Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase
Encyclopedia
Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase is an ABC
-Network miniseries based on When Rabbit Howls, the autobiography of Truddi Chase
, a woman who after being sexually abused as a child, copes by developing 90 personalities. The four-hour miniseries, which was directed by Lamont Johnson
stars Emmy
winner Shelley Long
as Truddi Chase
. Tom Conti
co-stars as her doctor. The miniseries aired on May 20th and 21st, 1990 and Chase worked closely with screenwriter E. Jack Neuman to assure her autobiography was not compromised in its adaptation.
) in a cornfield. In addition to torture and sexual abuse, the stepfather also battered Truddi's mother beyond reclamation and chained a dog in their yard, withholding food and water until the canine finally dies. As the torture and sexual abuse worsen, more Troops arrived to aid Truddi. In young adult life, Truddi marries a loving husband (John Rubinstein
), who she meets while working at an advertising agency. Eventually, daughter Page arrives and as Truddi's condition worsens, she seeks therapy to attempt to repair herself and her family. The miniseries begins with Truddi telephoning her therapist (Tom Conti) and telling him she has located her former stepfather in upstate New York and is on her way to kill him.
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
-Network miniseries based on When Rabbit Howls, the autobiography of Truddi Chase
Truddi Chase
Truddi Chase was the author of the book When Rabbit Howls , an autobiography about her experiences after being diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder...
, a woman who after being sexually abused as a child, copes by developing 90 personalities. The four-hour miniseries, which was directed by Lamont Johnson
Lamont Johnson
Lamont Johnson was an American actor and film director who has appeared in and directed many television shows and movies. He won two Emmy Awards....
stars Emmy
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
winner Shelley Long
Shelley Long
Shelley Lee Long is an American actress best known for her role as Diane Chambers on the sitcom Cheers, for which she won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress and two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress...
as Truddi Chase
Truddi Chase
Truddi Chase was the author of the book When Rabbit Howls , an autobiography about her experiences after being diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder...
. Tom Conti
Tom Conti
Thomas "Tom" Conti is a Scottish actor, theatre director and novelist.-Early life:Born Thomas Conti in Paisley, Renfrewshire, he was brought up Roman Catholic, but he considers himself anti-religious...
co-stars as her doctor. The miniseries aired on May 20th and 21st, 1990 and Chase worked closely with screenwriter E. Jack Neuman to assure her autobiography was not compromised in its adaptation.
Plot
Mean Joe is a large black man who protects the children. Sister Mary is a nun. Lady Catherine Tisseu is conservative and stiff. Ten-Four knows how to cut a business deal. These are just some of the 92 personalities that Truddi Chase came to refer to as "The Troops". These Troops first came to her rescue while, as a two year old, she was systematically sexually assaulted by her sadistic stepfather (Ernie LivelyErnie Lively
Ernie Lively is an American actor.Lively was born Ernest W. Brown in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1979, he married talent manager Elaine Lively and took her name. They are the parents of actors Blake Lively and Eric Lively, and he is stepfather of her children from her previous marriage Lori Lively,...
) in a cornfield. In addition to torture and sexual abuse, the stepfather also battered Truddi's mother beyond reclamation and chained a dog in their yard, withholding food and water until the canine finally dies. As the torture and sexual abuse worsen, more Troops arrived to aid Truddi. In young adult life, Truddi marries a loving husband (John Rubinstein
John Rubinstein
John Arthur Rubinstein is an American film, Broadway, and television actor, a composer of film and theatre music, and a director in theatre and television.-Early life:...
), who she meets while working at an advertising agency. Eventually, daughter Page arrives and as Truddi's condition worsens, she seeks therapy to attempt to repair herself and her family. The miniseries begins with Truddi telephoning her therapist (Tom Conti) and telling him she has located her former stepfather in upstate New York and is on her way to kill him.
Cast
- Shelley LongShelley LongShelley Lee Long is an American actress best known for her role as Diane Chambers on the sitcom Cheers, for which she won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress and two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress...
... Truddi Chase - Tom ContiTom ContiThomas "Tom" Conti is a Scottish actor, theatre director and novelist.-Early life:Born Thomas Conti in Paisley, Renfrewshire, he was brought up Roman Catholic, but he considers himself anti-religious...
... Doctor 'Stanley' Phillips - Tiffany Ballenger ... Truddi at 8
- Jon Beshara ... Police
- Val BettinVal BettinVal Bettin is an American voice actor, known for using a British accent in all of his roles.-Early life and career:He was born Valentin Bettin in La Crosse, Wisconsin. In 1948, he went to England, to enter the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and graduated in 1950. There he met his wife Hildy, and...
... Playwright - Kelly Brookman ... Page at 8
- Irina Cashen ... Truddi at 6
- Carl Ciarfalio ... Colin
- Marian Collier ... Operator
- Frank ConverseFrank ConverseFrank Converse is an American actor. In 1962, he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drama at Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
... Peter Morgan - Robert Costanzo ... Fred Zarr
- Manuel DePina ... Barkeep
- Brendan Dillon ... Shannon
- Dale Dunham ... Manager
- Susan Eisenberg ... Stewardess
- David Fox-Brenton ... Dr. Modarelli
- Alan Fudge ... Albert Johnson
- Nancy Gormley ... Airport
- John HancockJohn Hancock (actor)John Hancock was an American film and television actor.Born in Hazen, Arkansas, Hancock is possibly best remembered for his role as "Scotty" in the ABC miniseries Roots: The Next Generations...
... Soloman - Christine HealyChristine HealyChristine Healy is an American television and film actress. She has had recurring roles in television series such as ER and The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, and her film appearances include Like Father Like Son , Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase and Little Sister .-External links:...
... Sharon Barnes - Miriam Johnson ... Page at 15
- Jessie Jones ... Scrub Nurse
- Guido Koock
- Melinda Kordich ... Teacher
- Bennett Liss ... Angry
- Ernie LivelyErnie LivelyErnie Lively is an American actor.Lively was born Ernest W. Brown in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1979, he married talent manager Elaine Lively and took her name. They are the parents of actors Blake Lively and Eric Lively, and he is stepfather of her children from her previous marriage Lori Lively,...
... Truddi's Stepfather - Joe Minjares ... Mr. DiCola
- Melinda Peterson ... Nurse Daphne
- Steven M. Porter ... Hayes
- Jamie Rose ... Truddi's Mother
- John RubinsteinJohn RubinsteinJohn Arthur Rubinstein is an American film, Broadway, and television actor, a composer of film and theatre music, and a director in theatre and television.-Early life:...
... Norman De Roin - Benjamin L. Scott ... Harry Barnes (as Ben Scott)
- Nicholas Scott ... Danny
- Wesley A. Starr ... Wedding Minister
- Marsha Van Winkle ... Doris
- Alisha Waite ... Annie
- Lisa Watson ... Page at 12
- Stephanie Watson ... Page at 10
- Bruce Westphal ... Funeral Minister
- J.D. Yarbrough ... Client