How Many Roots (1977) Cast Members Are Still Alive?

Name: Roots
Released: 1977
Cast: LeVar Burton, Olivia Cole, Ben Vereen, Cicely Tyson, Louis Gossett Jr.

Roots (1977) featured a cast of 89 tracked actors. Of these, 25 (30%) are still alive today and 58 have passed away. The oldest surviving cast member is Joe Dorsey, age 94. This TV series starred LeVar Burton and Olivia Cole.

30% still with us· verified cast28% of full cast · incl. 6 unverified

Survivorship

Cast Reunion Index: 30% still living

Avg. Age at Death: 72.3 yrs

Deaths by Year

1978

1990

2000

2010

2020

Cast89 members

Person	Character	Status	DOB ▲▼	Age	DOD ▲▼	Age in 1977 ▲▼
LeVar Burton Kunta Kinte	Kunta Kinte	Living	16/02/1957	69	—	20
Olivia Cole Mathilda	Mathilda	Deceased	26/11/1942	75	19/01/2018	35
Ben Vereen Chicken George Moore	Chicken George Moore	Living	10/10/1946	79	—	31
Cicely Tyson Binta	Binta	Deceased	19/12/1924	96	28/01/2021	53
Louis Gossett Jr. Fiddler	Fiddler	Deceased	27/05/1936	87	29/03/2024	41
Ji-Tu Cumbuka Wrestler	Wrestler	Deceased	04/03/1942	75	04/07/2017	35
Chuck Connors Tom Moore	Tom Moore	Deceased	10/04/1921	71	10/11/1992	56
Carolyn Jones Mrs. Moore	Mrs. Moore	Deceased	28/04/1930	53	03/08/1983	47
Leslie Uggams Kizzy Reynolds	Kizzy Reynolds	Living	25/05/1943	83	—	34
O. J. Simpson Kadi Touray	Kadi Touray	Deceased	09/07/1947	76	10/04/2024	30
Maya Angelou Nyo Boto	Nyo Boto	Deceased	04/04/1928	86	28/05/2014	49
Moses Gunn Kintango	Kintango	Deceased	02/10/1929	64	16/12/1993	48
Thalmus Rasulala Omoro	Omoro	Deceased	15/11/1939	51	09/10/1991	38
Hari Rhodes Brima Cesay	Brima Cesay	Deceased	10/04/1932	59	15/01/1992	45
William Watson Gardner	Gardner	Deceased	05/10/1938	59	05/11/1997	39
Ernest Lee Thomas Kailuba	Kailuba	Living	26/03/1950	76	—	27
Lorne Greene John Reynolds	John Reynolds	Deceased	12/02/1915	72	11/09/1987	62
Ralph Waite Slater	Slater	Deceased	22/06/1928	85	13/02/2014	49
Lynda Day George Mrs. Reynolds	Mrs. Reynolds	Living	11/12/1944	81	—	33
Paul Shenar John Carrington	John Carrington	Deceased	12/02/1936	53	11/10/1989	41
Tina Andrews Aurelia	Aurelia	Living	23/04/1951	75	—	26
Ren Woods Fanta	Fanta	Living	01/01/1958	68	—	19
Sandy Duncan Missy Anne Reynolds	Missy Anne Reynolds	Living	20/02/1946	80	—	31
Richard Roundtree Sam Bennett	Sam Bennett	Deceased	09/07/1942	81	24/10/2023	35
Macdonald Carey Squire James	Squire James	Deceased	15/03/1913	81	21/03/1994	64
Scatman Crothers Mingo	Mingo	Deceased	23/05/1910	76	22/11/1986	67
George Hamilton Stephen Bennett	Stephen Bennett	Living	12/08/1939	87	—	38
Ian McShane Sir Eric Russell	Sir Eric Russell	Living	29/09/1942	83	—	35
Pat Corley Referee	Referee	Deceased	01/06/1930	76	11/09/2006	47
Macon McCalman Poston	Poston	Deceased	30/12/1932	72	29/11/2005	45
Robert Phalen Rufus Jackson	Rufus Jackson	Deceased	10/05/1937	58	06/12/1995	40
Wayne Heffley Telegrapher	Telegrapher	Deceased	15/07/1927	81	19/11/2008	50
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs Noah	Noah	Living	04/09/1953	73	—	24
John Schuck Ordell	Ordell	Living	04/02/1940	86	—	37
Brion James Slaver	Slaver	Deceased	20/02/1945	54	07/08/1999	32
Richard Farnsworth Trumbull	Trumbull	Deceased	01/09/1920	80	06/10/2000	57
Raymond St. Jacques The Drummer	The Drummer	Deceased	01/03/1930	60	27/08/1990	47
Tanya Boyd Genelva	Genelva	Living	20/03/1951	75	—	26
Thayer David Harlan	Harlan	Deceased	04/03/1927	51	17/07/1978	50
Ed Asner Capt. Thomas Davies	Capt. Thomas Davies	Deceased	15/11/1929	91	29/08/2021	48
Lee de Broux Trumbull	Trumbull	Living	07/05/1941	85	—	36
Allen Williams Robert Calvert	Robert Calvert	Deceased	31/12/1944	74	26/05/2019	33
Vic Morrow Ames	Ames	Deceased	14/02/1929	53	23/07/1982	48
Charles Cyphers Fred Drake	Fred Drake	Deceased	28/07/1939	85	04/08/2024	38
John Amos Kunta Kinte	Kunta Kinte	Deceased	27/12/1939	84	21/08/2024	38
Robert Reed Dr. William Reynolds	Dr. William Reynolds	Deceased	19/10/1932	59	12/05/1992	45
Madge Sinclair Bell Reynolds	Bell Reynolds	Deceased	28/04/1938	57	20/12/1995	39
Fred D. Scott Luther	Luther	Deceased	31/08/1918	83	12/07/2002	59
Lloyd Bridges Evan Brent	Evan Brent	Deceased	15/01/1913	85	10/03/1998	64
Georg Stanford Brown Tom Harvey	Tom Harvey	Living	24/06/1943	83	—	34
Brad Davis 'Old' George Johnson	'Old' George Johnson	Deceased	06/11/1949	41	08/09/1991	28
Hilly Hicks Lewis Harvey	Lewis Harvey	Living	04/05/1950	76	—	27
Lynne Moody Irene Harvey	Irene Harvey	Living	17/02/1946	80	—	31
Lillian Randolph Sister Sara	Sister Sara	Deceased	11/12/1898	81	12/09/1980	79
Richard McKenzie Sam Harvey	Sam Harvey	Deceased	02/06/1930	93	01/12/2023	47
Sally Kemp Lila Harvey	Lila Harvey	Deceased	07/02/1933	84	21/03/2017	44
Austin Stoker Virgil Harvey	Virgil Harvey	Deceased	07/10/1943	79	07/10/2022	34
Lane Binkley Martha Johnson	Martha Johnson	Living	05/04/1952	74	—	25
Stan Haze Field Singer	Field Singer	Deceased	23/10/1938	60	08/05/1999	39
Todd Bridges Bud Harvey	Bud Harvey	Living	27/05/1965	61	—	12
Beverly Todd Maggie (Fanta)	Maggie (Fanta)	Living	11/07/1946	80	—	31
Tajh Abdul-Samad Baby Kunta Kinte	Baby Kunta Kinte	Living	08/12/1976	49	—	1
Doug McClure Jimmy Brent	Jimmy Brent	Deceased	11/05/1935	59	05/02/1995	42
Burl Ives Senator Arthur J. Justin	Senator Arthur J. Justin	Deceased	14/06/1909	85	14/04/1995	68
Gary Collins Grill	Grill	Deceased	30/04/1938	74	13/10/2012	39
Roxie Roker Malizy	Malizy	Deceased	28/08/1929	66	02/12/1995	48
Helen Martin Aunt Sukey	Aunt Sukey	Deceased	23/07/1909	90	25/03/2000	68
Elma V. Jackson Mama Ada	Mama Ada	Unverified	—	—	—	—
Ann Weldon Mary	Mary	Deceased	28/02/1933	90	14/01/2024	44
Wally Taylor Reverend	Reverend	Deceased	14/07/1930	82	07/10/2012	47
Lee Kessler Miss Constable	Miss Constable	Unverified	—	—	—	—
Big Joe Turner The Singer	The Singer	Deceased	18/05/1911	74	24/11/1985	66
John Quade Sheriff Charlie Biggs	Sheriff Charlie Biggs	Deceased	01/04/1938	71	09/08/2009	39
Davis Roberts Leonard	Leonard	Deceased	07/03/1917	76	18/07/1993	60
Tracey Gold Missy Anne Reynolds	Missy Anne Reynolds	Living	16/05/1969	57	—	8
Hank Rolike John	John	Deceased	20/06/1927	75	14/10/2002	50
Fred Covington Auctioneer	Auctioneer	Deceased	01/07/1928	65	28/07/1993	49
Maurice Hunt The Doctor	The Doctor	Unverified	—	—	—	—
John Dennis Johnston Man at Cockfight	Man at Cockfight	Living	14/05/1950	76	—	27
Brooks Clift McAlmon	McAlmon	Deceased	04/02/1919	67	24/09/1986	58
Kermit Echols Vilars	Vilars	Deceased	11/05/1921	56	04/01/1978	56
Joe Dorsey Calvert	Calvert	Living	15/01/1932	94	—	45
Ronnie Leggett Kalilu	Kalilu	Unverified	—	—	—	—
Bill Gribble Seaman Grimes	Seaman Grimes	Unverified	—	—	—	—
Roosevelt Smith James	James	Unverified	—	—	—	—
Cindy Henderson Bess	Bess	Deceased	27/12/1954	55	13/04/2010	23
Rachel Longaker Caroline	Caroline	Living	20/01/1965	61	—	12
Betty Cole Sassy Woman	Sassy Woman	Deceased	04/04/1908	88	16/11/1996	69
Sonny Jim Gaines Field Hand	Field Hand	Deceased	10/09/1927	78	02/09/2006	50