''The Last Debate'' is a 2000 American

political drama A political drama can describe a Theatre, play, film or TV program that has a politics, political component, whether reflecting the author's political opinion, or describing a politician or series of political events. Dramatists who have written p ...

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

directed by

John Badham John MacDonald Badham (born August 25, 1939) is an American film and television director, best known for directing the films ''Saturday Night Fever'' (1977), ''Dracula (1979 film), Dracula'' (1979), ''Blue Thunder'' (1983), ''WarGames'' (1983), ...

and written by Jon Maas, based on the 1995 book by

Jim Lehrer James Charles Lehrer ( ; May 19, 1934 – January 23, 2020) was an American journalist, novelist, screenwriter, and playwright. He was the executive editor and a news anchor for the ''PBS News Hour'' on PBS and was known for his role as a debate ...

, and starring

James Garner James Scott Garner (né Bumgarner; April 7, 1928 – July 19, 2014) was an American actor. He played leading roles in more than 50 theatrical films, which included ''The Great Escape (film), The Great Escape'' (1963) with Steve McQueen; Paddy Ch ...

and

Peter Gallagher Peter Killian Gallagher (born August 19, 1955) is an American actor. Since 1980, he has played roles in numerous Hollywood films. He is best known for starring as Sandy Cohen in the television drama series '' The O.C.'' from 2003 to 2007, and ...

. It aired on

Showtime Showtime or Show Time may refer to: Film * ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film * ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur Television Networks and channels * Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global w ...

on November 5, 2000.

Plot

A televised presidential debate has a conspiracy behind it.

Cast

as Mike Howley *

as Tom Chapman *

Audra McDonald Audra Ann McDonald (born July 3, 1970) is an American singer and actress. Primarily known for her work on the Broadway stage, she has won six Tony Awards, more performance wins than any other actor, and is the only person to win in all four acti ...

as Barbara Manning *

Donna Murphy Donna Murphy (born March 7, 1959) is an American actress, best known for her work in musical theater. A five-time Tony Award nominee, she has twice won the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical: for her role as Fosca in '' Passion'' (1994–1995) ...

as Joan Naylor *

Marco Sanchez Marco Sanchez is an American actor, producer, and writer. Filmography Film Television References External links * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sanchez, Marco 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors American ma ...

as Henry Ramirez *

Dorian Harewood Dorian Harewood (born August 6, 1950) is an American actor, best known for playing Jesse Owens in '' The Jesse Owens Story'' (1984), Det. Paul Strobber on '' Strike Force'' (1981–1982), and Rev. Morgan Hamilton in '' 7th Heaven'' (1996–2003 ...

as Brad Lily * Michael Riley as Jack Turpin *

Bruce Gray Bruce Gray (September 7, 1936 – December 13, 2017) was a Canadian actor, known for multiple roles in films and television shows for over five decades. Early years Gray was born in Puerto Rico and lived in Toronto after 1949. He graduated fro ...

as Governor Paul L. Greene * Stephen Young as Richard Meredith *

Lawrence Dane Lawrence Joseph Zahab (April 3, 1937 – March 21, 2022), known professionally as Lawrence Dane, was a Canadian actor and film producer, best known for his role as Lt. Preston in ''Bride of Chucky''. Life and career Born in Masson, Quebec, Dane ...

as Sidney Robert Mulvane *

Djanet Sears Djanet Sears is a Canadian playwright, nationally recognized for her work in African-Canadian theatre. Sears has many credits in writing and editing highly acclaimed dramas such as ''Afrika Solo'', the first stage play to be written by a Canadian ...

as Nancy Dewey * Peter Donaldson as Jeff Grayson *

as Don Beard *

Leslie Carlson Les Carlson ( Leslie Merle Carlson; February 24, 1933 – May 3, 2014) was an American-Canadian film and television character actor who acted on stage in Canada, the U.S. and England. His films include the horror films '' Deranged'', '' Black Ch ...

as Pat Tubbs * Maggie Huculak as Gwyn Garrison * Martin Doyle as Jim Weaver * Brenda Robins as Carol Reynolds * Colin Fox as Joshua L. Simpson * Judah Katz as Bob Lucas * Robin Ward as Mark Southeran *

Don Ritchie Donald Taylor Ritchie (9 June 1926 – 13 May 2012) was an Australian who intervened in many suicide attempts. He officially suicide prevention, rescued at least 180 people who had intended to attempt suicide at The Gap (Sydney), The Gap ...

as Church Hammond *

Nicky Guadagni Nicky Guadagni (born August 1, 1952) is a Canadian actress who has worked on stage, radio, film and television. Life and career Originally from Montreal, Nicky Guadagni majored in drama at Dawson College and went on to train at the Royal Academy ...

as Sam Minter * Patrice Goodman as Roz Weisberg *

Barry Flatman Barry Flatman (born March 12, 1950) is a Canadian actor. He began his career as a member of the comedy troupe Homemade Theatre Company, with whom he appeared on the CBC Television sketch comedy series '' Stay Tuned'' (1976–1977). Flatman later ...

as Ned Cannon *

Shelley Peterson Shelley Peterson (née Matthews; born 1952) is a Canadian television and film actress and writer, she is also known for her bestselling book, Dancer. Best known as the star of the Canadian sitcoms '' Not My Department''Barbara Gordon Barbara Joan Gordon is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the superhero Batman. The character was created by television producer William Dozier, editor Julius Schwartz, writer Ga ...

as Lorraine Hampstead * Nancy Harewood as Bonnie Kerr * Ann Marin as Female Reporter * Vanessa Vaughan as Grace Dickins * Doug Murray as Jeff Field *

Martin Roach Martin Jamie Roach (born July 15, 1962) is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his live-action roles as T. Abner Hall in the Disney XD television series '' Aaron Stone'' (2009–2010), Mike in the science-fiction television series '' Falling ...

as Room Service Waiter *

Denis Akiyama Denis Van Akiyama (May 28, 1952 – June 28, 2018) was a Canadian actor of stage, film and television, perhaps best known for portraying Shinji in ''Johnny Mnemonic'', and for voicing Silver Samurai / Kenuichio Harada and Sunfire in ''X-Men'', ...

as TV Makeup Artist * Bryan Renfro as Steve Harrington * Sharron Matthews as Barbara Fan * Chuck Campbell as Bartender

Production

Filming took place in

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

References

External links

* 2000 films 2000 drama films 2000s American films 2000s English-language films 2000s political drama films American drama television films American political drama films English-language political drama films Films about fictional presidents of the United States Films about journalists Films about presidential elections Films based on American novels Films directed by John Badham Films scored by Arthur B. Rubinstein Films shot in Toronto Scott Free Productions films Showtime (TV network) films Television films based on books {{US-tv-drama-film-stub