Prayers for Bobby (2009)
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- TV-14
- 1h 30min
- Biography, Drama
- 24 Jan 2009 (USA)
- TV Movie
True story of Mary Griffith, gay rights crusader, whose teenage son committed suicide due to her religious intolerance. Based on the book of the same title by Leroy Aarons.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 wins & 16 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Complete, Cast awaiting verification
| Sigourney Weaver | ... |
Mary Griffith
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| Henry Czerny | ... |
Robert Griffith
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| Ryan Kelley | ... |
Bobby Griffith
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| Austin Nichols | ... |
Ed Griffith
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| Carly Schroeder | ... |
Joy Griffith
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| Shannon Eagen | ... |
Nancy Griffith
(as Shannon Eagan)
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| Scott Bailey | ... |
David
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| Rebecca Louise Miller | ... |
Jeanette
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| Lee Garlington | ... |
Psychologist
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Madge Levinson | ... |
Ophelia
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Marshall McClean | ... |
Reverend Owens
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| Susan Ruttan | ... |
Betty Lambert
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| Dan Butler | ... |
Reverend Whitsell
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Anna Badalamenti | ... |
Michelle
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| Ele Bardha | ... |
Doug
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| Linda Boston | ... |
Marge
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Marty Bufalini | ... |
Councilman
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Hadas Corey | ... |
Cheryl
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| Sonja Crosby | ... |
Celeste
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| Bryan Fox | ... |
Greg
(as Bryan Endress-Fox)
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Amber Gale | ... |
Jill
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| Colleen Gentry | ... |
Citizen
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Ryan Haber | ... |
Mike
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Chris Hendricks | ... |
Ardie
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Henrietta Hermeline | ... |
Protestor
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Ed Kelly | ... |
Minister
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Patrick Michael Kenney | ... |
Guy at Gay Bar
(as Patrick Kenney)
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| Andrew Kruczynski | ... |
Football Player
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Rusty Mewha | ... |
Rev. Michaels
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| Julia Mogerman | ... |
Teri
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| Jaime Moyer | ... |
Liz
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Janice O'Neill | ... |
Jackie
(as Janice O'Neill-Sparr)
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Spencer Perrenoud | ... |
Teen on Mailbox
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| Jim Porterfield | ... |
Trucker
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Amanda Ryskamp | ... |
Audrey
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Adiva Wayne | ... |
Dana
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| Dan Wells | ... |
Rev Hassler
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Claire White | ... |
Sheila
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| Melanie Wilson | ... |
Margaret
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Max Bassett | ... |
City Councilman (uncredited)
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David G.B. Brown | ... |
(uncredited)
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Dennis Budziszewski | ... |
Diner / Mourner / Parade Onlooker (uncredited)
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| Sara Cicilian | ... |
Student (uncredited)
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Rusty Daugherty | ... |
Boy on Bus (uncredited)
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| William C. Fox | ... |
Councilman (uncredited)
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| Jeff Fryer | ... |
Bar Star (uncredited)
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Penny Gibbs | ... |
Mourner / Parade Goer (uncredited)
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Ari Grant | ... |
Green-Haired Parader (uncredited)
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Mary Griffith | ... |
Parade Onlooker (uncredited)
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Axel Harney | ... |
Parishoner (uncredited)
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| Sam Logan Khaleghi | ... |
Heckler #1 (uncredited)
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Tevis R. Marcum | ... |
Protester (uncredited)
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Brent Mata | ... |
Man at Bar (uncredited)
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| Anthony Moscato | ... |
Protester (uncredited)
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Asanté Ramone | ... |
Parade Attendee (uncredited)
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Ray Daniel Rogers | ... |
Bar Patron (uncredited)
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| Grace Anne Rowan | ... |
Protester (uncredited)
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Sean Scarlett | ... |
Young Hipster (uncredited)
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Lauren Mae Shafer | ... |
Girl on Bus (uncredited)
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Garrett Thierry | ... |
Protestor (uncredited)
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| Billy Whitehouse | ... |
Councilman (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Russell Mulcahy | ||
Written by
| Katie Ford | ... | (teleplay) |
| Leroy Aarons | ... | (book) |
Produced by
| Leroy Aarons | ... | co-producer |
| Stanley M. Brooks | ... | executive producer |
| Christopher J. Danton | ... | line producer |
| Damian Ganczewski | ... | producer |
| Mary Griffith | ... | co-producer |
| Steve Longi | ... | co-producer |
| Silvio Muraglia | ... | co-producer |
| David Permut | ... | executive producer |
| Daniel Sladek | ... | executive producer |
| David Steinberg | ... | co-producer |
| Chris Taaffe | ... | executive producer |
Music by
| Christopher Ward | ||
Cinematography by
| Thom Best | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Victor Du Bois | ||
Editorial Department
| Rob Evans | ... | colorist |
| Halima K. Gilliam | ... | assistant editor |
| Ed Ham | ... | on-line editor |
| Colin Moore | ... | colorist |
| Brett Trider | ... | colorist: dailies |
| Jessica Fortin-Simard | ... | film transfer (uncredited) |
| Chris Marsland | ... | (segment "s") telecine assistant (uncredited) |
| Debra Beth Weinfeld | ... | additional editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Shana Landsburg | ||
Production Design by
| Garreth Stover | ||
Art Direction by
| Daren Janes | ||
Set Decoration by
| Kathy Fennessy | ||
Costume Design by
| Janine Isreal | ... | (as Janine Israel) |
Makeup Department
| Elizabeth Colburn | ... | key makeup artist |
| Susan Jennifer Lipson | ... | hair stylist: Ms. Weaver (as Susan Lipson) |
| Jack McQuisten | ... | key hair stylist |
| Peter Robb-King | ... | makeup artist: Ms. Weaver |
| Ellen Arden | ... | key makeup artist (uncredited) |
| Clifton Chippewa | ... | assistant hair stylist (uncredited) |
| Kevin J Edwards | ... | assistant hair stylist (uncredited) |
| Meshelle Melone | ... | hair stylist (uncredited) |
| Carolyn Tolley | ... | assistant makeup artist (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Kellee Cragin | ... | unit production manager |
| Pat McCarthy | ... | production manager |
| Gary Mueller | ... | post-production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Benjamin T. Brammeier | ... | second assistant director (as Ben Brammeier) |
| Greg Brautigan | ... | second second assistant director |
| Otto Michael Penzato | ... | first assistant director (as Otto Penzato) |
Art Department
| Greg Lester | ... | set dresser |
| Jim Stubblefield | ... | property master |
| John Arlo Benetti | ... | on-set dresser (uncredited) |
| David Brayman | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
| Kathy Fennessy | ... | set designer (uncredited) |
| Paulette Georges | ... | art department coordinator (uncredited) |
| Amy Graham | ... | assistant property master (uncredited) |
| Daren Janes | ... | set designer (uncredited) |
| Joe Miller | ... | construction gang boss (uncredited) |
| Michael O'Donnell | ... | leadman (uncredited) |
| Kenneth Stanley | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
| Sara Stolarski | ... | art production assistant (uncredited) |
| Edward Young | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Joe Bracciale | ... | dialogue editor (as Joe Bracialle) |
| Alex Bullick | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Richard Calistan | ... | adr editor |
| Steve Copley | ... | foley artist |
| John W. DeMonaco | ... | boom operator (as John DeMonaco) |
| Mark DeSimone | ... | adr mixer |
| John Dykstra | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Nelson Ferreira | ... | sound effects editor (as Nelson S. Ferreira) |
| Ryan Lukasik | ... | foley assistant |
| Cory Mandel | ... | re-recording mixer (as Corey Mandel) |
| John Sievert | ... | foley recordist |
| Kent Thomson | ... | sound re-recording assistant |
| Beau Williams | ... | sound mixer |
| Ron Ayers | ... | second boom operator (uncredited) |
| Kevin Banks | ... | sound effects editor (uncredited) |
| Andrew Smetek | ... | adr mixer: Detroit (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Russell Tyrrell | ... | special effects coordinator |
| Robert Tyrrell | ... | special effects foreman (uncredited) |
| Scott Villar | ... | special effects technician (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Ed Ham | ... | visual effects artist |
Stunts
| Rick LeFevour | ... | stunt coordinator |
| Tobiasz Daszkiewicz | ... | utility stunts (uncredited) |
| Marie Fink | ... | stunt driving dbl: Sigourney Weaver (uncredited) |
| Tom Lowell | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Jeff Shannon | ... | stunt double (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Jeffrey Dougherty | ... | camera operator: "b" camera (as Jeff Dougherty) |
| Sean T. Kelly | ... | electrician |
| William MacLeod | ... | key grip (as Bill MacLeod) |
| Jeff Moore | ... | best boy electric |
| Tim O'Dea | ... | gaffer |
| Patrick Pask | ... | camera operator: "a" camera (as Pat Pask) |
| John Wendling | ... | best boy grip |
| Scott Zuckerberg | ... | dolly grip |
| Brad Baker | ... | additional first assistant camera: "c" camera (uncredited) |
| Thomas S. Ciciura | ... | second assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Shawn Cragin | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| William Eichler | ... | steadicam operator (uncredited) |
| Derek Hackett | ... | film loader (uncredited) |
| Gregg Horvath | ... | assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Cory O'Dea | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
| Miguel Pask | ... | second assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Constance Pierce-Winters | ... | camera production assistant (uncredited) |
| Trevor Rios | ... | second assistant camera (uncredited) |
| Chris Ritter | ... | electrician (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| Rose Gilpin | ... | extras casting |
| Kathy Mooney | ... | casting: Detroit |
| Janet Pound | ... | casting: Detroit |
| Kathy Remski | ... | extras casting |
| Chelsea Watson | ... | casting assistant: Los Angeles |
| Meghan Kelly | ... | casting associate (uncredited) |
| Jonathan Strauss | ... | casting: New York (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Cynthia Bond | ... | seamstress |
| Beth Morgan | ... | costume supervisor |
| T. Ashanti Mozelle | ... | set costumer (as Ashanti Mozelle) |
| Wendy Partridge | ... | costume design consultant |
| Kristi Hoffman | ... | set costumer (uncredited) |
| Teri Wertman | ... | costumer (uncredited) |
Location Management
| Neil Lumlock | ... | location manager |
| Dave Krieger | ... | location scout (uncredited) |
| Tara Plizga | ... | assistant location manager (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Michael Lloyd | ... | music supervisor |
| Kevin Banks | ... | music editor (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Dug Rotstein | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Kurt Knudsen | ... | transportation coordinator |
| Raymond Landino Jr. | ... | driver (uncredited) |
| Dean Miller | ... | driver (uncredited) |
| Franco Rea | ... | teamster driver (uncredited) |
| Robert 'Bob' Rice Sr. | ... | driver (uncredited) |
| Timothy Schewee | ... | driver (uncredited) |
| David Schmidt | ... | transportation captain (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Greg Bernstein | ... | production attorney |
| C. Kyle Eckles | ... | craft service |
| Timothy Hardin | ... | production accountant (as Tim Hardin) |
| Julie Juran | ... | production office coordinator |
| Chris Mangano | ... | assistant: David Permut |
| Amanda Mason | ... | assistant to executive |
| J.D. Norris | ... | assistant: Sladek/Taaffe |
| Jeffrey Schneider | ... | business affairs |
| Shayne Blakey | ... | payroll accountant (uncredited) |
| Sarah Ford | ... | set production assistant (uncredited) |
| Matthew Goodwin | ... | key set production assistant (uncredited) |
| Bryan Meganck | ... | key craft service (uncredited) |
| Brittany Pask | ... | key office production assistant (uncredited) |
| Belinda Roberts | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Sharon Roggio | ... | assistant production coordinator (uncredited) |
| Johannah Scarlet | ... | set production assistant (uncredited) |
| Aaron Schlager | ... | production assistant (uncredited) |
| Aisling Warren | ... | set production assistant (uncredited) |
| Brandon T. Williams | ... | assistant: director (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Leroy Aarons | ... | in loving memory of |
| Bobby Griffith | ... | in loving memory of |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Alive Vertrieb und Marketing (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
- Anderson Media Group (2021) (Non-US)
- CMV Laservision (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
- CMV Laservision (2012) (Germany) (Blu-ray) (video)
- FOX Life (2016) (Spain) (tv) (Pay-TV)
- Gabita Barbieri Films (2022) (Spain) (Blu-ray) (Limited Edition)
- IPA Asia Pacific (2009) (Taiwan)
- Lifetime Network (2009) (United States) (tv)
- Moviemax Family (2010) (Turkey) (tv)
- Outplay (2010) (France) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
- Wild Duck Productions (2022) (Spain)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Blue Efficience (anti-piracy)
- Directors Guild of America (DGA) (acknowledgement)
- Grace & Wild Studios Inc. (film laboratory)
- Grace & Wild Studios Inc. (sound stage)
- Haddad's (transportation equipment)
- International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) (acknowledgement)
- Michigan Film Office (special thanks)
- Mid America Cine Support (expendables)
- Mid America Cine Support (fisher 11 dolly)
- Mid America Cine Support (generators)
- Mid America Cine Support (grip and lighting equipment)
- Night Hawk Security (security)
- Rockbottom Rentals (walkie rentals)
- SAG-AFTRA (acknowledgement)
- Screen Actors Guild (acknowledgement)
- Sound Dogs Toronto (sound editing)
- Soundtrack New York (ADR Facility)
- Technicolor Creative Services VFX Toronto (post-production facilities)
- Writers Guild of America (WGA) (acknowledgement)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
In "Prayers for Bobby," Mary Griffith (Sigourney Weaver) is a devout Christian who raises her children with the conservative teachings of the Presbyterian Church. However, when her son Bobby (Ryan Kelley) confides to his older brother he may be gay, life changes for the entire family after Mary learns about his secret. While Bobby's father (Henry Czerny) and siblings slowly come to terms with his homosexuality, Mary believes God can cure him of what she considers his 'sin' and persuades Bobby to pray harder and seek solace in church activities in hopes of changing him. Desperate for his mother's approval, Bobby does what is asked of him, but through it all, the church's apparent disapproval of homosexuality causes him to grow increasingly withdrawn and depressed. Guilty over the pain he is causing Mary, Bobby moves away, yet hopes that some day his mother will accept him. His subsequent depression and self-loathing intensifies as he blames himself for not being the 'perfect' son and is driven to suicide. Faced with their tragedy, Mary begins to question her faith when she receives no answers from her pastor concerning her devastating loss. Through her long and emotional journey, Mary slowly reaches out to the gay community and discovers unexpected support from a very unlikely source. The film is based on the 1995 Leroy Aarons book of the same name. Written by Louie Neira |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | She loves everything about her son... except who he is. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | In 2020, Sigourney Weaver reflected on the movie during her interview with "Entertainment Tonight." She said, "This one is the one I'm most grateful I got to do, because I hope that it will be such a support to these young kids. My heart goes out to all of them. I think there probably is nothing more difficult than not being able to express who you are and all the questions you have about that in a safe space." See more » |
| Goofs | Bobby's mother sends him a church pamphlet about AIDS (in the film's time-line, this would be 1981 or sometime in 1982). The CDC began using the acronym AIDS in September 1982, but it was some time before the term became widely used. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards (2009). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Here I Am See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Epilogue: "On December 6th 1995 Mary Griffith testified before members of the Congress of the United States. Her tireless work protecting the rights of gay and Lesbian youth has established her as a major force in the fight for human rights." See more » |
| Quotes |
Mary Griffith:
Homosexuality is a sin. Homosexuals are doomed to spend eternity in hell. If they wanted to change, they could be healed of their evil ways. If they would turn away from temptation, they could be normal again if only they would try and try harder if it doesn't work. These are all the things I said to my son Bobby when I found out he was gay. When he told me he was homosexual my world fell apart. I did everything I could to cure him of his sickness. Eight months ago my son jumped off a bridge and killed himself. I deeply regret my lack of knowledge about gay and lesbian people. I see that everything I was taught and told was bigotry and de-humanizing slander. If I had investigated beyond what I was told, if I had just listened to my son when he poured his heart out to me I would not be standing here today with you filled with regret. I believe that God was pleased with Bobby's kind and loving spirit. In God's eyes kindness and love are what it's all about. I didn't know that each time I echoed eternal damnation for gay people each time I referred to Bobby as sick and perverted and a danger to our children. His self esteem and sense of worth were being destroyed. And finally his spirit broke beyond repair. It was not God's will that Bobby climbed over the side of a freeway overpass and jumped directly into the path of an eighteen-wheel truck which killed him instantly. Bobby's death was the direct result of his parent's ignorance and fear of the word gay. He wanted to be a writer. His hopes and dreams should not have been taken from him but they were. There are children, like Bobby, sitting in your congregations. Unknown to you they will be listening as you echo "amen" and that will soon silence their prayers. Their prayers to God for understanding and acceptance and for your love but your hatred and fear and ignorance of the word gay, will silence those prayers. So, before you echo "amen" in your home and place of worship. Think. Think and remember a child is listening. See more » |