*THE BIONIC WOMAN: "Jamie and the King" (ABC 2-23-1977), as Prince Ishmail. The Bionic Woman goes undercover as a private tutor to a sexist crown prince (Lance) whose father has been targeted by assassins in a plot largely swiped from Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE KING AND I. (tv series guest appearance)

*THE NEW, ORIGINAL WONDER WOMAN: "The Bushwackers" (ABC 1-19-1977), as Jeff Hadley. Lance proves he can ride a horse as the son of a rancher (a surprisingly well-preserved Roy Rogers) who's raising cattle to supply beef to the troops during World War II. Jeff is driven to betray his father to profiteering cattle rustlers by his jealousy over a multi-ethnic group of war orphans who have become his adopted siblings. Rogers was reportedly scandalized by series star Lynda Carter's skimpy costume (though it's a close replica of the one worn by the comic book super heroine on which the series is based), with the result that she plays most of her scenes in this episode in more modest attire. An incongruous 1970's musical score does little to create or sustain the illusion of period, and much to destroy it. This episode is known to have been released commercially on VHS video, coupled with another episode. (tv series guest appearance)

*THE DEATH OF RICHIE (NBC 1-10-1977), as Russell Werner, baseball-playing brother of a doomed drug addict heartrendingly portrayed by Robby Benson. Especially memorable is a scene in which Benson warns young Lance not to become a drug addict. Lance does a great job of acting when he says he won't. Also known as RICHIE. (tv movie)

*ROSE BOWL PARADE OF STARS PRE-SHOW (1976 or 1977). Lance reports that he performed as a musician on a "record" played on this broadcast in one of the years indicated. (tv sports event)

*AMELIA EARHART (NBC 1976), as David Putnam. A biography of the famous missing aviatrix. (tv movie)

*THE LONELIEST RUNNER (NBC 12-20-1976), as John Curtis, a bedwetter who grows up to be a track star. Melissa Sue Anderson (see JAMES AT 15 tv movie, above) is mesmerising as his best girl. A reportedly autobiographical story written and directed by Michael Landon, who also appears as the adult John. (tv movie)

*P.J. AND THE PRESIDENT'S SON (ABC Afterschool Special, 11-10-1976), as--you guessed it--P.J. & the President's son (named Preston) in this update of Mark Twain's THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER. His most memorable line (while changing clothes in front of the Presidential dog): "I've never undressed in front of a dog before." (one-hour tv movie)

*THE PHANTOM REBEL (NBC 4-13-1976), as an indentured servant during colonial times. (tv dramatic special)

*GOOD HEAVENS: "Jack the Ribber and Me" (ABC 4-5-1976). This is Lance's only known appearance in a sitcom. (tv series guest appearance)

*SARA (CBS 2-20-1976), as Derek, a frontier schoolboy. (tv series guest appearance)

*ME AND DAD'S NEW WIFE (ABC Afterschool Special, 2-18-1976), as Buzz, a smart-alecky classmate of Nina Beckwith (played by Kristy McNichol), a girl whose divorced father has recently remarried. (one-hour tv movie)

*THE AMAZING COSMIC AWARENESS OF DUFFY MOON (ABC Afterschool Special, 2-4-1976), as Peter Finley, the best friend of the title character, played by Ike Eisenmann, who attempts to improve his life through "cosmic awareness," which in this story seems to be little more than a version of positive thinking. (one-hour tv movie)

*POLICE STORY (c.1975-1977). Lance recalled appearing in this series "before JAMES and after HOLVAK." (tv series guest appearance)

*ESCAPE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN (1975), as one of the kids in the orphanage. Lance is the one who calls another boy (named "Truck") "out" during the baseball game, and in a later scene (which has been removed in some television prints!) calls Tony and Tia over to the bus. Ike Eisenmann and Kim Richards (who later played James Hunter's sister in JAMES AT 15/JAMES AT 16) star as Tony and Tia in a dismayingly homogenized Disney version of Alexander Key's haunting novel about orphans who discover that they are aliens from another planet. Thrilling theme music by Johnny Mandel, who also wrote the theme for M.A.S.H. (theatrical motion picture)

*THE COUNSELOR (c.1975-1977?). Lance recalled appearing in this series as a "murder victim," "after HOLVAK." (tv series guest appearance).

*THE FAMILY HOLVAK (NBC; first episode aired 9-7-1975), as Ramey Holvak, a Depression-era preacher's kid. Ramey's parents are played by the legendary Julie Harris and Glenn Ford (whose character is resurrected without comment after his untimely death in THE GREATEST GIFT). This series is not set in "contemporary times" as some sources state, but it is set at the beginning of the Depression, while THE GREATEST GIFT had been set at the end of the Depression. It is also far less WALTONS-like (beyond the obvious surface similarities of setting and genre) than some have implied. (tv series)

Individual episodes:

#1-2 "The Long Way Home" (9-7-1975 and 9-14-1975) A convict on a chain gang (played by David Carradine) tricks Ramey into helping him escape, then subtly blackmails the boy into helping him install himself as a member of the Holvak household. A two-hour episode originally shown in two parts, which has occasionally been rerun as a tv movie.

#3 "A Stranger in a Strange Land" (9-21-1975).

#4 "Remembrance of a Guest" (9-28-1975) A relatve of the Holvaks', a boy named Joel, comes to stay with the family, causing Ramey to become jealous of Rev. Holvak's attentions to him.

#5-6 "First Love" (10-5-1975 and 10-12-1975) Ramey falls in love with his teacher (see JAMES AT 15 #7, above), whose fiance is running an illegal moonshine operation. Another two-parter, occasionally rerun as a tv movie.

#7 "Willing Heart" (10-20-1975) The "Knights," a KKK-like organization, begin operating in the Holvaks' community. When Ramey witnesses one of their crimes, they force him to swear on the Bible that he won't reveal what he's seen. He does anyway, after wrestling with his conscience, and he and Rev. Holvak go to the Sheriff (who turns out to be a "Knight"!), which causes the Knights to target Ramey and Rev. Holvak as their next victims.

#8 "The Devil's Chariot" (10-27-1975).

#9 "Crisis" (12-21-1975). TV Tome omits this episode title and assigns its date to "The Tribute."

#10 "The Tribute" (12-28-1975) When the Holvaks' daughter Julie Mae has a serious accident, Rev. Holvak considers giving up his ministry in order to earn money to pay for the medical expenses. Fortunately, his congregation eventually comes to the rescue a la "It's a Wonderful Life." TV Tome gives the air-date for this episode as 12-21-1975.

#11 "The Wedding" (12-28-1975[?]) TV Tome gives this episode title the same air-date as I have for "The Tribute." It is unlikely that both episodes actually aired on the same date.

[Although I have some reason to believe that this is a complete list of the FAMILY HOLVAK episodes aired by NBC, and that it may even include the title of an episode NBC never aired -- probably "Crisis" or "The Wedding" -- the "BiB Television Programming Sourcebook 1996-97" indicates that 2 additional episodes exist, for a total of 13, and Lance has confirmed this. There's a slight possibility that the two "lost" episodes are the tv movie THE GREATEST GIFT, counted as two episodes, but I feel pretty skeptical of this idea since, as I've noted, there are significant points of discrepancy between the continuity of the tv movie and the series. Any information that anyone can offer about these "lost" episodes, or about the episodes above for which no description is provided, will be greatly appreciated.]

[#12(?) I dimly remember that one of the FAMILY HOLVAK episodes I saw was a sort of alternate universe re-make of THE GREATEST GIFT, featuring the same main storyline about the town bully harassing the local storekeeper, but this time with a happier outcome. This might be the content of one of the named episodes above for which no description is given, or it might be an actual 12th episode, or I may simply be mistaken. Lance could not confirm my recollection.]

*GUNSMOKE: "The Fires of Ignorance" (CBS 1-27-1975), as Tommy Harker, a gifted boy whose father won't let him attend school. (tv series guest appearance)

*BAD MEN OF THE WEST (c.1974), as the young Kalig Talbot. A compilation of two episodes of the tv western series, THE VIRGINIAN: season one episode "It Tolls For Thee" (1962), guest-starring Lee Marvin, and season six episode "Reckoning" (1967), guest-starring Charles Bronson. In scenes apparently added when the episodes were edited together as a tv movie around 1974, Lance plays a boy who is abused by his father, and as a result grows up to become Lee Marvin's character. This production has been released on DVD under the title, THE MEANEST MEN IN THE WEST. (tv movie)

*EMERGENCY!: "Messin' Around" (1974), as Mrs. Wheeler's son. Lance makes as much as he can out of his single line, but mostly just groans in pain, gamely suffering the effects of having swallowed ant poison (possibly as a bid for attention) in a fairly thankless role, performed entirely in the horizontal position, that anticipates his adult theatrical movie appearances in ENEMY MINE and OUTBREAK. An episode of the popular 1970's series about paramedics responding to emergency calls. (tv series guest appearance)

*INSIGHT: "To Hear a Rainbow Sing" (1974), as a young cellist dying of cancer. (tv series guest appearance)

*THIS IS THE LIFE (syndicated, 12-14-1974). Lance says this was a "religious show." (tv series guest appearance)

*REFLECTIONS OF MURDER (ABC 11-24-1974), as Chip, a student at a boarding school where murder is committed. Although this movie, a remake of DIABOLIQUE, didn't air for quite a while after it was finished, this was acually Lance's first professional acting job. (tv movie)

*THE GREATEST GIFT (NBC 11-4-1974), as Ramey Holvak. The basis but not the pilot for the series THE FAMILY HOLVAK. Glenn Ford & Julie Harris originate their later series roles as Ramey's parents, the Rev. Tom Holvak & his wife Elizabeth. Ford's character--shockingly--is murdered. A tour de force for 13-year-old Lance. Also known as HOLVAK and/or possibly HOLVAK (FLAME IN MY HEART) in what may be a slightly edited version. (tv movie)

*WIDE WORLD OF MYSTERY: "The Cloning of Clifford Swimmer" (ABC 11-1-1974), as Clifford Swimmer's son. A fan of the actor who played both Clifford Swimmer and his clone sent us the following information based on memories of having seen the show on its original airing and first repeat showing: "'ABC Wide World of Mystery' ... was a rotating program that aired at 10:30 PM cst as ABC's counter programming to Johnny Carson. The show rotated between 2 nights of WW of Mystery; 2 nights of Wide World of ??(Comedy, I think) and the 5th night was Geraldo Rivera in his first network exposure doing expose type shows. I think that the Wide World of Mystery is listed on IMDB. Anyway, as to the specific episode: Clifford Swimmer (Peter Haskell) was a discontented New Jersey man who had joined forces with a scientist in a cloning experience. The clone was created to look, talk and act just like the real Clifford (Peter played both Clifford and the Clone) When the Clone was ready, Clifford disappeared and the clone was substituted. Clifford's wife (Sheree North) and Son (Lance, I think) were amazed at the sudden change in husband/father, for the clone was a pleasant person, while the real Clifford was a jerk. The real Clifford made off to the islands and a sailboat with his girlfriend, Madlyn (Sharon Farrell). They soon tired of one another, had an altercation and Clifford shoots her with a flare gun. She dies, so to escape detection in the murder, he decides to go back to New Jersey and retake his suburban life. He plots to kill the clone, and . . . . (Hate to tell you, but I don't remember the outcome. I think the real Clifford gets killed and the clone continues with his happy life, but it's been too many years ago). I do recall that Keene Curtis played the mad scientist character, and I think the real Clifford kills him in the course of hiding his disappearance. I don't think Lance's part was very large, mostly just kid interacting w/ dad." Another reader has provided a more detailed account of the story's conclusion: "My recollection is that the real Swimmer killed the clone, and life was once again hell for the wife and son.  The wife promised the son things would work out okay, and then had herself and the boy cloned to take their place with the abusive real Swimmer. Could be wrong, but that's my memory."  Lance has confirmed that he did play the role of the son. (tv series guest appearance)

*CANNON: "The Exchange" (10-23-1974). An ex-con whose brother was shot during a bank hold-up seeks revenge on the police officers involved. Lance played a witness "or something like that" (a boy who witnessed a crime, whom Cannon has to convince to reveal what he knows). (tv series guest appearance)

*THE BRIDGE OF ADAM RUSH (ABC Afterschool Special, 10-23-1974), as Adam Rush, who comes to terms with his stepfather by building the bridge of the title with him. This movie was also released on 16mm film. (one-hour tv movie)

*LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE: "100 Mile Walk" (NBC 9-25-1974), as Danny Peters. When hail destroys the Ingalls' crop, Charles (played by Michael Landon, also the series' executive producer, who would later cast Lance in THE LONELIEST RUNNER) goes to work in a quarry. Lance plays the son of another worker who is killed on the job. Series regular Melissa Sue Anderson (later Lance's LONELIEST RUNNER & JAMES AT 15 tv movie love interest) also appears, but doesn't share any scenes with Lance. (tv guest appearance)

*SHAZAM!: "The Brothers" (CBS 9-14-1974), as Chad Martin, a blind boy under the supervision of an overprotective elder brother, Danny (Steve Tanner). In one of his earliest roles, Lance brings astonishing depth to Chad's bitterness at having lost his sight, and to his furious resistance to being treated as completely incompetant because of it. An episode of the Saturday morning live-action series based on the 1940's comic book superhero, Captain Marvel, a character who was so popular in his heyday that his flagship title, "Captain Marvel Adventures," came out twice every month -- a feat never equalled by Superman. (tv series guest appearance)

*THE HEALERS (NBC 5-22-1974), as Kennedy Brown, "a kid with an unknown disease." A medical soap opera. One internet source suggests that this was an unsold tv series pilot. (tv movie)

*PSSST! HAMMERMAN'S AFTER YOU [a.k.a. THE 18th EMERGENCY] (ABC Afterschool Special, 1-16-1974), as Ezzie, whose pal Benjy "Mouse" Fawley (played by Christian Juttner), has offended the school bully. (one-hour tv movie)

[This concludes the list of Lance Kerwin's known film and television appearances. Please feel free to send any corrections and/or additions to No44ns864962@webtv.net.]

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