Purlie is a musical based on Ossie Davis' 1961 play Purlie Victorious. In the early days of the civil rights movement, a Southern plantation owner holds his sharecroppers in virtual slavery. Purlie comes home as a preacher who will shake things up and bring freedom to his people. This 1981 television adaptation won a CableACE Award.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Robert GuillaumePurlie | Purlie |
 Melba MooreLutiebelle | Lutiebelle |
 Sherman HemsleyGitlow | Gitlow |
 Linda HopkinsSister Hopkins | Sister Hopkins |
 Rhetta HughesMissy | Missy |
 Brandon MaggartOl' Cap'n | Ol' Cap'n |
 Don ScardinoCharlie | Charlie |
 Clarice TaylorIdella | Idella |
| LLoretta AbbottEnsemble | Ensemble |
| BBrenda BraxtonEnsemble | Ensemble |
 P.L. BrownEnsemble | Ensemble |
| OOlivia DetanteEnsemble | Ensemble |
 Suzzanne DouglasEnsemble | Ensemble |
| CCisco DraytonEnsemble | Ensemble |
| TTanya GibsonEnsemble | Ensemble |
| MMichael GoringEnsemble | Ensemble |
| MMilt GraysonEnsemble | Ensemble |
| LLawrence HamiltonEnsemble | Ensemble |
| CClinton King KeenEnsemble | Ensemble |
| MMildred LaneEnsemble | Ensemble |
| JJudy LeakEnsemble | Ensemble |
| EEugene LittleEnsemble | Ensemble |
 Pauletta WashingtonEnsemble | Ensemble |
| LLou Ann PickettEnsemble | Ensemble |
| HHerbert RawlingsEnsemble | Ensemble |
| RRenee RoseEnsemble | Ensemble |
 Ted RossEnsemble | Ensemble |
 Otis SallidEnsemble | Ensemble |
| HHenry ShawEnsemble | Ensemble |
| VValerie SmithEnsemble | Ensemble |