A Triumph of the Heart: The Ricky Bell Story is a 1991 CBS network television movie which was aired on April 2, 1991.
Plot[]
The story of the life of Ricky Bell (Mario Van Peebles), a Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back sickened with dermatomyositis, and Ryan Blankenship (Lane R. Davis), a physically impaired child. The movie takes place during the 1981 Buccaneers season, including actual gameplay footage. Bell finds himself befriending an impaired child who inspire each other to become better in their own ways.
Cast[]
- Mario Van Peebles as Ricky Bell (including actual gameplay footage of the real Ricky Bell)
- Lane R. Davis as Ryan Blankenship
- Polly Holliday as Ruth Weidner
- Lynn Whitfield as Natala Bell
- Susan Ruttan as Carol Blankenship
- James Zachary as Lee Roy Selmon
- John Schumacher as Charley Hannah
- Duriel Harris as Danny Reece
- Dennis Letts as Ed Warren
- Woody Watson as Larry Blankenship
- Marcus Allen as Himself
- Jay Pennison as Steve Wilson
- Doug Williams as Himself (only through gameplay footage)