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
GenreBiography
Drama
Written byDoris Silverton
Peter Nelson
Steve Lawson
Dalene Young
Directed byGeorge Kaczender
StarringJoBeth Williams
Chris Burke
Music byMisha Segal
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
Production
Executive producer(s)Marcy Gross
Producer(s)Doris Silverton
Peter Nelson
CinematographyEric Van Haren Noman
Editor(s)Stephen Michael
Running time95 minutes
Production company(s)Gross-Weston Productions
Stephen J. Cannell Productions
DistributorNBC
Release
Original networkNBC
Picture formatColor
Audio formatStereo
Original releaseOctober 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
gollark: "I must do something because [BAD THING]" is harmful and leads to overcompensating.
gollark: You can do things, but they may all make it worse.
gollark: It is entirely possible that all the options will be worse on many dimensions.
gollark: No you don't.
gollark: Although you would need a way for users to back it up, hm.

References
  1. "Life Goes On star lands role in television movie". Rome News-Tribune. October 16, 1992.
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