''Who Will Love My Children?'' is a 1983 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

biographical film A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically-based person or people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from docudra ...

based on the life of Lucile Fray. Lucile Fray was diagnosed with

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

in 1952 and wanted to find suitable homes for her ten children, since she felt her husband could not properly care for them. Prior to her death, she succeeded. The film was directed by

John Erman John Erman (August 3, 1935 – June 25, 2021) was an American television director, producer, and actor. He was nominated for ten Primetime Emmy Awards, winning once for the film ''Who Will Love My Children?'' (1983). He also won two Directors Gu ...

, written by Michael Bortman, and starred

Ann-Margret Ann-Margret Olsson (born April 28, 1941) is a Swedish–American actress, singer, and dancer. As an actress and singer, she is credited as Ann-Margret. She is known for her roles in ''Pocketful of Miracles'' (1961), ''State Fair'' (1962), ''B ...

in her first

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

. It was originally broadcast on

American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) is an American commercial broadcast television network. It is the flagship property of the ABC Entertainment Group division of The Walt Disney Company. The network is headquartered in Burbank, Cali ...

. The same evening as its original broadcast, February 14, 1983, the children of Lucile Fray appeared on ''

That's Incredible! ''That's Incredible!'' is an American reality television show that aired on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC television network from 1980 in television, 1980 to 1984 in television, 1984. In the tradition of ''You Asked for It'', ''List of ...

'', an ABC program. The film was remade in Turkish as ''Yavrularım'' in 1984, in Malayalam as ''

Akashadoothu ''Akashadoothu'' is a 1993 Indian Malayalam family drama film directed by Sibi Malayil and written by Dennis Joseph, with Madhavi and Murali in the lead roles. The film tells the tale of a woman suffering from leukemia. The plot of the film w ...

'' in 1993 https://m.timesofindia.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/Row-over-Kerala-State-Films-Award/articleshow/15137396.cms which went on to be remade in Telugu as '' Matru Devo Bhava'', in Kannada as ''

Karulina Koogu ''Karulina Koogu'' is a 1994 Indian Kannada-language drama film directed by D. Rajendra Babu and produced by vizag Raju. The film stars Prabhakar, Vinaya Prasad and Srinath. The film was widely popular for the songs composed and written by Ham ...

'', in Marathi as ''Chimani Pakhare'' and in Hindi as ''

Tulsi ''Ocimum tenuiflorum'', commonly known as holy basil, ''tulsi'' or ''tulasi'', is an aromatic perennial plant in the family Lamiaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and widespread as a cultivated plant throughout the Southeast Asian ...

''.

Cast

as Lucile Fray *

Frederic Forrest Frederic Fenimore Forrest Jr. (born December 23, 1936) is an American actor. Forrest came to public attention for his performance in ''When the Legends Die'' (1972), which earned him a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising N ...

as Ivan Fray *

Cathryn Damon Cathryn Lee Damon (September 11, 1930 – May 4, 1987) was an American actress, best known for her roles on television sitcoms in the 1970s and 1980s. She is best known as Mary Campbell in ''Soap'' (1977-1981). Early years Damon was the ...

as Hazel Anderson *

Donald Moffat Donald Moffat (26 December 1930 – 20 December 2018) was a British–American actor with a decades-long career in film and stage in the United States. He began his acting career on- and off-Broadway, which included appearances in ''The Wild D ...

as Dick Thomas *

Lonny Chapman Lon Leonard Chapman (October 1, 1920 – October 12, 2007) was an American actor best known for his numerous guest star appearances on television drama series. Early years Chapman was the son of Elmer and Eunice Chapman, He was born on Oc ...

as Milton Hammond * Patricia Smith as Cleta Thomas *

Jess Osuna Jess Osuna (May 28, 1928 – April 2, 2011) was an American character actor whose credits included '' Three Days of the Condor'' and '' My Old Man''. Osuna had a successful film, television and stage career, including the films '' A New Leaf'', ...

as Dr. Willis *

Christopher Allport Christopher Allport (born Alexander Wise Allport Jr.; June 17, 1947 – January 25, 2008) was an American actor. Biography Alexander Wise Allport Jr. was born in Boston. His acting life began at the age of nine in New Canaan, Connecticut, ...

as Kenneth Handy

The Fray children

* Patrick Brennan as Carl Fray *

Soleil Moon Frye Soleil Moon Frye (; born August 6, 1976) is an American actress, director, producer, and screenwriter. She began her career as a child actress at the age of two. When she was seven, Frye won the role of Penelope "Punky" Brewster in the NBC sitco ...

as Linda Fray *

Tracey Gold Tracey Gold (born May 16, 1969) is an American actress and former child star known for playing Carol Seaver on the 1980s sitcom ''Growing Pains''. Acting career Tracey Gold became an actress at the age of four, first appearing in a Pepsi print ...

as Pauline Fray * Joel Graves as Warren Fray *Rachel Jacobs as Joyce Fray * Robby Kiger as Frank Fray *

Cady McClain Cady McClain (born Katie Jo McClain; October 13, 1969) is an American actress, singer, and author. Career McClain's professional acting career began in 1978 at the age of 9, when she was featured in a commercial for Band-Aid bandages. She wen ...

as Virginia Fray *

Hallie Todd Hallie Todd (born January 7, 1962) is an American actress. She played Penny Waters on ''Brothers,''Jo McGuire on ''Lizzie McGuire,'' and Rhoda Markowitz, Dennis Stanton's assistant, on ''Murder, She Wrote''. She also made guest-starring appearan ...

as Joann Fray * Cory Yothers as Ivan Fray Jr. * Kyle Chapman, Wade Chapman, and Brian Mazzanti as Stephen Fray

Awards & nominations

;1983

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

s : Outstanding Directing in a Limited Series Or A Special —

:;Nominated ::Outstanding Achievement in Makeup — Zoltan Elek and

Monty Westmore Montague George "Monty" Westmore (June 12, 1923 – November 13, 2007) was part of the third generation of the Westmore family of American make-up artists in film and television who worked on over 75 films and television series since 1950. He ...

::Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Limited Series or a Special (Dramatic Underscore) —

Laurence Rosenthal Laurence Rosenthal (born November 4, 1926) is an American composer, arranger, and conductor for theater, television, film, and the concert hall. Biography Born in Detroit, Michigan, Rosenthal attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New ...

::Outstanding Drama Special — Paula Levenback and Wendy Riche ::Outstanding Film Editing for a Limited Series or a Special — Jerrold L. Ludwig ::Outstanding Film Sound Editing for a Limited Series or a Special — Michael Hilkene, Rusty Tinsley, Bill Jackson, Joseph A. Mayer, Jill Taggart, and Ben Wong ::Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or a Special —

::Outstanding Writing in a Limited Series or a Special — Michael Bortman ;1984

American Cinema Editors Founded in 1950, American Cinema Editors (ACE) is an honorary society of film editors that are voted in based on the qualities of professional achievements, their education of others, and their dedication to editing. Members use the post-nominal ...

Award :Best Edited Television Special — Jerrold L. Ludwig ;1984

Directors Guild of America Award The Directors Guild of America Awards are issued annually by the Directors Guild of America. The first DGA Award was an "Honorary Life Member" award issued in 1938 to D. W. Griffith. The statues are made by New York firm, Society Awards. Catego ...

:Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials — John Erman (nominated) ;1984

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...

s : Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television —

:;Nominated ::Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV

References

External links

* *
TV: Ann-Margret Plays a Dying Mother of 10
at the

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

Films directed by John Erman 1983 television films 1983 films ABC network original films Films about cancer American television films American biographical drama films Biographical television films Films scored by Laurence Rosenthal 1980s American films {{US-tv-film-stub