James A. Garfield and His Assassin Featured in ‘Death by Lightning’
Mike Makowsky spent months securing government permission to view original materials, which explains why his new Netflix limited series Death by Lightning opens with a detailed re-creation of Charles J. Guiteau’s act. This four-part series explores the intertwined stories of the 20th U.S. president, James A. Garfield, and his assassin.
The show highlights Garfield’s home in Mentor, Ohio, now preserved as the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, maintained by the National Park Service. It depicts the tragic end to Garfield’s presidency after Guiteau murdered him in 1881.
Cast and Source Material
- Michael Shannon portrays President Garfield, embodying his principles and leadership.
- Matthew Macfadyen plays Charles J. Guiteau, capturing the assassin's disturbed nature.
- The series is adapted from Candice Millard’s acclaimed 2011 book, Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President.
“Death by Lightning,” begins with a re-creation of Charles J. Guiteau’s assassination of President James A. Garfield.
The narrative reveals both Garfield’s commitment to his nation and the chaotic mind of his killer, providing a complex portrait of a pivotal moment in American history.
Author's summary: The Netflix limited series Death by Lightning dramatizes the assassination of President James A. Garfield and portrays the intertwined destinies of the president and his assassin.