The Fugitive

"In the early morning hours of July 4, 1954, Marilyn Sheppard was bludgeoned to death in her bed with an unknown instrument. The bedroom was covered with blood spatter and drops of blood were found on floors throughout the house.  

According to her husband, Dr. Sam Sheppard, he was sleeping soundly on a daybed when he heard the cries from his wife. He ran upstairs where he was knocked unconscious. When he awoke, he saw a person downstairs, chased the intruder out of the house down to the beach where they tussled and Sheppard was knocked unconscious again."

The police, not believing his story, charged Sheppard with his wife's murder.  He was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.  After serving ten years behind bars, Sheppard was re-tried and found not guilty.  

From 1963 to 1967, David Janssen starred as the fictional Dr. Richard Kimble in the very popular TV series, The Fugitive, which was based on the Sheppard case.  Kimble's wife is murdered, he is unjustly convicted and escapes custody while on his way to prison.  Kimble spends the next four years searching for the actual murderer, all the while evading capture by the police.

The series final episode, shown on August 29, 1967, currently holds the third rank for the all-time highest U.S. television household share, at 72%.  My first wife's (Bonita's) sister Helaine hosted a party for fans of The Fugitive to watch the finale together.  I was there with Bonita and many others.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, but fifteen year-old Cristina Rolim, my current wife, was an avid fan of the series and in love with David Janssen.  Unfortunately, in Brazil the series was dubbed into Portuguese.  Years later, I bought a DVD of some of episodes of The Fugitive so Cristina could hear the real voice of David Janssen.

In 1993, a movie version of the TV show was produced which starred Harrison Ford as Kimble and Tommy Lee Jones as Deputy U.S. Marshal Sam Gerard.  After escaping custody while on his way to prison, Kimble is pursued by Gerard.  

Gerard finally catches up to Kimble high up at a dam (actually the Cheoah Dam in North Carolina).  Kimble says, "I didn't kill my wife."  In a classic line, Gerard responds, "I don't care."  

Kimble then escapes capture by risking his life, jumping from the dam into the water far below.  He miraculously survives to continue his life as The Fugitive.