Fatal Vision

Fatal Vision is a 1984 American true crime drama television miniseries directed by David Greene from a teleplay by John Gay, based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Joe McGinniss. The miniseries stars Karl Malden, Eva Marie Saint, Barry Newman, Gary Cole, and Andy Griffith. It recounts the celebrated case of Jeffrey R. MacDonald, the former Green Beret physician who was convicted of murdering his pregnant wife and their two small children. The miniseries received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special, with Malden winning Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special for his performance as MacDonald's father-in-law, Freddy Kassab. Cast Gary Cole as Jeffrey R. MacDonald Karl Malden as Freddy Kassab Eva Marie Saint as Mildred Kassab Barry Newman as Bernie Segal Andy Griffith as Victor Worheide Gary Grubbs as James Blackburn Joel Polis as Brian Murtagh Mitchell Ryan as Paul Strombaugh Wendy Schaal as Colette MacDonald Scott Paulin as William Ivory Barry Corbin as Franz Grebner Albert Salmi as Judge Dupree Alexandra Johnson as Helena Stoeckley Paddi Edwards as Perry MacDonald Frank Dent as Joe McGinniss Carmen Argenziano as Col. Pruett Andy Wood as Robert Shaw Dennis Redfield as Peter Kearns Joe Mays as William Posey Rex Ryon as Jay MacDonald J.P. Bumstead as Col. Rock Brandy Gold as Kimberly MacDonald (age 5) Judith Barsi as Kimberly MacDonald (age 3) Dylan Galer as Kristen MacDonald Lance Rosen as Dennis Eisman Patricia Duff as Joy Nadine van der Velde as Randi Laurence Haddon as Gen. Flanagan Jack Rader as Provost Marshal Kenneth Tigar as Pathologist Roy London as Dr. Thornton Eugene Butler as Capt. Somers Anne Betancourt as St. Mary's Sister Production NBC paid $130,000 for the rights to the book, according to McGinniss, a transaction that was complicated by a prior contractual claim by Dell publishers. The miniseries was filmed in Santa Clarita and Pasadena, California, as well as at NBC Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.