The Philantropist, starting on Sunday, 4 April at 20:30 on SABC3, chronicles the heroic adventures of a billionaire playboy-turned-vigilante/philanthropist. James Purefoy (Rome) stars as Teddy Rist, a successful tycoon who, after the shocking death of his son, wakes every morning with an aching void at the centre of his life.
However, while on a business trip to Nigeria, he finds himself rescuing a boy during a hurricane and to Teddy’s surprise, this simple act gives him temporary relief from his pain and sparks him to channel his passion; power; and money into helping those in need.
A man who has everything but feels nothing, Rist keeps his adrenaline pumping by putting his business acumen and money-making skills to good use by bargaining with the self-righteous as he makes deals with drug barons and trading with the nefarious.
Jesse L. Martin (NBC’s
Law & Order) plays Philip Maidstone, Teddy's business partner and friend, and Neve Campbell (
Party of Five; Burn Up) plays Olivia, Philip's wife who also runs the charitable foundation set up by the two billionaires. Lindy Booth (
The 4400); Michael Kenneth Williams (
The Wire); Krista Allen (
The Starter Wife); and newcomer, James Albrecht also star.
Meet the team: James Purefoy as Teddy Rist; Jesse L. Martin as Philip Maidstone; Neve Campbell as Olivia Maidstone; Michael K. Williams as Dax Vahagn; and Lindy Booth as A.J. Butterfield.