Main Cast: Bonnie Bedelia, Gennie James, Craig T. Nelson
Release Year: 1986
Country: US
Run Time: 100 minutes
Plot
Alex: The Life of a Child is based on the true story of Sports Illustrated writer Frank Deford and his dying 8-year-old daughter Alex. Craig T. Nelson plays Deford and Gennie James is Alex, both of whom come to grips in different ways with Alex's fatal cystic fibrosis. A subplot involves the torment of Deford's wife (Bonnie Bedelia), who wonders whether she should adopt a child after Alex's death in 1980. Alex: The Life of a Child is effective, but not as well made as its subject matter deserves. Better examples of this particular TV-movie genre include Death be Not Proud (75), based on author John Gunther's recollections of his son's struggle against a degenerative brain tumor, and Mary White (77) the story of a personal tragedy in the life of Kansas journalist William Allen White. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Cast
Brenda Bazinet - Barbara Keator; Bonnie Bedelia - Carole Deford; Daniel Bryan Corkill; Harley Cross - Chris - ages 6 to 8; Dann Florek - Dr. Tom Dolan; Gennie James - Alex Deford; Cherry Jones - Tina Crawford; Gordon Masten - Photographer; Sean McCann - Dr. Ralph Stanwyck; Craig T. Nelson - Frank Deford; Mark Withers - Mac Deford; Rachel Blanchard - Wendy; Mag Ruffman - Jane
Credit
Michel Levesque - Art Director, Earl G. Preston - Art Director, Robert Markowitz - Director, Peter Parasheles - Editor, Leonard J. Goldberg - Executive Producer, Deborah Aal - Executive Producer, J.A.C. Redford - Composer (Music Score), Neil Roach - Cinematographer, Nigel McKeand - Producer, Carol Evan McKeand - Screenwriter, Nigel McKeand - Screenwriter, Frank Deford - Book Author
