A Friend Indeed: The Bill Sackter Story

Winner of the #1 Audience Favorite Award at five film festivals in a row, an inspiring new documentary about a hero for people with disabilities will have its Ohio Premiere at The Cedar Lee Theatre in Cleveland Heights on Tuesday November 3 at 7 p.m. "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" was created by award-winning Iowa filmmaker Lane Wyrick, who will introduce the screening and host a Q&A and Filmmaker Presentation afterwards, in the event sponsored by The Arc of Greater Cleveland and the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

In 1981, actor Mickey Rooney portrayed Bill Sackter's life in the highly successful television drama "Bill", which depicted Bill's unique relationship with young college student Barry Morrow (played by Dennis Quaid). Their friendship developed shortly after Bill's release from Faribault Institution in Minnesota where he had spent 44 years of his life for mild mental retardation. Barry's compassion for Bill and deep concern for his situation led him to taking the unprecedented step of becoming Bill's legal guardian to keep Bill from being sent back to the institution.

This new documentary "A Friend Indeed - The Bill Sackter Story" gives viewers the opportunity to know the real Bill Sackter, Barry Morrow and many others who were close to Bill, in an entertaining production full of heart and emotion. The 90-minute feature length production uses actual film and video footage and photos of Bill (captured in the 1970's and 80's by Barry Morrow and others), along with interviews with the people closest to Bill, filmed more recently by Wyrick.