Absolute Strangers
Encyclopedia
Absolute Strangers is a 1991 made-for-television CBS
docudrama
featuring Happy Days
star Henry Winkler
returning to his first major TV role in eight years.
The screenplay, written by Robert Woodruff Anderson
, was based on the story of a husband's controversial decision to have his wife undergo an abortion to aid her recovery after a head-trauma accident had left her comatose.
The title is taken from court decision that used "absolute strangers" -- itself apparently derived from a courtroom outburst by the husband -- to describe two anti-abortion activists, one of whom sued the husband to get custody of the fetus, the other to be appointed guardian of the comatose wife.
The impending broadcast of the film spurred anti-abortion activists, including the American Family Association
, to try to discourage advertisers from buying time during the show.
These efforts provoked counter-demonstrations,
and campaigns of letter-writing in support of the broadcast from Planned Parenthood
, the National Council of Jewish Women
, and other groups.
The real-life husband, Martin Klein, appeared in a cameo. Henry Winkler played Martin Klein, with his wife Nancy played by Jennifer Hetrick
. Others in the cast included Karl Malden
as Nancy Klein's father, Patty Duke
as the appeals court judge (personally opposed to abortion) in the pivotal court case, and Richard Kiley as a doctor who favors abortion in such cases.
The film's director, Gilbert Cates
, was nominated for a Primetime Emmy.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
docudrama
Docudrama
In film, television programming and staged theatre, docudrama is a documentary-style genre that features dramatized re-enactments of actual historical events. As a neologism, the term is often confused with docufiction....
featuring Happy Days
Happy Days
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America....
star Henry Winkler
Henry Winkler
Henry Franklin Winkler, OBE is an American actor, director, producer, and author.Winkler is best known for his role as Fonzie on the 1970s American sitcom Happy Days...
returning to his first major TV role in eight years.
The screenplay, written by Robert Woodruff Anderson
Robert Woodruff Anderson
Robert Woodruff Anderson was an American playwright, screenwriter, and theater producer....
, was based on the story of a husband's controversial decision to have his wife undergo an abortion to aid her recovery after a head-trauma accident had left her comatose.
The title is taken from court decision that used "absolute strangers" -- itself apparently derived from a courtroom outburst by the husband -- to describe two anti-abortion activists, one of whom sued the husband to get custody of the fetus, the other to be appointed guardian of the comatose wife.
The impending broadcast of the film spurred anti-abortion activists, including the American Family Association
American Family Association
The American Family Association is a 501 non-profit organization that promotes conservative Christian values, such as opposition to same-sex marriage, pornography, and abortion, as well as other public policy goals such as deregulation of the oil industry and lobbying against the Employee Free...
, to try to discourage advertisers from buying time during the show.
These efforts provoked counter-demonstrations,
and campaigns of letter-writing in support of the broadcast from Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood Federation of America , commonly shortened to Planned Parenthood, is the U.S. affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and one of its larger members. PPFA is a non-profit organization providing reproductive health and maternal and child health services. The...
, the National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Jewish Women
The National Council of Jewish Women defines itself as a grassroots organization of volunteers and advocates who turn progressive ideals into action...
, and other groups.
The real-life husband, Martin Klein, appeared in a cameo. Henry Winkler played Martin Klein, with his wife Nancy played by Jennifer Hetrick
Jennifer Hetrick
Jennifer Hetrick is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for playing Vash in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Corinne Becker on L.A...
. Others in the cast included Karl Malden
Karl Malden
Karl Malden was an American actor. In a career that spanned more than seven decades, he performed in such classic films as A Streetcar Named Desire, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, On the Waterfront and One-Eyed Jacks...
as Nancy Klein's father, Patty Duke
Patty Duke
Anna Marie "Patty" Duke is an American actress of stage, film, and television. First becoming famous as a child star, winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at age 16, and later starring in her eponymous sitcom for three years, she progressed to more mature roles upon playing Neely...
as the appeals court judge (personally opposed to abortion) in the pivotal court case, and Richard Kiley as a doctor who favors abortion in such cases.
The film's director, Gilbert Cates
Gilbert Cates
Gilbert “Gil” Cates was an Award winning American film director and television producer, director of the Geffen Playhouse, and founding dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television...
, was nominated for a Primetime Emmy.