TV series
The Big Valley is an American western television series which ran on ABC from September 15, 1965, to May 19, 1969. The show stars Barbara Stanwyck, as the widow of a wealthy nineteenth century California rancher. It was created by A.I. Bezzerides and Louis F. Edelman, and produced by Levy-Gardner-Laven for Four Star Television.
Streaming, rental and purchase options
Checked Jul 22, 2026
The Big Valley is available to stream on DirecTV On Demand and Philo in United States. Use the direct links below to open the provider.
The Big Valley is an American western television series which ran on ABC from September 15, 1965, to May 19, 1969. The show stars Barbara Stanwyck, as the widow of a wealthy nineteenth century California rancher. It was created by A.I. Bezzerides and Louis F. Edelman, and produced by Levy-Gardner-Laven for Four Star Television.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
In this series premiere, the railroad has hired men to force the farmers and ranchers of Stockton off their land. The Barkleys join with the rest of the valley to help fight them off. While at home an angry young man, Heath, shows up claimimg to be the deceased Tom Barkleys' illegitimate son.
Directed by William A. GrahamGuest stars Vincent Gardenia, Dennis Cross, Malachi Throne
Episode 2
While preparing for a major cattle drive bunching the Barkley's herd with those of other ranchers, Heath has major difficulties being accepted as a Barkley, especially by the ranch hands. Then when Nick's former commander in the war comes to visit, Heath is suspicious of him, and with good reason. He is there to cause trouble and steal the herd!! Nick ends up getting shot while on the drive and has to be taken to town, leaving Heath in charge of the drive. Heath ends up saving the day, and finally the hands begin to accept him as a true Barkley.
Directed by Bernard McEveetyGuest stars Andrew Duggan, Douglas Kennedy, Michael Fox, John Milford
Episode 3
Victoria begins to wonder if Tom ever truly loved her, if he could go off and have an affair which produces a child. So she's off to Heath's hometown Strawberry to find out more about Tom and Leah's (Heath's mother) relationship.
Directed by Joseph H. LewisGuest stars Jeanne Cooper, Beah Richards, John Anderson, John Harmon
Episode 4
Audra is save by a man who claims to be a mustang hunter, but who's band of mustangers are also extorting protection money from the farmers and ranchers of Stockon. While Audra is smitten with him her brothers are suspicious, and soon find out the truth. Which Audra does as well. . .after she is kidnapped by them.
Guest stars James Patterson, Kevin Hagen, Virginia Christine, Mort Mills, Julie Payne
Episode 5
Victoria sells land to an old friend, while the Barkley boys are part of a plan to flood it!!!
Written by Paul SavageGuest stars Richard Farnsworth, Arthur O'Connell, Jason Evers, Mort Mills, Ken Mayer, Harlan Warde, Sheldon Collins
Episode 6
While Heath investigates violence at one of the Barkley mines, he discovers that the miners hate the Barkley's for unkept promises. This discovered they work to set things right before anything else happens.
Written by Carey WilberGuest stars Ford Rainey, Bing Russell, Anne Helm
Episode 7
Heath falls for a beautiful spanish girl, whose father happens to be involved in a land dispute with the Barkleys! Her father disapproves of Heath because of his illegitamate birth, picturing a much finer bred man for his only daughter. He sets about using the land problems to break them apart.
Directed by Richard C. SarafianGuest stars Henry Wilcoxon, Katharine Ross, Karl Swenson, Naomi Stevens, Gregg Palmer, Max Kleven, Joe Higgins
Episode 8
An old childhood friend of Audra's returns whom she'd like to be involved with. She doesn't know however that he is emotionally disturbed, dangerously so.
Directed by Paul HenreidWritten by Paul SchneiderGuest stars Robert Walker Jr., R.G. Armstrong, Mort Mills
Episode 9
Victoria is in a mission church with a pregnant indian woman, when an earthquake collapses it into a forgotten mine underneath. As if the situation isn't isn't bad enough. . they are also trapped with a man whom Nick had fired and who now has a serious grudge against the Barkleys.
Directed by Paul HenreidWritten by Oliver CrawfordGuest stars John Craven, Aliza Gur, Audrey Dalton, Mort Mills, Robert B. Williams, William Fawcett, Charles Bronson, Robert Karnes
Episode 10
Jarrod defends a man accused of murder, even though the only witness is his own brother, Heath!!
Guest stars Walter Woolf King, Bill Quinn, Mort Mills, Paul Fix, Larry D. Mann, Warren Oates, Fred Holliday
Episode 11
When one of Nick's old friends, Mariano Montoya, comes through town on his way to sell his cattle, trouble hits in the form of deadly anthrax. The man's cattle begin to die off and it seems as though they will have to shoot them all, killing as well Mariano's dreams for the money. Until Eugene tells them of something called immunization, which he believes will work. Mariano isn't so sure however and tells them that to prove it works, the Barkleys must first try it on their own prize bull!The bull collapses and it looks as though it has been killed but then it moves and gets up, it works!! Mariano's herd is saved!
Directed by Joseph M. NewmanGuest stars Rodolfo Acosta, Arthur Space, Martin Landau, Pepe Hern
Episode 12
When Nick is bitten by a rabid wolf, he makes Heath swear not to say a word, and leaves town so his family will not have to witness what will happen to him.
Directed by Joseph H. LewisGuest stars Nancy Olson, Yuki Shimoda, Chubby Johnson, Ron Howard
Episode 13
When the Barkleys invite the foreman of their logging operations to dinner, Heath walks in and tries to kill the man on sight. It turns out that the man is Matt Bentell, the warden of violent, horrible Carterson Prison, where Heath was held during the war. A man whom he had sworn to kill if he ever saw him again. The family comes up with the brilliant idea to send Heath up to the logging camp with the man to help with the building of log flumes, and to protect the man whose identity has been brought into the open. Heath ends up saving his life and learns that people can change.
Directed by Lewis AllenWritten by Paul SavageGuest stars Martine Bartlett, Gene Dynarski, John Anderson, Morgan Woodward, Anthony Zerbe
Episode 14
A group of irish immigrants settle down on Barkley land, believing that they bought the land legally. Nick, along with the others at first, believes they are merely squatters. They, however, refuse to believe that the land does not belong to them.
Directed by Joseph PevneyGuest stars Noreen Corcoran, Olan Soule, J. Pat O'Malley, Eleanor Audley, Claude Akins, Joe Higgins, John Harmon
Episode 15
Jarrod decides to bring home one of his clients, a young woman named Maybelle, for Christmas. Her accused crime aiding and abbetting her outlaw boyfriend, a boyfriend who recently escaped from jail and is now looking for Maybelle.
Guest stars Lynn Loring
Episode 16
While out counting cattle Heath comes across a dead animal. When he gets down off of his horse to investigate, he is shot by the same rawhiders who killed the cow. When they realize that he is still alive, they decide to take him back to the ranch for a finder's ""reward"". Once there they find that all of the other men are gone for at least a week, leaving the house and all within ripe for the picking.
Guest stars Napoleon Whiting, Yvonne Craig, John Dehner, Noah Keen
Episode 17
Nick returns from a trip from San Francisco with a big surprise. . . a fiance!! While he is completely smitten with her, the rest of the family isn't so quickly won over. They see the truth, that she's just not ready to leave behind the life of parties and numerous suitors, to which she has become accustomed.
Directed by Ralph SenenskyGuest stars Diane Baker
Episode 18
Jarrod is happy to see an old law school friend. . until he learns there is a secret service agent on his tail. It seems everywhere he goes counterfeit money follows, and Jarrod is determined to find out what's going on with his old friend.
Directed by Bernard McEveetyGuest stars William Shatner, James Griffith, Frank Marth, Jason Wingreen, Army Archerd, Bill Quinn
Episode 19
Mistaken for the schoolteacher, Victoria is kidnapped by an outlaw who wishes to learn to read.
Directed by Michael RitchieWritten by Gilbert RalstonGuest stars Timothy Carey, Steve Ihnat, Pepe Callahan, Dennis Cross
Episode 20
A guilt ridden Jarrod offers to help a man that he helped to convict of a crime that Jarrod now knows that he did not commit. Even though the man threatened to kill Jarrod at the trial.
Directed by Michael RitchieGuest stars K.T. Stevens, Albert Salmi, Bruce Dern
Episode 21
While having a birthday drink at The Barbary Red saloon with two of his ranch hands, Nick is shanghaied.
Directed by Michael RitchieGuest stars John Hoyt, Jill St. John, John Orchard, George Kennedy, Donna Michelle, Ric Roman, Bing Russell
Episode 22
Handy Random, theman who killed the man that killed Tom Barkley, comes to Stockton. It's a happy reunion for all but Heath who hates the man, and for good reason. Everywhere he goes he starts range wars to profit from them.
Directed by Bernard McEveetyGuest stars James Whitmore, Royal Dano, Pepe Hern
Episode 23
Heath feels that his friend's injury and paralysis is his fault, and ends up being used by the man.
Directed by Paul HenreidGuest stars Paul Comi, Peter Haskell, Alexander Lockwood, Marlyn Mason, Dennis Cross
Episode 24
A man comes to the ranch looking for Heath and gets shot by bounty hunters. It turns out he's not a friend of Heath's like he stated, in fact Heath has sworn to kill him himself.
Guest stars Bert Freed, Mort Mills, Alexander Lockwood, Lew Gallo, Robert Yuro, Audrey Dalton, Frank Marth
Episode 25
Heath's childhood sweetheart Libby suddenly reappears in his life, bringing nothing but trouble.He ends up thrown in jail, accused of the murder of Liberty's drunken husband, by the new D.A. who's out to prove that the Barkleys power and money can't buy everything. It's a race to prove Heath's innocence and save him from a fate at the end of a rope!!
Guest stars Kathleen Nolan, David Sheiner, King Donovan, Harlan Warde, Joe Higgins
Episode 26
When Victoria and Heath head up to the lodge to prepare things for the whole family, their pleasant ride turns into a nightmare. After becoming stuck in a muddy section of road, Heath gets out to help push, only to have the axle break and the heavily loaded wagon fall on him. Unable to free him herself, Victoria sets out to find help. She soon finds that the only person able to help is an escaped convict with bounty hunters on his tail, and no intentions of stopping to help anyone.
Guest stars L.Q. Jones, Harry Dean Stanton, Bruce Dern
Episode 27
When a riverboat belonging to the the Barkleys, which sank years before taking with it a fortune in government gold, is recovered, the gold is nowhere to be found. Rumors and accusations soon fly, that it was Tom Barkley who stole the gold and sank the boat to cover it up. An investigation follows which seems to prove that Tom was guilty, a fact that could cost the Barkleys their fortune!!!
Directed by Sutton RoleyGuest stars Curt Conway
Episode 28
Audra falls for a man out to make money off the other ranchers in the valley, by taking their land.
Guest stars Tom Tryon
Episode 29
Some men try to dig a tunnel from a general store to the train depot next door, to steal the Barkley's gold shipment.
Guest stars Warren Stevens, Don Diamond, Jeanne Cooper, Malachi Throne, Joe Higgins
Episode 30
While on their way to the fair in Sacremento, Audra is stricken with a severe case of appendicitis. Fortunately there is a doctor on board, unfortunately he is being chased down by men who wish to see him hang.
Written by Paul SavageGuest stars Tim McIntire, Richard Anderson, Nora Marlowe, Karl Swenson, Ken Mayer, James McCallion
Episode information updated Jul 23, 2026
Barbara StanwyckVictoria Barkley
Richard LongJarrod Barkley
Peter BreckNick Barkley
Lee MajorsHeath Barkley
Linda EvansAudra Barkley
Charles BrilesEugene Barkley
Walter Woolf KingJudge
Napoleon WhitingSilas
ABCUnited States
