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The Philanthropist

Action & AdventureDrama
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We checked 8 streaming services in India on 04 Jun 2026 at 11:48 IST

2009
1 Season
8 Episodes
EN
Canceled

About

The title character, Teddy Rist (portrayed by James Purefoy), is a billionaire playboy haunted by the death of his only child. His life changes when he rescues a young boy during a hurricane in Nigeria. As a result, Rist begins using his fortune to personally change the lives of others.[4] The Philanthropist is based loosely on the life of Bobby Sager.[5] The Philanthropist is an American action drama series that premiered on NBC on Wednesday, June 24, 2009. The program was a limited summer series, principally filmed in South Africa. It opened to strong ratings, but saw a drop in viewers in subsequent weeks. The Philanthropist is a Carnival Films production in association with The Levinson/Fontana Company and Original Media. Tom Fontana, Barry Levinson, Peter Horton, Charlie Corwin, Gareth Neame, and Teri Weinberg served as executive producers.

#billionaire#good deed#wealthy man

Cast

Episodes

Season 1

E1

Nigeria Part I

Jun 24, 20091h 0m

A wealthy philanthropist's life is changed when a hurricane hits the Nigerian town he was visiting. During the storm the billionaire rescues a young boy. These events lead him to pursue his new found passion for helping those in need.

E2

Myanmar

Jul 1, 20091h 0m

Teddy visits Myanmar to ask for guidance from a local leader after his company is accused of forced labor.

E3

Paris

Jul 8, 20091h 0m

Olivia is reunited with an old friend who is caught in a sex-trafficking ring on a visit to Paris. Teddy does everything in his power to save the helpless young women.

E4

Nigeria Part II

Jul 15, 20091h 0m

Teddy heads to Kujama, Nigeria, to help rescue his old friend, Doctor Chima Balo. Balo was kidnapped because the local rebels didn't like Teddy and his oil refinery doing good for their town. Back at home, Philip helps an old acquaintance keep his head above water after being laid off from work.

E5

Kosovo

Jul 22, 20091h 0m

Teddy meets his ex-wife Julia and tells her about his journey to Kosovo where he tried to get Serbians and Albanians to work together, but learned that the hatred runs deep.

E6

San Diego

Jul 29, 20091h 0m

Teddy and Dax travel to San Diego and try to find the thief who stole Teddy's identity. In the meantime, Olivia and Philip find out that Maidstone Rist is in trouble.

E7

Kashmir

Aug 5, 20091h 0m6.0

When Teddy tries to close a deal with the Indian and Pakistani governments to rebuild a water system in Kashmir, he disappears on his mission.

E8

Haiti

Aug 12, 20091h 0m

Food shortage leads Teddy and Philip to Haiti where they try to help, but Philip's estranged brother, a powerful island senator named Jean Beauvais, interferes.

Where does The Philanthropist rank today?

The Philanthropist is #3373 on the Bowood.TV Daily Streaming Charts today.

  • Highest: #3373
  • Top 10: 0 days
  • Top 100: 0 days

Watch The Philanthropist Online Free — All Episodes in HD

Stream The Philanthropist online free in HD on Bowood.TV. A well-rated action & adventure and drama series originally produced in English and released in 2009, it's earned a solid 7.1/10 from 9 viewers worldwide.

About The Philanthropist

The title character, Teddy Rist (portrayed by James Purefoy), is a billionaire playboy haunted by the death of his only child. His life changes when he rescues a young boy during a hurricane in Nigeria. As a result, Rist begins using his fortune to personally change the lives of others.[4] The Philanthropist is based loosely on the life of Bobby Sager.[5] The Philanthropist is an American action drama series that premiered on NBC on Wednesday, June 24, 2009. The program was a limited summer series, principally filmed in South Africa. It opened to strong ratings, but saw a drop in viewers in subsequent weeks. The Philanthropist is a Carnival Films production in association with The Levinson/Fontana Company and Original Media. Tom Fontana, Barry Levinson, Peter Horton, Charlie Corwin, Gareth Neame, and Teri Weinberg served as executive producers. Across 1 season and 8 episodes, originally airing on NBC, with status "Canceled".

The Philanthropist Cast and Characters

The cast features James Purefoy, Neve Campbell (as Olivia Maidstone), Michael Kenneth Williams, Lindy Booth (as A.J. Butterfield), and Jesse L. Martin (as Philip Maidstone). Their performances are a major reason The Philanthropist has built such a passionate audience.

Where to Watch The Philanthropist Online

On Bowood.TV you can watch The Philanthropist free — no account, no credit card, no ads in the middle of the show. We stream the full series in 720p / 1080p HD, with subtitles when available, on any device: phone, tablet, laptop, or smart TV browser.

▶ Watch The Philanthropist Now

Why People Are Watching The Philanthropist

The Philanthropist flies under the radar but it deserves your attention. What makes it work is emotional weight that hits where it counts and action sequences that don't feel cheap. If you enjoy English storytelling that doesn't follow the same tired beats, this is the kind of show you'll end up recommending to friends.

Frequently Asked Questions about The Philanthropist

Where can I watch The Philanthropist online for free?

You can watch The Philanthropist online free on Bowood.TV. Just open the page and hit play — no signup, no subscription, full HD streaming on phone, tablet, or desktop.

How many episodes does The Philanthropist have?

The Philanthropist has 8 episodes across 1 season. All episodes are available to stream right here on Bowood.TV.

Is The Philanthropist good? What's the rating?

The Philanthropist holds a 7.1/10 rating based on 9 reviews — well above average.

Who is in the cast of The Philanthropist?

The main cast includes James Purefoy, Neve Campbell, Michael Kenneth Williams, and Lindy Booth, plus a strong supporting ensemble.

Is The Philanthropist available in English?

Yes — The Philanthropist was originally produced in English and that's the version you'll stream here on Bowood.TV.

When was The Philanthropist released?

The Philanthropist first aired in 2009.

Do I need an account to watch The Philanthropist on Bowood.TV?

No. Bowood.TV is free and you can watch The Philanthropist without creating an account. Sign-up is optional — only useful if you want a personal Watchlist or to comment on episodes.

Similar Series You Might Like

If you enjoyed The Philanthropist, check out J.J. Starbuck, The Colbys, Signed, Sealed, Delivered, Rags to Riches, and Pure Genius.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I watch The Philanthropist for free?

You can watch The Philanthropist online for free on Bowood.TV. All 8 episodes across 1 season are available to stream in HD without a subscription, signup, or paywall. Just open the show page and press play.

How many seasons and episodes does The Philanthropist have?

The Philanthropist currently has 1 season and a total of 8 episodes. The series status is "Canceled", so the episode count may grow as new seasons are released. You can browse the full episode list on Bowood.TV and continue watching from where you left off.

What is The Philanthropist about?

The title character, Teddy Rist (portrayed by James Purefoy), is a billionaire playboy haunted by the death of his only child. His life changes when he rescues a young boy during a hurricane in Nigeria. As a result, Rist begins using his fortune to personally change the lives of others.[4] The Philanthropist is base… It belongs to the Action & Adventure, Drama genres.

In which language is The Philanthropist originally available?

The Philanthropist was originally produced in English. On Bowood.TV the show is available in its original English audio, which is the most authentic way to experience the dialogue, music, and performances. Check the player options on the watch page for available subtitle tracks.

When was The Philanthropist first released?

The Philanthropist first premiered on June 24, 2009 (2009).

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