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About
When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story
Sunday, April 25, 9/8c on CBS
When Love Is Not Enough: The Lois Wilson Story is the new Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, starring Winona Ryder (The Age of Innocence, Little Women) and Barry Pepper (61*). The movie is based on the true story of the sorely-tested but ultimately enduring love between Lois Wilson (Ryder), co-founder of Al-Anon, and her husband Bill Wilson (Pepper), co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous.
In 1914, Lois Burnham, a college-educated woman from an affluent family, met and fell in love with Bill Wilson, a young man of modest means. They married in 1918, and after his return from the First World War, the two set out to build a life together. While Lois worked, Bill struggled to find his niche. Lois believed that Bill was destined for greatness, and despite his increasing reliance on alcohol, she showered him with love and support. By 1927, Bill was working on Wall Street and the couple was living a luxurious lifestyle. But despite Lois’s valiant efforts to control his drinking, Bill’s addiction to alcohol spiraled out-of-control. Soon, his job, their lifestyle, their dreams, were all gone.
In 1934, after years of struggling to cover for Bill and trying desperately to manage his illness by herself, Lois finally witnessed Bill get and stay sober – not through her help, but from the support of a fellow alcoholics and later Dr. Bob Smith.
As Bill and Dr. Bob attained lasting sobriety and co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous, Lois began to feel neglected. Bill got and stayed sober without her help, and she felt isolated and resentful.
Lois soon discovered she was not alone in her isolation and anger. There existed a vast army of men and women -- wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters – whose lives and relationships had been devastated because a loved one was an alcoholic or drug addict. Thus was born Al-Anon, which she co-founded in 1951.
Together, Lois and Bill Wilson started movements that have helped millions of people around the world. Together, they’ve given the world a noble and inspiring love story.
In 1914, Lois Burnham, a college-educated woman from an affluent family, met and fell in love with Bill Wilson, a young man of modest means. They married in 1918, and after his return from the First World War, the two set out to build a life together. While Lois worked, Bill struggled to find his niche. Lois believed that Bill was destined for greatness, and despite his increasing reliance on alcohol, she showered him with love and support. By 1927, Bill was working on Wall Street and the couple was living a luxurious lifestyle. But despite Lois’s valiant efforts to control his drinking, Bill’s addiction to alcohol spiraled out-of-control. Soon, his job, their lifestyle, their dreams, were all gone.
In 1934, after years of struggling to cover for Bill and trying desperately to manage his illness by herself, Lois finally witnessed Bill get and stay sober – not through her help, but from the support of a fellow alcoholics and later Dr. Bob Smith.
As Bill and Dr. Bob attained lasting sobriety and co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous, Lois began to feel neglected. Bill got and stayed sober without her help, and she felt isolated and resentful.
Lois soon discovered she was not alone in her isolation and anger. There existed a vast army of men and women -- wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters – whose lives and relationships had been devastated because a loved one was an alcoholic or drug addict. Thus was born Al-Anon, which she co-founded in 1951.
Together, Lois and Bill Wilson started movements that have helped millions of people around the world. Together, they’ve given the world a noble and inspiring love story.
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