''Unnatural Causes'' is an American television film directed by Lamont Johnson and with a teleplay by John Sayles and story by Martin M. Goldstein and Stephen Doran & Robert Jacobs that is based on the true story of Maude DeVictor; a United States Department of Veterans Affairs counselor who worked to expose the government coverup of the dangers of

Agent Orange Agent Orange is a chemical herbicide and defoliant, one of the "tactical use" Rainbow Herbicides. It was used by the U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand, during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971. It ...

. The film premiered on NBC on November 10, 1986. The film stars Alfre Woodard as Maude DeVictor, John Ritter as Frank Coleman,

Patti LaBelle Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American R&B singer, actress and businesswoman. LaBelle is referred to as the " Godmother of Soul". She began her career in the early 1960s as lead singe ...

as Jeanette Thompson, John Vargas as Fernando 'Nando' Sanchez, Belinda Lang as Helen Cassady, and Richard Yearwood as Vincent. For their work, Woodard was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie and Johnson was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Limited Series, Movie, or Dramatic Special.

Plot

Frank Coleman is a Vietnam War veteran dying from cancer caused by

. Maude DeVictor is Coleman's counselor at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The two attempt to expose the government coverup of the dangerous side effects of Agent Orange, meeting many difficult challenges in the process.

References

External links

* 1986 television films American television films 1986 films {{Lamont Johnson