Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted
Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted is a 1992 American made-for-television biographical drama film starring JoBeth Williams and Chris Burke.[1] The film is directed by George Kaczender and inspired by a true story concerning a landmark legal decision for rights of the disabled.
| Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted | |
|---|---|
 Video cover | |
| Genre | Biography Drama |
| Written by | Doris Silverton Peter Nelson Steve Lawson Dalene Young |
| Directed by | George Kaczender |
| Starring | JoBeth Williams Chris Burke |
| Music by | Misha Segal |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Marcy Gross |
| Producer(s) | Doris Silverton Peter Nelson |
| Cinematography | Eric Van Haren Noman |
| Editor(s) | Stephen Michael |
| Running time | 95 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Gross-Weston Productions Stephen J. Cannell Productions |
| Distributor | NBC |
| Release | |
| Original network | NBC |
| Picture format | Color |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | October 16, 1992 |
Plot
Jonathan (Chris Burke), a youth with Down Syndrome, is carelessly institutionalized by his parents (Alley Mills and Tom Mason). Ginny Moore (JoBeth Williams), a compassionate volunteer, immediately bonds with Jonathan, alleviating his loneliness and isolation by appointing herself a surrogate mother. Eventually, Jonathan begins to spend more and more time at Ginny's home where he forges a strong bond with the rest of her family (Dana Barron, Chris Demetral, Jeffrey DeMunn). Though his attitude and abilities show a staggering improvement due to Ginny's influence, Jonathan is faced with a new hardship when he is diagnosed with a rare heart disorder that his parents refuse permission to be medically cured. Thus, Ginny must launch a legal campaign to gain guardianship of Jonathan and allow the treatment needed to save his life.
Cast
- JoBeth Williams as Ginny Moore
- Chris Burke as Jonathan Willis
- K.C. Clarizio as Jonathan Willis (age 6)
- Brandon Bauer as Jonathan Willis (ages 11–13)
- Dana Barron as Laurie Moore
- Chris Demetral as Brad Moore
- Madge Sinclair as Faye Lincoln
- Jeffrey DeMunn as Frank Moore
- Tom Mason as Max Willis
- Robert Cicchini as Neil Vogler
- Mason Adams as Judge Colbert
- Paul Linke as Dr. Sullivan
- H. Richard Greene as Wolff
- Alley Mills as Carol Willis
- Lorraine Morin-Torre as Ada
- Linden Chiles as Judge Martin
- Damon Sharpe as Todd
- Kim Delgado as Bailiff
- Suzanne Reynolds as Reporter
- Lauree Berger as Pat Greenway
- Alicia Bergman as Sue Ann
- Kaley Ward-Hummel as Newspaper Reporter
- Judy Milstein as Impatient Orderly
- Paul L. Nolan as D.A.
- Dana Chelette as Orderly
- Mike Principato as Jonathan Willis' brother
References
- "Life Goes On star lands role in television movie". Rome News-Tribune. October 16, 1992.