Kelli Williams, Adam Arkin and Amy Madigan Star in The Lifetime Original Movie 'Murder On Pleasant Drive,' The Gripping, Fact-Based Story of a Woman Whose Sudden Disappearance Draws Her Family Into a Riveting Investigation

Based on a True Story, The Film Details a Woman's Intense Commitment to Find Her Missing Mother

LOS ANGELES, April 5 -- Kelli Williams ("The Practice"), Emmy(R) Award-winner Adam Arkin ("Hitch," "Chicago Hope") and Academy Award(R) and Emmy(R) nominee Amy Madigan ("Carnivale," "Twice in a Lifetime") star in the Lifetime Original Movie "Murder on Pleasant Drive," it was announced today by Trevor Walton, Senior Vice President, Lifetime Original Movies, Lifetime Entertainment Services. Based on a true story, the chilling drama centers on a woman's search for her missing mother. With the help of her aunt, together, they uncover evidence that points to her mother's new husband as the prime suspect in her disappearance. "Murder on Pleasant Drive" premieres Monday, May 8 at 9:00PM (ET/PT) on Lifetime Television.

"This is the story of two courageous women who devoted ten years of their lives tracking down the person they believed killed their beloved family member," said Walton. "Ultimately, it was their perseverance that brought this man to justice. Kelli Williams brings the perfect combination of integrity and valor to the role of a young woman determined to put her mother's murderer behind bars. The immensely talented Adam Arkin convincingly plays the man who, without remorse, robs a family of their loved one."

"Murder on Pleasant Drive" follows the story of Deanna Whelen (Williams), a single working mother, whose vivacious mother, Fran, marries a charming man she barely knows named John Smith (Arkin). Shortly after the newlyweds move to New Jersey, Fran mysteriously disappears. Deanna, determined to find her mother, enlists the help of her Aunt Sherrie (Madigan) and the two women repeatedly question John about Fran's disappearance. Although John's contradictory explanations raise their suspicions, the police tell them that without a body, there is no hard evidence of a crime. Ultimately, Deanna and Sherrie join forces with the police and uncover some disturbing facts about

John, including the grim revelation that his first wife also suspiciously disappeared 25 years earlier. With this new discovery, the two women become convinced that John murdered Fran and decide they will stop at nothing to find out what happened to her.

Kelli Williams is best known for her role on the popular, long-running drama "The Practice." She also starred on the NBC drama "Medical Investigation." Her previous television credits include the telefilms "Flowers for Algernon," "Sweetwater," "Snowbound: The Jim and Jennifer Stolpa Story," "Switched at Birth" and "The Case of the Hillside Stranglers." Her feature film credits include "It's a Shame About Ray," "E=mc2," "There Goes My Baby" and "Mr. Jones."

Adam Arkin was nominated three times for an Emmy(R) Award as Outstanding Supporting Actor for each of his roles on the acclaimed series "Chicago Hope," "Frasier" and "Northern Exposure." He also had guest appearances on numerous series including "Law & Order," "The Practice," "The West Wing," "Monk" and has starred in such feature films as "Hitch," "Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School" and "Stark Raving Mad." In addition to acting, Arkin has directed episodes of "Monk," "Ally McBeal," "Chicago Hope," "Northern Exposure" and the television movie "My Louisiana Sky," for which he won a Daytime Emmy(R) Award for Outstanding Directing in a Children's Special.

Amy Madigan was nominated for an Academy Award(R) for her supporting role in the film "Twice in a Lifetime" and nominated for an Emmy(R) Award for her starring role in the NBC miniseries "Roe vs. Wade." She starred in the HBO series "Carnivale" as well as the telefilms "And Then There Was One" for Lifetime, "In the Name of the People" and "Riders of the Purple Sage." She has appeared in several feature films, including "Winter Passing," "Admissions," "The Discontents" and "In the Land of Milk and Honey." Madigan will also star in an upcoming television miniseries for ABC that focuses on the events leading up to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

"Murder on Pleasant Drive" is produced by Dan Wigutow Productions for Lifetime Television. Dan Wigutow ("Hunt for the Unicorn Killer," "Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman") is executive producer. Walter Klenhard ("Disappearance," "Evolution's Child") wrote the teleplay and Michael Scott ("Personal Effects," "Murder at 75 Birch"), who also serves as co-executive producer, is the director. "Murder on Pleasant Drive" is based on the book entitled My Sister is Missing - Bringing a Killer to Justice by Sherrie Gladden-Davis.

Lifetime is the leader in women's television and one of the top-rated basic cable television networks. A diverse, multi-media company, Lifetime is committed to offering the highest quality entertainment and information programming, and advocating a wide range of issues affecting women and their families. Lifetime Television, Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime Real Women, Lifetime Home Entertainment and Lifetime Online are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, a 50/50 joint venture of The Hearst Corporation and The Walt Disney Company.

SOURCE Lifetime Television
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