''Baby Brokers'' is a 1994 American true-life-event

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by

Mimi Leder Miriam Leder (; born January 26, 1952) is an American film and television director and producer; she is noted for her action films and use of special effects.Hurd, Mary G. Women Directors and Their Films. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2007. She has dire ...

and written by Susan Nanus. The film stars

Cybill Shepherd Cybill Lynne Shepherd (born February 18, 1950) is an American actress, singer and former model. Her film debut and breakthrough role came as Jacy Farrow in Peter Bogdanovich's coming-of-age drama '' The Last Picture Show'' (1971) alongside Jef ...

, Nina Siemaszko,

Anna Maria Horsford Anna Maria Horsford is an American actress, known for her performances in television comedies. Horsford is best known for her roles as Thelma Frye on the NBC sitcom ''Amen'' (1986–91), and as Dee Baxter on the WB sitcom ''The Wayans Bros.'' (1 ...

Jeffrey Nordling Jeffrey Richard Nordling (born March 11, 1962) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Jake Manning in ''Once and Again'', Larry Moss in '' 24'', Nick Bolen in ''Desperate Housewives'', and Gordon Klein in '' Big Little Lies'', as wel ...

, Tom O'Brien,

Joseph Maher Joseph Sylvester Maher (29 December 1933 – 17 July 1998) was an Irish actor, playwright, and occasional theatre director. He was best known for his roles in the comedies of Joe Orton. He received three Tony Award nominations for his roles in ...

and

Shirley Knight Shirley Knight Hopkins (July 5, 1936 – April 22, 2020) was an American actress who appeared in more than 50 feature films, television films, television series, and Broadway and Off-Broadway productions in her career, playing leading and char ...

. The film premiered on

NBC The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...

on February 21, 1994.

Plot

Debbie Freeman (Shepherd) is an LA psychotherapist who wants to adopt a baby. An expectant couple, Leanne (Siemaszko) and Frankie Dees (O'Brien), who at first appear willing to let her privately adopt their child in exchange for financially supporting them for six months during Leanne's pregnancy, disappear when Freeman discovers they are in negotiations with another couple. The Dees, who gave up numerous children in the past while scamming multiple couples with each pregnancy, also run out on the latest prospective parents, leaving behind an incriminating notebook with names and phone numbers. Taking her story public, Freeman is instrumental in the Dees' arrest and Leanne's later conviction in federal court for multiple counts of mail and wire fraud. Freeman's going public with her anguish in losing a child she expected to adopt results in a woman reaching out to her to arrange a private adoption.

Cast

as Debbie Freeman * Nina Siemaszko as Leeanne Dees *

as Randi *

as John * Tom O'Brien as Frankie Dees *

as Leo *

as Sylvia *Gary Werntz as Dick Plager *

Leah Lail Leah Lail is a retired American actress, best known for her role as Kay Simmons the communications and systems expert on the syndicated television series '' V.I.P.''. Early life Lail graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern Cal ...

as Carly *

Lou Liberatore Lou Liberatore (born 1959) is an American actor. A graduate of Fordham University, Liberatore made his New York City stage debut in the 1982 Circle Repertory Company production of ''Richard II''. As a permanent member of the company he appeared ...

as Tom Culbert * Scott Jaeck as Scott Tillman *Lynn Milgrim as Laurie Tillman *Peter Crook as Dr. Robert Silk *Catherine MacNeal as Rita Hoyt *Bob McCracken as Alan Hoyt *Barbara Worthington as Sister Elizabeth *

Takayo Fischer Takayo Fischer (née Tsubouchi; born 1932) is an American stage, film and television actress, as well as voice-over actress. Personal life Fischer is the youngest of four daughters of Japanese immigrants Chukuro, a farm laborer, and Kinko Tsubo ...

as Dr. Emily Weiss *

Esther Scott Esther Scott (April 13, 1953 – February 14, 2020) was an American actress. Early years Scott was born in Flushing, Queens, New York, on April 13, 1953. When she was a child the family moved to Brooklyn, New York. She developed an interest in ...

as Polly O'Neill *

Patricia Childress Patricia Childress is a film and television actress, director, producer and writer who lives in Los Angeles where she works with many of the entertainment industry's most respected talents. Childress is the recipient of two Emmy Awards. Life ...

as Angela *Secunda Wood as Julia *

Paul Perri Paul John Perri (born November 6, 1953) is an American-Canadian film and television actor. Perri is best known for portraying Edwards and Skinless Parker in '' Hellraiser: Bloodline'', Harry Hume from ''Chaos'', and as Dr. Sidney Bloom from '' ...

as Dr. Carlson * Terry Murphy as Herself * Lynn Milgrim as Laurie Tillman

References

External links

* {{Mimi Leder 1990s American films 1994 television films 1990s English-language films 1994 drama films 1994 films NBC original films Films directed by Mimi Leder American drama television films English-language drama films