Sunday, April 25, 2010

AS SEEN ON TV: LOIS WILSON & BILL W

We've got a Two for Sunday this time out, since tonight CBS is showing a new "Hallmark Hall Of Fame" presentation about the couple behind Alcoholics Anonymous.....
LOIS & BILL WILSON

AS SEEN IN:
"When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story"

AS PLAYED BY:
Winona Ryder as Lois Wilson
Barry Pepper as Bill W

From Wikipedia:
Lois Wilson née Burnham (4 March 1891 – 6 October 1988) was the co-founder of Al-Anon, a support group for the friends and family of alcoholics. She was the wife of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill W. As teenagers, Lois and Bill fell in love. They married in 1918 when Bill was in the Army, shortly before he was sent to Europe. Lois worked as an occupational therapist during his absence. After his return, the couple hoped to start a family, but after several miscarriages she was advised that pregnancy would be dangerous or impossible. Their attempts to adopt children were unsuccessful.

Her marriage to Bill W. began to degrade due to the combination of a series of miscarriages and his drinking problem. Lois began to work on programs to help families of alcoholics after Bill had gone through rehabilitation and founded AA. These efforts led to the founding of Al-Anon, although this was not the first program of its kind.

BILL & LOIS WILSON

AS SEEN IN:
"My Name Is Bill W"

AS PLAYED BY:
James Woods as Bill W
JoBeth Williams as Lois Wilson
BCnU!

No comments: