Big Love
Updated: 12/10/2025, 11:02:26 AM Wikipedia source
Big Love is an American drama television series created by Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer that aired on HBO from 2006 to 2011. It stars Bill Paxton as the patriarch of a fundamentalist Mormon family in contemporary Utah that practices polygamy, with Jeanne Tripplehorn, Chloë Sevigny, and Ginnifer Goodwin portraying his wives. The series charts the family's life in and out of the public sphere in their Salt Lake City suburb, as well as their associations with a fundamentalist compound in the area. It features key supporting performances from Amanda Seyfried, Grace Zabriskie, Daveigh Chase, Matt Ross, Mary Kay Place, Aaron Paul, Bruce Dern, Melora Walters, and Harry Dean Stanton. The series premiered in the United States on March 12, 2006, following the sixth-season premiere of the HBO series The Sopranos. Big Love was a success for HBO, running for five seasons before concluding its run on March 20, 2011. Big Love received widespread critical acclaim, and earned several major awards and nominations throughout its run. The third season was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series, and the first three were nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series - Drama. For acting, Chloë Sevigny won a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in the series' third season, and Bill Paxton was nominated three times for his leading role. At the Emmys, Ellen Burstyn, Bruce Dern, Mary Kay Place, and Sissy Spacek were all nominated for their recurring roles, while series' creators Olsen and Scheffer won the Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Episodic Drama. The series has been the subject of articles in academic journals, including the Columbia Law Review, Law and Contemporary Problems, and Michigan Journal of Gender & Law. Several publications listed the series's first three seasons as among the best television of the decade 2000–09, and its final season ranked among the best-reviewed scripted series of 2011.
Infobox
Genre
Drama
Created by
mw- Mark V. Olsen Will Scheffer
Starring
Bill Paxton Jeanne Tripplehorn Chloë Sevigny Ginnifer Goodwin Amanda Seyfried Douglas Smith Grace Zabriskie Mary Kay Place Matt Ross Cassi Thomson Shawn Doyle Mireille Enos Željko Ivanek Melora Walters Joel McKinnon Miller Daveigh Chase Jolean Wejbe Bruce Dern Harry Dean Stanton
Opening theme
"God Only Knows"by the Beach Boys (seasons 1–3) "Home" by Engineers(seasons 4–5)
Composers
Mark Mothersbaugh (season 1) David Byrne (season 2) Anton Sanko (seasons 3–5)
Country of origin
United States
Original language
English
No. of seasons
5
No. of episodes
53 (list of episodes)
Executive producers
Tom Hanks Gary Goetzman Mark V. Olsen Will Scheffer Gregg Fienberg David Knoller
Running time
46–58 minutes
Production companies
Anima Sola Productions Playtone HBO Entertainment
Network
HBO
Release
March 12, 2006 (2006-03-12) –March 20, 2011 (2011-03-20)
Tables
· Cast and characters › Overview
1
1
Actor
1
Character
2
Seasons
3
Seasons
4
Seasons
5
Main characters
Main characters
Actor
Main characters
Bill Paxton
Bill Paxton
Actor
Bill Paxton
Character
Bill Henrickson
Seasons
Main
Jeanne Tripplehorn
Jeanne Tripplehorn
Actor
Jeanne Tripplehorn
Character
Barbara Henrickson
Seasons
Main
Chloë Sevigny
Chloë Sevigny
Actor
Chloë Sevigny
Character
Nicolette Grant
Seasons
Main
Ginnifer Goodwin
Ginnifer Goodwin
Actor
Ginnifer Goodwin
Character
Margene Heffman
Seasons
Main
Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Seyfried
Actor
Amanda Seyfried
Character
Sarah Henrickson
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Guest
Douglas Smith
Douglas Smith
Actor
Douglas Smith
Character
Ben Henrickson
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Shawn Doyle
Shawn Doyle
Actor
Shawn Doyle
Character
Joey Henrickson
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Does not appear
Melora Walters
Melora Walters
Actor
Melora Walters
Character
Wanda Henrickson
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Does not appear
Joel McKinnon Miller
Joel McKinnon Miller
Actor
Joel McKinnon Miller
Character
Don Embry
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Recurring
Daveigh Chase
Daveigh Chase
Actor
Daveigh Chase
Character
Rhonda Volmer
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Does not appear
Seasons
Recurring
Jolean Wejbe
Jolean Wejbe
Actor
Jolean Wejbe
Character
Tancy "Teenie" Henrickson
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Does not appear
Grace Zabriskie
Grace Zabriskie
Actor
Grace Zabriskie
Character
Lois Henrickson
Seasons
Main
Bruce Dern
Bruce Dern
Actor
Bruce Dern
Character
Frank Harlow
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Recurring
Harry Dean Stanton
Harry Dean Stanton
Actor
Harry Dean Stanton
Character
Roman Grant
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Does not appear
Matt Ross
Matt Ross
Actor
Matt Ross
Character
Albert "Alby" Grant
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Mireille Enos
Mireille Enos
Actor
Mireille Enos
Character
Kathy Marquart / JoDean Marquart
Seasons
Does not appear
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Does not appear
Mary Kay Place
Mary Kay Place
Actor
Mary Kay Place
Character
Adaleen Grant
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Zeljko Ivanek
Zeljko Ivanek
Actor
Zeljko Ivanek
Character
J.J. Percy Walker
Seasons
Does not appear
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Does not appear
Cassi Thomson
Cassi Thomson
Actor
Cassi Thomson
Character
Cara Lynn Walker
Seasons
Does not appear
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Main
| Actor | Character | Seasons | ||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| Main characters | ||||||
| Bill Paxton | Bill Henrickson | Main | ||||
| Jeanne Tripplehorn | Barbara Henrickson | Main | ||||
| Chloë Sevigny | Nicolette Grant | Main | ||||
| Ginnifer Goodwin | Margene Heffman | Main | ||||
| Amanda Seyfried | Sarah Henrickson | Main | Guest | |||
| Douglas Smith | Ben Henrickson | Main | Recurring | Main | ||
| Shawn Doyle | Joey Henrickson | Main | Does not appear | |||
| Melora Walters | Wanda Henrickson | Main | Does not appear | |||
| Joel McKinnon Miller | Don Embry | Main | Recurring | |||
| Daveigh Chase | Rhonda Volmer | Main | Recurring | Does not appear | Recurring | |
| Jolean Wejbe | Tancy "Teenie" Henrickson | Main | Recurring | Does not appear | ||
| Grace Zabriskie | Lois Henrickson | Main | ||||
| Bruce Dern | Frank Harlow | Main | Recurring | Main | Recurring | |
| Harry Dean Stanton | Roman Grant | Main | Does not appear | |||
| Matt Ross | Albert "Alby" Grant | Recurring | Main | |||
| Mireille Enos | Kathy Marquart / JoDean Marquart | Does not appear | Recurring | Main | Does not appear | |
| Mary Kay Place | Adaleen Grant | Recurring | Main | Recurring | Main | |
| Zeljko Ivanek | Percy Walker | Does not appear | Recurring | Main | Does not appear | |
| Cassi Thomson | Cara Lynn Walker | Does not appear | Guest | Main | ||
First released
First released
Season
First released
Episodes
Last released
1
1
Season
1
Episodes
12
Episodes
March 12, 2006 (2006-03-12)
Originally released
June 4, 2006 (2006-06-04)
2
2
Season
2
Episodes
12
Episodes
June 11, 2007 (2007-06-11)
Originally released
August 26, 2007 (2007-08-26)
3
3
Season
3
Episodes
10
Episodes
January 18, 2009 (2009-01-18)
Originally released
March 22, 2009 (2009-03-22)
4
4
Season
4
Episodes
9
Episodes
January 10, 2010 (2010-01-10)
Originally released
March 7, 2010 (2010-03-07)
5
5
Season
5
Episodes
10
Episodes
January 16, 2011 (2011-01-16)
Originally released
March 20, 2011 (2011-03-20)
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 12 | March 12, 2006 (2006-03-12) | June 4, 2006 (2006-06-04) | |
| 2 | 12 | June 11, 2007 (2007-06-11) | August 26, 2007 (2007-08-26) | |
| 3 | 10 | January 18, 2009 (2009-01-18) | March 22, 2009 (2009-03-22) | |
| 4 | 9 | January 10, 2010 (2010-01-10) | March 7, 2010 (2010-03-07) | |
| 5 | 10 | January 16, 2011 (2011-01-16) | March 20, 2011 (2011-03-20) | |
· Home media › DVD releases
Season 1
Season 1
DVD name
Season 1
Region 1
October 17, 2006
Region 2
April 27, 2007
Region 4
September 5, 2007
Season 2
Season 2
DVD name
Season 2
Region 1
December 11, 2007
Region 2
September 12, 2011
Region 4
July 2, 2008
Season 3
Season 3
DVD name
Season 3
Region 1
January 5, 2010
Region 2
January 23, 2012
Region 4
March 3, 2010
Season 4
Season 4
DVD name
Season 4
Region 1
January 4, 2011
Region 2
April 16, 2012
Region 4
May 4, 2011
Season 5
Season 5
DVD name
Season 5
Region 1
December 6, 2011
Region 2
August 6, 2012
Region 4
July 11, 2012
Big Love: The Complete Collection
Big Love: The Complete Collection
DVD name
Big Love: The Complete Collection
Region 1
December 6, 2011
Region 2
August 6, 2012
Region 4
TBA
| DVD name | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 |
| Season 1 | October 17, 2006 | April 27, 2007 | September 5, 2007 |
| Season 2 | December 11, 2007 | September 12, 2011 | July 2, 2008 |
| Season 3 | January 5, 2010 | January 23, 2012 | March 3, 2010 |
| Season 4 | January 4, 2011 | April 16, 2012 | May 4, 2011 |
| Season 5 | December 6, 2011 | August 6, 2012 | July 11, 2012 |
| Big Love: The Complete Collection | December 6, 2011 | August 6, 2012 | TBA |
References
- Despite appearing in every episode of season 4, Smith is credited as a guest star.
- In season 4, Tancy Henrickson is portrayed by Bella Thorne.
- In season 3, Dern and Place are credited with the main cast in the episode "Prom Queen"; in all other season 3 appearanc
- In season 4, Stanton is credited with the main cast in the episodes "The Mighty and Strong" and "Next Ticket Out"; in "F
- In season one, episode eight, Lois tells Sarah that Maggie drowned in Lake Mead, Nevada.
- Ben's sixteenth birthday is referenced in episode three, season two.
- "Rewind @ www.dvdcompare.net – The Home of DVD Comparisons – Part of The Rewind Network"https://www.dvdcompare.net/comparisons/search.php
- HBO Maxhttps://www.hbomax.com/shows/big-love/277845ce-ff85-4fc1-8e27-2e56d0bf1dd2
- NPRhttps://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5254450
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2010/tv/news/big-love-says-goodbye-1118026514/
- Golden Globeshttps://www.goldenglobes.com/tv-show/big-love
- Emmyshttps://www.emmys.com/shows/big-love
- NPRhttps://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12421072
- Hanna, Cheryl (2010). "Rethinking Consent in a Big Love Way". Michigan Journal of Gender & Law. 17 (1): 111-156.
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/feature/best-tv-of-2009-and-the-decade?page=1
- The New York Timeshttps://web.archive.org/web/20111219000645/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/28/arts/television/28poly.html
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-ca-big-love1-2009mar01-story.html
- "Judge rules for court supervision in UEP case"https://web.archive.org/web/20201115012656/https://www.deseret.com/2009/7/18/20329523/judge-rules-for-court-supervision-in-uep-case
- "Chronology of Church History"https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/scriptures/chchrono?lang=eng
- "Official Declaration 1"https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/od/1?lang=eng
- The Polygamy Files: The Tribune's blog on the plural lifehttps://web.archive.org/web/20061020112140/http://blogs.sltrib.com/plurallife/2006/03/real-sources-behind-big-love.htm
- The Salt Lake Tribunehttps://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2019/06/24/whats-next-polygamous/
- Love Times Three: Our True Story of a Polygamous Marriagehttps://books.google.com/books?id=QIJysmXOPg4C&pg=PT8
- Newswirehttps://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/all-american-home-center-going-out-of-business-sale-starts-thursday-november-3rd-133110533.html
- Ventura County Starhttp://archive.vcstar.com/news/sundays-finale-could-determine-if-hbos-big-love-returns-to-fillmore-ep-369539409-350026951.html/
- San Fernando Road: As Seen on TV Archived 2007-08-21 at the Wayback Machine, Atwater Village Newbie, June 13, 2007http://atwater-village.blogspot.com/2007/06/san-fernando-road-as-seen-on-tv.html
- "Big Love gives bigger role to Bella Thorne"https://www.reuters.com/article/televisionNews/idUSTRE58318T20090904
- "Big Love: Homepage"http://hbo.com/big-love#
- HBO.comhttp://www.hbo.com/biglove/episode/season1/episode02.html
- imdb.comhttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt0421030/epcast
- "Exclusive: '24' evildoer Gregory Itzin joins 'Big Love' | Ausiello"https://web.archive.org/web/20100721103600/http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/07/19/gregory-itzin-joins-big-love/
- Big Lovehttps://web.archive.org/web/20101016153112/http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/10/06/big-love-activates-terminator-robert-patrick/#more-11665
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- HBOhttps://web.archive.org/web/20071229092844/https://www.hbo.com/biglove/cast/
- Big Love
- Big Love
- The New York Timeshttps://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/why-did-big-love-change-its-credits-god-only-knows/
- CMThttps://web.archive.org/web/20201115012637/http://www.cmt.com/news/1659917/natalie-maines-covers-god-only-knows-for-hbo-series/
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/dec/07/david-byrne-big-love-hymnal
- "Big Love: The Complete Third Season DVD - HBO Shop"http://store.hbo.com/detail.php?p=100208&v=hbo_shows_big-love
- "Big Love: The Complete Fourth Season DVD - HBO Shop"http://store.hbo.com/detail.php?p=276089&v=hbo
- "Big Love - Complete HBO Season 4"https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005YYCKA0
- "Buy Big Love - The Complete 4th Season (3 Disc Set) on DVD-Video from EzyDVD.com.au"https://archive.today/20121230085052/http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/818721
- Big Love (HBO) - Reviews from Metacritic Archived 2020-11-15 at the Wayback Machine.https://www.metacritic.com/tv/shows/biglove
- Business Insiderhttps://www.businessinsider.com/hbo-shows-ranked-critics-2017-2/#29-big-love-2006-11-five-seasons-43
- Timehttps://web.archive.org/web/20060528222517/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1169923,00.html
- The Wall Street Journalhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/SB114194619457994142?mod=2_1168_1
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/tv/big-love/critic-reviews
- Chicago Sun-Timeshttp://www.suntimes.com/output/elfman/cst-ftr-elf09.html
- New Yorkhttps://nymag.com/arts/tv/reviews/16328/
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/tv/big-love/season-2/critic-reviews
- PopMattershttps://www.popmatters.com/feature/high-redefinition-the-30-best-tv-shows-of-2007/P1/
- San Francisco Chroniclehttp://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/TV-s-best-and-worst-of-2007-3233740.php#page-2
- Poniewozik, James "Top 10 Returning TV Series". Time.https://web.archive.org/web/20071212161121/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/top10/article/0,30583,1686204_1686244_1691404,00.html
- Entertainment Weeklyhttps://web.archive.org/web/20141205000619/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20166802_20384066,00.html#20384057
- NPRhttps://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17576952
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/tv/big-love/season-3/critic-reviews
- AOL TVhttp://www.aoltv.com/2009/12/07/best-tv-shows-of-the-2000s/
- Ain't It Cool Newshttps://www.aintitcool.com/node/43513
- The A.V. Clubhttps://www.avclub.com/article/the-best-tv-series-of-the-00s-35256
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/07/AR2010010704553.html
- "Have I lost that loving feeling for 'Big Love'? - Tuned in Journal - post-gazette.com"https://web.archive.org/web/20100111005638/http://community.post-gazette.com/blogs/tunedin/archive/2010/01/07/big-love-big-disappointment.aspx
- Big Lovehttps://www.avclub.com/big-love-end-of-days-1798164467
- Los Angeles Timeshttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2011-jan-15-la-et-big-love-review-20110115-story.html
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/tv/big-love/season-5/critic-reviews
- Metacritichttps://www.metacritic.com/browse/tv/score/metascore/year?sort=desc&view=condensed&year_selected=2011
- "Eternity: Thoughts on the Series Finale of HBO's Big Love"https://www.televisionaryblog.com/2011/03/eternity-thoughts-on-series-finale-of.html
- Timehttps://entertainment.time.com/2011/03/21/big-love-watch-god-only-knows-what-wed-be-without-you/
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/arts/television/in-big-love-finale-on-hbo-a-comeuppance-for-the-man.html
- HuffPosthttps://www.huffingtonpost.com/section/tv
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- Huffington Posthttps://web.archive.org/web/20090314060657/http://www.huffingtonpost.com:80/2009/03/10/hbo-vs-the-mormons-in-bat_n_173707.html
- Vince Horiuchi, "LDS Temple secrets? 'Big Love' TV episode angers Mormons: TV show to air Sunday reportedly depicts faithttp://www.sltrib.com/ci_11874222
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- Adrienne D. Davis (2010). "Regulating Polygamy: Intimacy, Default Rules, and Bargaining for Equality". Columbia Law Revi
- Cossman, Brenda (2008). "Betwixt and Between Recognition: Migrating Same-Sex Marriages and the Turn Toward the Private".
- Atkinson, Andrew "When You Walk Through the Garden: HBO and the Cross Pressures of Post-Secular Humanism". Journal of Re