Based on a true story, the two-part TV movie I Know My First Name Is Steven tells the tragic story of Steven Stayner. At age seven, Steven was kidnapped by two men who held him captive in a tiny shed for seven years. One of the men, a habitual child abuser named Kenneth Parnell, sexually assaulted Steven on an almost daily basis during the boy's ordeal. At age 14, Steven finally was able to escape and return to his family. But we are shown that Steven's safe return was far from the happy ending it appeared to be. He's forced to adjust to a family he'd never really known, to convince himself that his parents had never forgotten him, and to put his seven-year hell behind him. While I Know My First Name Is Steven ends on an upbeat note, the real Stayner died in a motorcycle accident only a few months after this film was first telecast in May 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Cast
Andrew Amador - TV Reporter; Todd Eric Andrews - Cary Stayner (Age 18); John Ashton - Del Staynor; Al Berry - Customer; Barry Corbin - Off. Warner; Michael Chieffo - Don; Bryan Cranston - Officer Dickenson; Raymond Cruz - Punk #2; Scott Curtis - Cary Stayner (Age 11); John de Mita - Dan Smith; Darcy de Moss - Debbie; Stephen Dorff - Pete; Luke Edwards - Steven (Age 7); June C. Ellis - Miss Rebecca; Dennis Fimple - Fred; William Frankfather - Judge Sabraw; Alan Fudge - Chief Johnson; Jacob Gelman - Timmy White; Peter Michael Goetz - Pat Hallford; Wendy Gordon - TV Newscaster; Beth Grant - Mrs. Beta; Jim Haynie; Gregg Henry - Off. Kean; Brenda Hillhouse - Barbara; Shannon Holt - Angela White; Arliss Howard - Kenneth Parnell (uncredited); James Ingersoll - Joe Allen; Tiiu Leek - Reporter #1; Gregory Mars Martin - Victor (Age 14); Pamela McMyler - Rosanna; Corin Nemec - Steven Stayner; Annie O'Donnell - Official; Amy O'Neill - Jodie; Jeff Olson - Reporter #4; Cindy Pickett - Kay Stayner; Jason Presson - Deke; Harold Pruett - Birch; Scott Reeves - Bruce; Whitney Rydbeck - Mr. Craft; Barbara Tarbuck - School Counselor; Natividad Vacio - Vicente; Vance Valencia - Selfides; Pruitt Taylor Vince; John Vickery - George McLure; Stephanie Walski - Cindy Stayner (Age 9); Ray Walston - Bob Augustine; Jonathan Perpich - Officer Severeid; Robert Balderson - P.E. Teacher; Allison Mack - Nettie; Kim Maxwell - Reporter #3; Shane McCabe - Fat Clerk; Robina Suwol - Checker; Karl Wiedergott - Punk #3; David C. Glasser - Boots; Lyla Graham - Lady; Dave Adams - Cashier; Cassy Friel - Cory Stayner (Age 4)
Credit
Larry Elikann - Director, David Ramirez - Editor, David Shire - Composer (Music Score), W. Stewart Campbell - Production Designer, Eric Van Haren Noman - Cinematographer, J.P. Miller - Screen Story, Cynthia Whitcomb - Screen Story
