Deadly Silence, A (1989) TV Movie

Made for TV, A Deadly Silence was based on the book by New York Times reporter Dena Kleiman. It is the doleful story of Long Island teenager Cheryl Pierson (Heather Fairfield), who in February of 1986 orchestrated the murder of her electrician father James Pierson (Charles Haid). The film does not argue that Cheryl was innocent. It does, however, delve into the deep waters of "extenuating circumstances". With the utmost taste and discretion, A Deadly Silence reveals that, for at least five years, Cheryl had endured sexual abuse at the hands of her father. Over and above the basic story, the film explores the "deadly silence" of incest - a silence often maintained not only by the victim, but by friends and family members who don't want to cause "trouble". Mike Farrell, Richard Portnow, Jeff Corey and Sally Struther costar, while future Friends regular David Schwimmer essays an important minor role. A Deadly Silence premiered April 16, 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

A Deadly Silence  (1989) TV Movie
Cast: Mike Farrell, Bruce Weitz, Charles Haid, Richard Portnow, Wallace Langham, Heather Fairfield, Sally Struthers, David Schwimmer, Jeff Corey

To My Daughter (1990) TV Movie

Laura Carlson is a well-to-do matron whose oldest daughter dies. The girl was always Laura's favorite; the remaining children, though not unaffected by the loss, hope that now their mother will pay some attention to them. Instead, Laura's grief threatens to shatter her already shaky relationship with her younger offspring. She virtually shuts the kids out of her life in order to finish her older daughter's uncompleted book. To My Daughter was unofficially based on the career of real-life writer Nancy Lynn Schwartz, who did indeed die before completing her history of the Screen Actors' Guild, obliging her mother to finish the job.

To My Daughter (1990) TV Movie

Cast: A.J. Stephans, Ellen Blake, George Coe, James Avery, Jeff Corey, Jennifer Lynn McComb, Noah Blake, Rue McClanahan, Samantha Mathis, Tanya Howard, Tom Irwin