TV series

The Philanthropist
2009 · 1 season
This series presents a dramatic journey of a wealthy man attempting to use his influence for good after personal tragedy.
- Created by
- Tom Fontana
- Genres
- Action & adventure, Drama
- Overview
- The title character, Teddy Rist (portrayed by James Purefoy), is a billionaire playboy haunted by the death of his only child. His life changes when he rescues a young boy during a hurricane in Nigeria. As a result, Rist begins using his fortune to personally change the lives of others.[4] The Philanthropist is based loosely on the life of Bobby Sager.[5] The Philanthropist is an American action drama series that premiered on NBC on Wednesday, June 24, 2009. The program was a limited summer series, principally filmed in South Africa. It opened to strong ratings, but saw a drop in viewers in subsequent weeks. The Philanthropist is a Carnival Films production in association with The Levinson/Fontana Company and Original Media. Tom Fontana, Barry Levinson, Peter Horton, Charlie Corwin, Gareth Neame, and Teri Weinberg served as executive producers.
- How it feels
- Earnest and melancholic. Measured and needs your attention.
- About
- Grief, class, redemption, morality
- Content
- Mild violence and language. No gore or sexual content.
- Note
- Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown
Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.
Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.
Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)
Add to a list: The Philanthropist
In the USNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.
- Created by
- Tom Fontana
- Genres
- Action & adventure, Drama















