James A. Garfield, his assassin, front and center in ‘Death by Lightning’

James A. Garfield and His Assassin Featured in ‘Death by Lightning’

Mike Makowsky spent months securing government permission to access original materials, which sets the tone for his new Netflix limited series, Death by Lightning. The series opens with a detailed recreation of Charles J. Guiteau’s actions.

This recently released four-part series recounts the intertwined lives of James A. Garfield, the 20th president of the United States, and his assassin, Guiteau. Garfield's home in Mentor is now the James A. Garfield National Historic Site, overseen by the National Park Service.

In 1881, Guiteau assassinated Garfield, abruptly ending his presidency. The series, adapted by Makowsky from Candice Millard’s acclaimed 2011 book, Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President, explores these historic events in detail.

Principal Cast

Michael Shannon stars as James A. Garfield, portraying the president’s integrity and leadership.
Matthew Macfadyen plays Charles J. Guiteau, capturing the assassin's disturbed persona.

“Death by Lightning” begins with a re-creation of Charles J. Guiteau’s actions.

Makowsky adapted the series from Candice Millard’s well-regarded 2011 book, Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President.

The series provides a compelling look at one of America’s most tragic presidencies and the complex characters involved.

Author’s summary: The Netflix series Death by Lightning vividly reimagines the intertwined fates of President James A. Garfield and his assassin Guiteau, based on a well-known historical book.

The News-Herald — 2025-11-08

James A. Garfield and His Assassin Featured in ‘Death by Lightning’

Principal Cast

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