Party of Five (1994)

Party of Five is an American teen drama television series that aired on Fox for six seasons, from September 12, 1994, until May 3, 2000.

Critically acclaimed, the show suffered from low ratings and after its first season was slated for cancellation. In 1996 it was the surprise winner of the Golden Globe Award for Best Drama, making it one of the lowest rated shows ever to win the award.

The show launched the careers of cast members Neve Campbell and Jennifer Love Hewitt, who both starred in their own box office hit slasher films, Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer, respectively, while also appearing on the series. The show was also the launching pad for the careers of Lacy Chabert, who later starred in the hit movie Mean Girls; Matthew Fox, who would later go on to star in the ABC hit Lost; Scott Wolf who would star in the movie Go and the 2009 remake of V; and Jacob Smith, who later starred in the Cheaper by the Dozen films.

In 1999, the show generated a spin-off, entitled Time of Your Life, which followed the character of Sarah (Hewitt) as she moved to New York. It ran for just one season.

In 1995, TV Guide named the series 'The Best Show You're Not Watching'.

Synopsis[]

Set in the city of San Francisco, the show centered on the five siblings of the Salinger family (the "party of five" referenced in the show's title), who become orphans after their parents were hit and killed by a drunk driver. Charlie is the eldest, a 24-year-old, womanizing, immature manual laborer who struggles with the responsibility of being the new head of the family; 16-year-old Bailey is the rebellious teen later-turnedsubstance abuser; 15-year old Julia is a sensitive teen facing adolescent issues of her own; 11-year old Claudia is a precocious child prodigy, and Owen is the baby, barely one year old.

The siblings take over the running of their family's restaurant, Salingers, with Charlie initially serving as bartender and manager and later with Bailey taking over. The struggles faced by the Salingers over the years included Charlie's battle with cancer, Bailey's battle with alcoholism, Julia dealing with domestic violence in a relationship, and the long term effects of parental loss.

As the series progressed, romantic relationships became plot points and new cast members joined the show, including Hewitt as Bailey's girlfriend Sarah, Jeremy London as Julia's bad-boy boyfriend and-later-husband Griffin and Paula Devicq as Owen's nanny Kirsten who developed an on-again-off-again relationship with Charlie through most of the series.

Cast[]

Main[]

Scott Wolf as Bailey Salinger; the second-born sibling who is forced to grow up fast after growing up as a rebellious teenager and deal with life after his parents' deaths. He is 16 at the start of the series, 21 at its conclusion.
Matthew Fox as Charlie Salinger; the eldest sibling who struggles to live his own life in the reluctant role of legal guardian to his brothers and sisters. Immature and insecure, he dropped out of college his senior year to "find himself" and was planning to re-enroll when his parents' deaths made him his siblings' legal guardian. He is 24 at the start of the series, 30 at its conclusion.
Neve Campbell as Julia Salinger; a highly intelligent, emotionally sensitive teen who struggles to adjust to being an orphan and having more family responsibilities. She is 15 at the start of the series, 20 at its conclusion.
Lacey Chabert as Claudia Salinger; a gifted violinist struggling to build a life for herself and also deal with being an orphan. She is 11 at the start of the series, 17 at its conclusion.
Paula Devicq as Kirsten Bennett Salinger (seasons 1–2, 5–6, recurring seasons 2–4); a graduate student who is hired as Owen Salinger's nanny and becomes romantically involved with Charlie off-and-on during the series, eventually marrying by season six and being pregnant with their first child by the end of series.
Scott Grimes as Will McCorkle (seasons 1–2, 6, recurring seasons 3–5); Bailey's best friend from high school.
Michael Goorjian as Justin Thompson (season 2, recurring seasons 1, 3–6); Julia's friend, and later off-and-on boyfriend, during the series.
Jennifer Love Hewitt as Sarah Reeves Merrin (seasons 2–6); Bailey's sensitive, off-and-on girlfriend from high school who struggles to "find herself" after she finds out that she was adopted.
Alexondra Lee as Callie Martel (season 3); Bailey's roommate and girlfriend during his freshman year at college.
Jeremy London as Griffin Holbrook (seasons 4–6, recurring seasons 2–3); A moody and troubled teenager whom Julia dates, and later marries and divorces. Older brother of Jill Holbrook, Bailey's ex-girlfriend who dies from a drug overdose. The character was originally portrayed by James Marsden in the first-season finale episode.
Jennifer Aspen as Daphne Jablonsky (season 6, recurring seasons 4–5); a part-time stripper who becomes briefly romantically involved with Charlie and later has his baby.

Recurring[]

The following lists all actors who appeared in five or more episodes during the run of the show.

Owen Salinger, the youngest sibling was recast three times as the character grew. He was played by Alexander and Zachary Ahnert in the pilot episode, Brandon and Taylor Porter as an infant, Andrew and Stephen Cavarno as a preschooler, and Jacob Smith as a school-age child until the end of the show. He is 1 at the start of the series, 6 at its conclusion.
Tom Mason as Joe Mangus (seasons 1–6); co-owner of the family restaurant Salinger's, who grew up with their father Nick in an orphanage, taking over as full-time owner after Nick's death. He also often acts as a father figure to the children.
Mitchell Anderson as Ross Werkman (seasons 1–6); a professional violinist and Claudia's personal violin tutor and friend.
Cari Shayne as Nina DiMayo (seasons 1–2); Julia's rebellious, outgoing friend from high school.
Bryn Erin as Libby Dwyer, a friend of Julia and Justin's, who later kills herself. (seasons 1 & 3)
Jennifer Blanc as Kate Bishop (season 1); Bailey's first girlfriend from high school.
Michael Shulman as Artie Baum (season 1); Claudia's friend from elementary school, a fellow child violinist.
David Burke as Bill (season 1); Owen's part-time nanny.
Megan Ward as Jill Holbrook (season 1); Bailey's outgoing and troubled girlfriend, younger sister of Griffin Holbrook.
Kathleen Noone as Ellie Bennett (seasons 2–3, 6); Kirsten's mother.
Nicholas Pryor as Gene Bennett (seasons 2-3, 6); Kirsten's father.
Marla Sokoloff as Jody Lynch (seasons 2–3); Claudia's troublemaking friend from junior high school.
Alyson Reed as Mrs. Carol Reeves (seasons 2–5); Sarah's adoptive mother.
Carroll O'Connor as Jacob "Jake" Gordon (seasons 2–3); the Salingers' maternal grandfather, father of their deceased mother, Diana Gordon Salinger.
Brenda Strong as Kathleen Eisley (season 2); a wealthy TV producer whom Charlie dates. When Charlie broke up with her after feeling like a "kept man", she maliciously uses her wealth to nearly close down the family restaurant.
Tamara Taylor as Grace Wilcox (season 3); a social worker and peer counselor who briefly becomes Charlie's girlfriend. She also runs a successful election campaign to become a city councilwoman.
Ben Browder as Sam Brody (season 3); a construction worker who briefly becomes Julia's boyfriend.
Breckin Meyer as Alec Brody (season 3); Sam's brother.

Dan Lauria as Coach Russ Petrocelli (season 3); Bailey's wrestling coach during his first year at college.
Jackie Mari Roberts as Marcia (season 3); Grace's co-worker, who later works for Grace's city council election campaign.
Andrew Keegan as Reed Isley (season 4); a high-school football player whom Claudia has a crush on and pursues.
Paige Turco as Annie Mott (season 4); a divorced single mother who briefly becomes Bailey's girlfriend.
Allison Bertolino as Natalie Mott (season 4); Annie's young daughter.
Jessica Lundy as Nina Rondstadt (season 4); a zoologist who briefly becomes Charlie's girlfriend.
Tim DeKay as Dr. Paul Thomas (seasons 4–5); Kirsten's husband, who then becomes her ex-husband.
Brenda Wehle as Dr. Stephanie Rabin (seasons 4–5); Charlie's oncologist during his cancer treatments.
Ever Carradine as Rosalie (season 4); a garage co-worker with whom Griffin cheats on Julia.
Ross Malinger as Jamie Burke (seasons 4–5); Claudia's friend and later love interest, who is the son of a rival restaurant owner.
Scott Bairstow as Ned Grayson (seasons 5–6); Julia's boyfriend during her first year at Stanford who later abuses her.
Heather McComb as Maggie (season 5); Julia's college roommate who dated Ned before he cheated on her with Julia.
Adam Scott as Josh Macon (season 5); one of Julia's friends at college and Julia's crush.
Joanna Garcia as Hallie (season 5); a classmate of Claudia's at her New England boarding school.
Lynsey Bartilson as Parker Brookes (season 5); Claudia's classmate at her New England boarding school.
Chad Todhunter as Cody (seasons 5–6); Claudia's troubled boyfriend from the band that she joins with Griffin.
Kyle Secor as Evan Stilman (season 6); Julia's writing editor with whom she becomes briefly romantically involved.
Maggie Lawson as Alexa (season 6); a cheerleader friend of Claudia's.
Andrew Levitas as Cameron Welcott (season 6); Alexa's football-player boyfriend who becomes romantically involved with Claudia.
Wilson Cruz as Victor (season 6); Daphne's gay friend who works as her daughter's nanny, and later works as Owen's nanny for the Salingers.
Lauren Ambrose as Myra Wringler (season 6); a troubled high school student who clashes with Charlie.
Rhona Mitra as Holly Marie Beggins (season 6); an English pre-med student who becomes Bailey's girlfriend.
Charles Esten as Luke Sheppard (season 6); Daphne's boyfriend who's in the U.S. Army.
Sean Maher as Adam Matthews (season 6); an aspiring writer who briefly dates Julia.
Thomas Ian Nicholas as Todd Marsh (season 6); Claudia's boyfriend who works as a session musician and is a fellow violinist.

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Gallery[]

Videos[]

Party of Five - Season 1 Opening