Skip to main content
I'll Fly Away

I'll Fly Away

Drama
1991, Show
I'll Fly Away is an American drama television series set during the late 1950s and early 1960s, in an unspecified Southern U.S. state. It aired on NBC from 1991 to 1993 and starred Regina Taylor as Lilly Harper, a black housekeeper for the family of district attorney Forrest Bedford, whose name is an ironic reference to Nathan Bedford Forrest, the founder of the Ku Klux Klan. As the show progressed, Lilly became increasingly involved in the Civil Rights Movement, with events eventually drawing in Forrest as well. I'll Fly Away won two 1992 Emmy Awards, and 23 nominations in total. It won three Humanitas Prizes, two Golden Globe Awards, two NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Drama Series, and a Peabody Award. However, the series was never a ratings blockbuster, and it was canceled by NBC in 1993, despite widespread protests by critics and viewer organizations. After the program's cancellation, a two-hour movie, I'll Fly Away: Then and Now, was produced, in order to resolve dangling storylines from Season 2, and provide the series with a true finale. The movie aired on October 11, 1993 on PBS. Its major storyline closely paralleled the true story of the 1955 murder of Emmett Till in Money, Mississippi. Thereafter, PBS began airing repeats of the original episodes, ceasing after one complete showing of the entire series.
Country: United States
Cast:
Bill Cobbs,
Sam Waterston,
Jeremy London,
Kathryn Harrold
Show more

Where to Watch I'll Fly Away online

Select your country to find out where to watch "I'll Fly Away".

Episodes

Season 1Season 2
Skip this

Ratings

Profile photo for
Your rating:
IMDb rating
Visit page
8.6

Reviews

Add a review

Be the first to leave a review for this title

Cast & Crew

Skip this
Bill Cobbs
As Lewis Coleman
Sam Waterston
As Forrest Bedford
Jeremy London
As Nathaniel 'Nathan' Bedford
Kathryn Harrold
As Christina LeKatzis
Mary Alice
As Marguerite Peck
Regina Taylor
As Lilly Harper
Rae'Ven Larrymore Kelly
As Adlaine Harper
Ashlee Levitch
As Francie Bedford

Frequently asked questions

What is I'll Fly Away about? Toggle content

"I'll Fly Away" is a powerful drama series set in the Deep South during the 1950s and 60s, following the story of Lilly Harper, a black housekeeper for a white district attorney's family. As the Civil Rights Movement gains momentum, Lilly becomes increasingly involved, drawing her employer into the fight for justice. Despite facing challenges and opposition, they work together to bring about change in their community. With a strong cast and thought-provoking storylines, this Emmy-winning series is a must-see for anyone interested in American history and the struggle for equality.

Where can I stream I'll Fly Away? Toggle content

I'll Fly Away is currently unavailable to stream in undefined on the streaming services we have in our catalogue

What shows are similar to I'll Fly Away? Toggle content

Some TV shows that have similar genres and were produced around the same time as I'll Fly Away include Your Friends and Neighbors, Dying for Sex, Good American Family, Landman, Pulse, Stumptown.

 

Skip this

Similar titles

Skip this
Your Friends and Neighbors
Your Friends and Neighbors
2025, Show - Drama
Dying for Sex
Dying for Sex
2025, Show - Drama
Good American Family
Good American Family
2025, Show - Drama
Landman
Landman
2024, Show - Drama
Pulse
Pulse
2025, Show - Drama
Stumptown
Stumptown
2019, Show - Drama
Chernobyl
Chernobyl
2019, Show - Drama
Lessons in Chemistry
Lessons in Chemistry
2023, Show - Drama