Empire Falls: Paul Newman and Philip Seymour Hoffman in HBO Miniseries

Empire Falls is a two-part, feature-length HBO miniseries adapted by Richard Russo from his Pulitzer Prize–winning novel. Directed by Fred Schepisi, it gathers a cast that includes Paul Newman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Joanne Woodward, Ed Harris, Robin Wright, and Helen Hunt, alongside Aidan Quinn, Dennis Farina, Estelle Parsons, William Fichtner, and Theresa Russell.

Set in a decaying Maine town, the drama follows diner manager Miles Roby as he balances running a restaurant with grieving his mother, navigating a divorce, and mediating tensions between his daughter Tick (Danielle Panabaker) and his ex-wife Janine (Helen Hunt).

Paul Newman plays Miles’ irritable, disheveled father, Max; his performance is the standout and was his final on-screen role before his death in 2008. Ed Harris provides a steady, blue-collar center to the ensemble. Flashbacks reveal Miles’ mother, Grace (Robin Wright), and her affair with Charlie Mayne (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a figure who haunts Miles’ subconscious.

United States, Maine

empire falls, paul newman, hbo miniseries, richard russo, fred schepisi, miles roby, hoffman, joanne woodward, ed harris, maine