Family Album, also known as Danielle Steel's Family Album, is a 1994 NBC television series based on a book from 1985 written by Danielle Steel. The series was directed by Jack Bender and shown in two parts on October 23 and 24, 1994. The story follows the life of a Hollywood actress who becomes a successful film director during a time when most directors were men.

Plot

The film starts with Ward Thayer in his study, remembering his life and family while looking through a photo album after his wife, Faye Price Thayer’s, funeral. The story goes back to 1951, when Faye Price is a well-known Hollywood actress who meets Ward Thayer, a wealthy man, while entertaining soldiers during the Korean War. They fall in love and marry seven years later, having four children. Ward loses his job and considers ending his life, but Faye offers to return to acting. Ward is upset because he dislikes moving to Fairfax, California. On the set of her new movie, the director and producer argue, and the director leaves. Faye offers to direct the scene herself. At first, others doubt her, but she succeeds. Soon, she is asked to direct television shows, including Zane Grey Theater. However, her home life is difficult. Ward is sad after losing money and starts an affair. When Faye discovers this, she asks him to leave the house. Later, she agrees to give him another chance, and they work together on films. Their first film is very successful and wins praise. Faye signs a contract with Universal Studios.

Years later, their children grow up. Lionel is a student hoping to become a photographer, Greg is still in school and wants to be a football player, Valerie is an actress waiting for her big break, and Anne is the quiet youngest sister. Greg admits his grades are poor and that he left school to join the Marines and serve in Vietnam. Ward visits Lionel and learns his son is gay. Faye accepts the news, but Ward is angry and cuts Lionel out of his life, telling his daughters not to speak to him. Anne becomes angry and runs away. Faye is sad but cannot quit her job to find her. Greg prepares to leave for the military, and the family says goodbye, but Ward refuses to talk to Lionel. Later, Faye is told by the police that Anne was arrested for drug possession. Faye picks her up and is shocked to learn Anne is pregnant. Ward convinces her to consider giving up the child. Anne cries after giving birth but agrees to let the baby be adopted.

Tragedy strikes when Greg is killed in Da Nang, just days before peace was declared. At his funeral, Ward finally acknowledges Lionel but still struggles to accept his son is gay. Meanwhile, Faye is nominated for an Oscar. Valerie becomes jealous of her mother’s success and argues with her when she reveals she left UCLA for a role in a low-budget horror film that requires her to appear without clothes. The Oscar nomination takes most of Faye’s time, making Anne feel ignored. She spends more time with her friend’s father, Bill O’Hara, a windower. Faye and Ward reconcile. During an Easter visit to their beach house, Lionel and his partner, John, arrive with egg-dyeing supplies; Lionel says his father invited them. Later, the family faces another tragedy when Lionel and John are in a car accident. Lionel survives, but John dies. Lionel struggles with grief and works as a photographer.

Anne upsets her parents by admitting she is dating Bill, a much older man. Ward is angry and confronts Bill about seeing a 17-year-old girl. Anne and Bill still plan to marry, and Anne becomes pregnant again. Meanwhile, Valerie gets her big break when she is cast as the second lead in her mother’s new film. The lead actor, George Waterson, is at first unkind to her but later becomes fond of her and they start a secret relationship. Lionel also finds love with Paul Steel, a drug-addicted actor who was recently fired. In the end, the movie directed by Faye and starring Valerie becomes a great success, and Valerie becomes famous quickly. Later, Anne gives birth to a son. The experience reminds her of her first pregnancy, and she blames her mother for giving up her first child. Ten years later, Valerie helps Anne understand that Faye was a good mother but had little time. Anne tries to apologize but is too afraid. Suddenly, Faye dies. Anne feels guilty for not apologizing, but Ward tells her Faye knew how much she was loved.

Differences between the film and the novel.

• In the novel, Valerie is one of a set of twins. In the film, she is not a twin.
• In the novel, Lionel's sweetheart John dies in a Christmas tree fire. In the film, he dies in a car crash.
• In the novel, Paul is Lionel's much older first romantic partner, and they end their relationship. Later, Lionel falls in love with John. After John's death, Lionel starts a relationship with a man whose name is not given. In the film, John is Lionel's first sweetheart, and then Lionel meets and falls for Paul.
• In the novel, Bill's last name is Stein. In the film, it is O'Hara.

Cast

• Jaclyn Smith portrays Faye Price Thayer
• Michael Ontkean portrays Ward Thayer
• Joe Flanigan portrays Lionel Thayer
• Kristin Minter portrays Valerie "Val" Thayer
• Leslie Horan portrays Anne Thayer and Anne O'Hara
• Brian Krause portrays Greg Thayer
• Tom Mason portrays Bill O'Hara
• Joel Gretsch portrays John
• Paul Satterfield portrays Paul Steel
• John Waters portrays Vincent

Production and broadcast

"Family Album" was adapted by Karol Ann Hoeffner from the 1985 novel with the same title by Danielle Steel. The four-hour miniseries was produced by Douglas S. Cramer and directed by Jack Bender. It was shown on NBC in two parts on October 23 and 24, 1994.

Critical reception

David Hiltbrand of People wrote, "This overused attempt to mix Hollywood glamour with family values looks nice on the outside, but underneath, there are hidden problems like fake elements, predictability, and poor acting."

Michael Watkins was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography in a Miniseries or Movie in 1995 for Family Album.