The Immortal (1970 TV series)

The Immortal was a 1970-1971 American science fiction television series that aired on ABC. It starred Christopher George as Ben Richards, a test driver who discovers he possesses rare blood that makes him virtually immortal. This is due to antibodies that protect him from all known diseases and prevent aging.

The premise of the series centered around wealthy businessman Arthur Maitland (Barry Sullivan), who desperately needs Richards' blood to prolong his own life. Maitland employs various means, often unscrupulous and dangerous, to capture Richards and extract his blood. Richards, aided by friends and allies, constantly evades capture and seeks to understand the implications of his immortality.

The series ran for only one season, consisting of fifteen episodes, including the pilot movie originally broadcast as an ABC Movie of the Week. While the pilot was successful, the series itself struggled in the ratings and was ultimately cancelled. The show often explored themes of exploitation, morality, and the burden of immortality, sometimes touching upon social commentary relevant to the time.