I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Based on writer Maya Angelou's eloquent reminiscences of her days as a gifted youngster growing up in the South during the Depression years where she and her older brother were raised by their grandmother after the divorce of their parents. Details Casts Posters Title I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Release Date 1979-04-28 Runtime 01 Hours 36 Minutes Genres Drama TV Movie Production Companies Tomorrow Entertainment Production Countries United States of America Paul Benjamin... Freeman... Diahann Carroll... Vivian... Ruby Dee... Grandmother Baxter... Roger E. Mosley... Bailey, Sr.... Esther Rolle... Momma... Madge Sinclair... Miss Flowers... Sonny Jim Gaines... Uncle Willie... Art Evans... Principal... Constance Good... Maya... John M. Driver II... Bailey, Jr.... Georgia Allen... Mrs. Gurney... J. Don Ferguson... Mr. Donleavy... Tonea Stewart... Lillie... Monica Kyles... Julie... Rick Salassi... Parmenian... Lewis Liddell... Tommy... Sammy Liddell... Ira... Sylvester Spann... Tutti... Shaunery Stevens... Policeman... Hosie Phillips... Preacher... Myra Jo Arvin... Red... George Cummins... Sheriff Rogers... Torain... Teacher... Darleen Taylor... Girl #1... Laurie Waters... Tall Girl... Mose Lee Williams... Mrs. Fletcher #1... Frankie Mitchell... Mrs. Fletcher #2... M.L. Breeland... Mr. Peters... Angela Brown... Kitty... Abbie Burns... Mary... Johnny Lewis... Picker #1... John L. Patterson... Man... James Peters... 2nd Man... Melvin Kennerly... 3rd Man... Shirley Perkins... Woman... John C. Roper Jr.... White Man... Terri Ann Ross... Small Girl... I.D. Thompson... Black Man... Darryl Antony Williams... Tommy Valdon... Original Size (800x1200) Original Size (500x750)