Fame (1982): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1982, Fame is a drama series.

What it’s about. An American television series originally produced between 1982 and 1987. The show is based on the 1980 motion picture of the same name. With a mixture of drama and music, it followed the lives of the students and faculty at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts. Although fictional, it was based heavily on the actual Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York. Most interior scenes were filmed in Hollywood, California, and in all seasons but the third, several exterior scenes were shot on location in New York City. The popularity of the series, particularly in the UK, led to several hit records and live concert tours by the cast. Despite its success, very few of the actors maintained high-profile careers after the series was cancelled. A number of the cast members were seen again briefly in Bring Back...Fame, a reunion special made for British television in 2008.

Who’s in it. Fame stars Debbie Allen as Lydia Grant, Lee Curreri as Bruno Martelli, Cynthia Gibb as Holly Laird and Gene Anthony Ray as Leroy Johnson, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.8/10, Fame has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Fame page.

If you liked it. Fans of Fame tend to enjoy Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Attack on Titan.