Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted
Encyclopedia
Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted, inspired by a true story concerning a landmark legal decision for rights of the disabled, is a 1992 NBC Movie of Week
starring JoBeth Williams
and Chris Burke
. The film was directed by George Kaczender
.
as Jonathan, a youth with Down Syndrome 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. Madge Sinclair
and Mason Adams
co-star.
The NBC Monday Movie
The NBC Monday Movie was a television anthology series of films scheduled every Monday night from 1963 to 1999 on NBC. It was referred to as NBC Monday Night at the Movies prior to the mid-1980s...
starring JoBeth Williams
JoBeth Williams
JoBeth Williams is an American film and television actress and director, and current President of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.-Early life:...
and Chris Burke
Chris Burke (actor)
Christopher Joseph "Chris" Burke is an American actor, living with Down syndrome, who has become best known for his character Charles "Corky" Thacher on the television series Life Goes On.- Early Years :...
. The film was directed by George Kaczender
George Kaczender
George Kaczender is an Hungarian-born Canadian film director. He directed 26 films between 1963 and 2001.Kaczender left Hungary in 1956 as a political refugee after studying film and working as an Assistant Director at the Pannonina Film Studios in Budapest.Before coming to Los Angeles in the...
.
Plot
Based on a true story, Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted casts Chris BurkeChris Burke (actor)
Christopher Joseph "Chris" Burke is an American actor, living with Down syndrome, who has become best known for his character Charles "Corky" Thacher on the television series Life Goes On.- Early Years :...
as Jonathan, a youth with Down Syndrome carelessly institutionalized by his parents (Alley Mills
Alley Mills
Alley Mills is an American actress best known for her role as Norma Arnold, the mother in the coming-of-age series The Wonder Years.-Life and career:...
and Tom Mason
Tom Mason (actor)
Tom Mason is an American actor born in Brooklyn, New York. He began his television career in 1977, portraying Rex Stout's fictional detective Archie Goodwin in the ABC-TV movie Nero Wolfe...
). Ginny Moore (JoBeth Williams
JoBeth Williams
JoBeth Williams is an American film and television actress and director, and current President of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.-Early life:...
), 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
Dana Barron
Dana Barron is an American actress who has starred in film and on television. Barron is best known for her role as the original Audrey Griswold in the 1983 film National Lampoon's Vacation which she reprised in 2003's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure for NBC television.-Early...
, Chris Demetral
Chris Demetral
Christopher Peter "Chris" Demetral is a former American actor best known as Jeremy Tupper, the son of newly divorced New York book editor Martin Tupper on the HBO series Dream On...
, Jeffrey DeMunn
Jeffrey DeMunn
Jeffrey DeMunn is an American theatre, film and television actor.-Life and career:DeMunn was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Violet and James DeMunn. Stepson of noted actress Betty Lutes 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. Madge Sinclair
Madge Sinclair
Madge Dorita Sinclair was a Jamaican American character actress.-Early years:Sinclair was born Madge Dorita Walters in Kingston, Jamaica, to Herbert and Jemima Walters. She was a teacher in Jamaica until 1968 when she left for New York to pursue her career in acting.-Career:In 1978, she starred in...
and Mason Adams
Mason Adams
Mason Adams was an American character actor and voice-over artist.-Early life:Adams was born in Brooklyn, New York. He earned an MA degree from the University of Michigan in Theatre Arts and Speech and also attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, studying theater arts...
co-star.
Cast
- JoBeth WilliamsJoBeth WilliamsJoBeth Williams is an American film and television actress and director, and current President of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.-Early life:...
... Ginny Moore - Chris BurkeChris Burke (actor)Christopher Joseph "Chris" Burke is an American actor, living with Down syndrome, who has become best known for his character Charles "Corky" Thacher on the television series Life Goes On.- Early Years :...
... Jonathan Willis - Dana BarronDana BarronDana Barron is an American actress who has starred in film and on television. Barron is best known for her role as the original Audrey Griswold in the 1983 film National Lampoon's Vacation which she reprised in 2003's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure for NBC television.-Early...
... Laurie Moore - Chris DemetralChris DemetralChristopher Peter "Chris" Demetral is a former American actor best known as Jeremy Tupper, the son of newly divorced New York book editor Martin Tupper on the HBO series Dream On...
... Brad Moore - Madge SinclairMadge SinclairMadge Dorita Sinclair was a Jamaican American character actress.-Early years:Sinclair was born Madge Dorita Walters in Kingston, Jamaica, to Herbert and Jemima Walters. She was a teacher in Jamaica until 1968 when she left for New York to pursue her career in acting.-Career:In 1978, she starred in...
... Faye Lincoln - Jeffrey DeMunn ... Frank Moore
- Tom Mason ... Max Willis
- Robert Cicchini ... Neil Vogler
- Mason AdamsMason AdamsMason Adams was an American character actor and voice-over artist.-Early life:Adams was born in Brooklyn, New York. He earned an MA degree from the University of Michigan in Theatre Arts and Speech and also attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, studying theater arts...
... Judge Colbert - Paul Linke ... Dr. Sullivan
- H. Richard Greene ... Wolff
- Alley MillsAlley MillsAlley Mills is an American actress best known for her role as Norma Arnold, the mother in the coming-of-age series The Wonder Years.-Life and career:...
... Carol Willis - Lorraine Morin-Torre ... Ada
- Brandon Bauer ... Jonathan Willis Ages 11-13
- K.C. Clarizio ... Jonathan Willis Age 6
- Linden Chiles ... Judge Martin
- Damon Sharpe ... Todd
- Kim Delgado ... Bailiff
- Suzanne Reynolds ... Reporter
- Lauree Berger ... Pat Greenway
- Alicia Bergman ... Sue Ann
- Kaley Ward-Hummel ... Newspaper Reporter
- Judy Milstein ... Impatient Orderly
- Paul L. Nolan ... D.A.
- Dana Chelette ... Orderly