My Name Is Bill W.

My Name Is Bill W.
My Name Is Bill W. video cover
Written by	William G. Borchert
Directed by	Daniel Petrie
Starring	James Woods James Garner JoBeth Williams
Theme music composer	Laurence Rosenthal
Original language	English
Production
Producer	Paul Rubell
Cinematography	Neil Roach
Editors	Paul Rubell John Wright
Running time	100 minutes
Original release
Release	April 30, 1989

My Name Is Bill W. is a 1989 CBS Hallmark Hall of Fame made-for-television drama film directed by Daniel Petrie, starring James Woods, JoBeth Williams and James Garner. William G. Borchert, who wrote the film for television, based it on the true story of William Griffith Wilson and Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith, M.D. (the men respectively called "Bill W." and "Dr. Bob"), the co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. James Woods won an Emmy for his portrayal of Wilson.

Plot

The true story of stockbroker William Griffith Wilson, a World War I veteran whose small drinking problem becomes a serious addiction after he loses his fortune in the stock market collapse of 1929. Wilson's career and his domestic life are in tatters when he meets Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith, also struggling with a drinking problem. The duo found a support group that becomes the nucleus for the organization Alcoholics Anonymous.

Featured cast

Actor	Role
George Coe	Frank Shaw
James Garner	Robert Holbrook "Dr. Bob" Smith, M.D.
Robert Harper	Dr. Jeremy Partlin
Joe Inscoe	Fred
Mark Joy	Guy Kolb
Gary Sinise	Ebby Thacher
Rick Warner	Bill Dotson
Fritz Weaver	Dr. Burnham
JoBeth Williams	Lois 'Lo' Wilson
James Woods	William Griffith "Bill W." Wilson

Dalton Grey as Mike Davis stockbroker

Awards and nominations

1990 American Cinema Editors Awards (Eddies)

• Nominated – Best Edited Television Special: Paul Rubell, John Wright

1990 American Society of Cinematographers

• Nominated – Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Movies of the Week/Pilots: Neil Roach

1990 Directors Guild of America

• Nominated – Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials: Daniel Petrie

1989 Emmy Awards

• Won – Outstanding Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie: James Woods
• Nominated – Outstanding Costumes For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special: April Ferry
• Nominated – Outstanding Directing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special: Daniel Petrie
• Nominated – Outstanding Made For Television Movie: Peter K. Duchow, James Garner, Daniel Petrie
• Nominated – Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing For A Miniseries Or A Movie: Paul Rubell, John Wright
• Nominated – Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie: James Garner
• Nominated – Outstanding Writing For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Dramatic Special: William G. Borchert

1990 Golden Globe Awards

• Nominated – Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
• Nominated – Best Actor - Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: James Woods

See also

• History of Alcoholics Anonymous

External links

• My Name Is Bill W. at IMDb
• Bill's Story, from Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book