December 3, 2002

EMMY AWARD-WINNER KIRSTIE ALLEY AND DELROY LINDO STAR IN "PROFOUNDLY NORMAL," A NEW TELEVISION MOVIE WHICH HAS BEGUN PRODUCTION IN TORONTO FOR BROADCAST ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK
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Based on the True Story of Developmentally Disabled Couple Donna and Ricardo Thornton
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PROFOUNDLY NORMAL, a new television movie starring multiple Emmy Award-winner Kirstie Alley ("Cheers," "Veronica's Closet") and Delroy Lindo ("The Cider House Rules,"), has begun production in Toronto for broadcast on the CBS Television Network. Based on the true story of Donna and Ricardo Thornton, this quirky love story tells how two developmentally disabled individuals overcome extraordinary circumstances to forge a life together as husband and wife. ?
Alley stars as Donna Thornton, a woman who, from the age of eight-years-old, lived at Forest Haven, an institution for developmentally disabled people of varying ages and levels of ability. There she meets Ricardo (Lindo), a fellow resident, and they quickly form a bond of friendship. Through the years, Donna and Ricardo struggle to keep their hope and self-respect alive under the strict regime at Forest Haven. Despite suffering personal abuse and neglect, they never give up their dream of finding a better life outside the confining walls of the institution. ?
When Forest Haven is closed by a court order, Donna and Ricardo face an entirely new set of challenges - how to care for themselves in the outside world where they have no experience. Simple tasks such as reading, cooking and taking the bus are all enormous obstacles for them to overcome. Yet they strive to live a normal life, and their friendship blossoms into love. When Ricardo proposes marriage, they face heavy opposition from Social Services. With help from their social worker, Charlotte (Rosemary Dunsmore), Donna and Ricardo embark on a courageous journey to exchange wedding vows, winning overwhelming support from the general population in the process. ?
As if marriage weren't enough of a hurdle, Donna and Ricardo decide to have a baby and face tough critics who don't think that the couple should bring a child into the world. Despite the odds, Donna gives birth to a healthy "normal" baby boy. As Donna and Ricardo work hard to raise their child in an uncertain world, they rely upon their love for each other to bring them through even the toughest of circumstances. ?
PROFOUNDLY NORMAL is being produced by Randwell Productions?and distributed by Carlton America. The executive producers are Randy Robinson and Kirstie Alley, co-executive producer is Joanne Baron, co-producer is Tom Kageff, producers are Terry Gould and Graeme Clifford. Clifford directs from a script by Paris Qualles. ?
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Press Contacts: Kate H. Fisher          212/975-3818            khfisher@cbs.com
                        Diane Ekeblad           323/575-2029            diane.ekeblad@cbs.com?