhouse. Murphy disguises himself as a priest and befriends a schoolmarm to help the children find a home.

At the end of the first season, John's true identity is revealed to the head of the workhouse, and the orphans seem destined for a life of labor. Instead, Murphy marries the schoolmarm and they get custody of the children.

Production
Many of the episodes were filmed at the Old Tucson Studios and theme park just outside Tucson, Arizona. The main village featured in the show was located at Big Sky Movie Ranch in Simi Valley, California; this was also the filming location for the television series Little House on the Prairie. The village was located approximately 200 yards uphill from the Ingalls' farm set.

Father Murphy is an NBC production and is syndicated outside of the U.S. by MGM Worldwide Television, but MGM does not own the video rights.

Cast
• Merlin Olsen as John Michael Murphy

• Moses Gunn as Moses Gage

• Katherine Cannon as Mae Woodward/Murphy

• Timothy Gibbs as Will Adams

• Scott Mellini as Ephram Winkler

• Lisa Trusel as Lizette Winkler

• Kirk Brennan as David Sims

• Byron Thames as Matt Sims

• Chez Lister as Eli Matthews

• Richard Bergman as Father Joe Parker

• Charles Tyner as Howard Rodman

• Ivy Bethune as Evelyn Tuttle

• Burr DeBenning as Paul/Richard Garrett

• Ted Markland as Frank

• Charles Cooper as Sheriff Caleb

• Warren Munson as Dr R.G. Thompson Notable guest appearances on the series include: Shannen Doherty, Mykelti Williamson, Kellie Martin, John M. Pickard, Eddie Quillan, Christina Applegate, Amanda Peterson, Donna Wilkes, Tina Yothers, Mary Beth Evans, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Jerry Hardin, James Cromwell, and Christopher Stone.

Home media
Image Entertainment (under license from NBC Studios) released both seasons of Father Murphy on DVD in Region 1 in 2004/2005.