Title: Anatomy of an Illness
Year: 1984
Genres: Biography; Documentary; Drama
Director: Richard T. Heffron

Cast:

• Edward Asner as Norman Cousins
• Eli Wallach as Dr. William Hitzig
• Millie Perkins as Ellen Cousins

Synopsis:

Based on Norman Cousins’s bestselling 1979 memoir, this made-for-TV biopic chronicles Cousins’s battle with a crippling connective-tissue disease. Told he had little chance of recovery, Cousins turns to high-dose vitamin C treatment and daily “laughter therapy”—watching comedies to induce pain-free intervals. His self-designed regimen leads to a remarkable recovery, inspiring both his own research into mind-body healing and the broader medical community.

Trivia:

• Premiered on CBS on May 15, 1984, as a “Movie of the Week” special.
• Edward Asner’s performance was widely praised for capturing Cousins’s determined optimism.
• Nominated in 1985 for a Young Artist Award for Best Young Actress in a Family Film Made for Television.
• Cousins himself was initially uneasy with Hollywood’s treatment of his story but later expressed respect for Asner’s portrayal.
• The film helped popularize the concept of “laughter as medicine” and spurred interest in complementary therapies.