A Family Upside Down is a 1978 American drama television film directed by David Lowell Rich and written by Gerald Di Pego. It stars Helen Hayes and Fred Astaire as an elderly married couple, with Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Pat Crowley, and Patty Duke in supporting roles. The film was praised for the performances of the cast, earning Astaire a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama or Comedy Special. It also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Film. Plot Ted Long (Fred Astaire) is a retiree who suffers a debilitating heart attack that leaves him incapable of caring for himself. Unable to rely on his wife Emma (Helen Hayes), herself suffering from deteriorating health, Ted grows increasingly dependent on his adult children for his basic needs. Familial bonds are tested when Ted and Emma decide to move in with their son Mike (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) and daughter-in-law Carol (Pat Crowley) rather than face the prospect of living in a retirement home. Cast Helen Hayes as Emma Long Fred Astaire as Ted Long Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Mike Long Pat Crowley as Carol Long Patty Duke as Wendy Brad Rearden as Scott Long Ford Rainey as Mr. Case Kim Hamilton as Paula Phillip R. Allen as Dr. Russo Carl Held as Al Lanna Saunders as Mrs. Lovell Belinda Palmer as Rhonda Miiko Taka as Mrs. Taka David Haskell as House Painter R. Norwood Smith as Wes Allen Charles Walker as Aide Gary Swanson as Instructor Gail Landry as Candy Striper Matthew Tobin as Dr. Chisholm Nolan Leary as Mr. Willy Ernestine Barrier as Mrs. Willy Awards and nominations References A Family Upside Down at Library of Congress A Family Upside Down - Awards & Nominations at Emmys.com A Family Upside Down Award at Golden Globes.com External links A Family Upside Down at Internet Archive 1978 films 1978 drama films 1978 television films American drama television films Films about families Films about old age Films directed by David Lowell Rich Films produced by Ross Hunter Films scored by Henry Mancini Columbia Pictures films NBC network original films 1970s English-language films 1970s American films