Movies and TvShows featuring "cameo-appearance-by-real-life-subject" theme.

In 1981, in San Francisco, the smart salesman and family man Chris Gardner invests the family savings in Osteo National bone-density scanners, an apparatus twice as expensive as an x-ray machine but with a slightly clearer image. This white elephant financially breaks the family, bringing troubles to his relationship with his wife Linda, who leaves him and moves to New York where she has taken a job in a pizza parlor. Their son Christopher stays with Chris because he and his wife both know that he will be able to take better care of him. Without any money or a wife, but committed to his son, Chris sees a chance to fight for a stockbroker internship position at Dean Witter, offering a more promising career at the end of a six-month unpaid training period. During that period, Chris goes through a lot of hardship personally and professionally. When he thinks he is stable, he finds that he has lost $600 when the government takes the last bit of money in his bank account for taxes. He is rendered homeless because he can't pay his rent. He is forced at one point to stay in a bathroom at a train station, and must scramble from work every day to the Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, which offers shelter to the homeless. He must leave work early every day so that he is there by 5:00 in the evening along with his son so that he may be assured of a place to sleep. He is seen carrying his suitcase to work because he doesn't have a home. At work, there are nineteen other candidates for the one position. One day, he is called into an office and in it were the heads of Dean Witter. Chris thinks that he is about to be told the job will not be his as he says that he wore a shirt and tie for his final day. Then they tell him that he has been an excellent trainee and that tomorrow he will have to wear his shirt and tie again as it will be his first day as a broker. Chris struggles to hold back tears. Outside he begins to cry as the busy people of San Francisco walk past him. He rushes to his son's daycare, hugging him and knowing that after everything him and his son had been through things would be all right. The final scene shows Chris walking with his son down a street. His son is telling him a joke, when a wealthy business man in a suit walks past. Chris looks back as the man continues on. The man in the suit is none other than the real Chris Gardner.

An unemployed single mother becomes a legal assistant and almost single-handedly brings down a California power company accused of polluting a city's water supply. Desperate for work, unskilled Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts), single parent of three, takes a relatively inconsequential job as a legal assistant in a California law firm for low wages. While organizing some paperwork pertaining to real estate cases, she is puzzled when she notices medical records in one of the files. On a whim, she does a little investigating of her own, and comes to suspect that land purchased by Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) is the same land on which chromium contamination resulted from PG&E's environmentally irresponsible actions. Examination of local water records and interviews with residents ill from exposure to poisonous chromium confirm Erin's suspicions, but pursuit of legal proceedings against PG&E would seem beyond the capabilities of the small law firm she works at. Still, Erin succeeds in making her boss, Ed Masry (Albert Finney), as passionate about the case as she is, and he takes it on. Both Ed and Erin must make great sacrifices in their lives, as the legal costs spread Ed very thin, and the round-the-clock work takes Erin out of touch with both her boyfriend and her kids. Erin's kids resent the lack of attention from her, and her attempts to explain the merits of what she is doing to her eldest son are futile ..... but, one day her eldest son happens across one of the many documents pertaining to the PG&E case. He reads of a child his own age who is very ill, and knowing that Erin's work will help this child, asks her why the child's mother cannot provide the needed help. When Erin explains that it is because the child's mother is very ill, too, her son, for the first time, appreciates the nature and importance of Erin's work. In the end, Erin's special ability to bond with the victims of chromium contaminaton and their families and Ed's legal and administrative prowess are the key ingredients to making the case against PG&E. As a team, they manage to successfully lay the groundwork for the payment of legal damages by PG&E to those harmed.

Based on the true story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a young lawyer fights against gender discrimination and works towards achieving women's equality in the US Supreme Court.

A woman rises to stardom as a music icon while facing an abusive relationship, ultimately finding strength to break free and start over.

Pelé: Birth of a Legend tells the extraordinary story of a young boy from Brazil who became the greatest footballer in the world. From his humble beginnings in the streets of São Paulo to his triumphant success on the world stage, Pelé's journey is a testament to his indomitable spirit and unwavering determination. This biographical drama explores his struggles, triumphs, and the impact he made on the world of soccer.

A college athlete with self-doubt and fear receives spiritual guidance from a mysterious man, leading him to overcome his obstacles and find enlightenment through gymnastics.

Europa Europa tells the true story of Solomon Perel, a Jewish boy who joins the Hitler Youth and must hide his identity in order to survive during World War II.

An amateur historian, Philippa Langley, defies the stodgy academic establishment in her relentless efforts to discover the lost remains of King Richard III, which had been buried beneath a carpark in Leicester for over 500 years. Her determination challenges the skepticism of experts and academics, forcing them to reevaluate the controversial king's place in England's history.

Above Suspicion is based on a true story and follows the investigation of a corrupt FBI agent who recruits a woman as an informant. As they become entangled in a dangerous relationship, their actions lead to devastating consequences.

Rocketry: The Nambi Effect is a biographical drama that follows the life of Nambi Narayanan, an Indian Space Research Organization scientist who was wrongly accused and arrested for being a spy in 1994. The movie showcases Nambi's journey from his rise as an eminent engineer to being charged with espionage, facing physical and mental cruelty. It highlights his contributions to rocket science and his struggle to clear his name and regain his reputation. The story unveils the truth behind the conspiracy and the obstacles Nambi faced in his quest for justice and his role in shaping India's space research. Rocketry: The Nambi Effect is a gripping tale of determination, resilience, and triumph.

Marvellous follows the life of Neil Baldwin, an overweight and intellectually disabled man who defies expectations and finds success in various unconventional roles.

The Dominici Affair is a murder mystery set in post-World War II France. A family is brutally murdered on their farm in the south of France, and suspicion falls on Gaston Dominici, a goat herder. As the investigation unfolds, false accusations, murder confessions, and witness testimonies complicate the case. The film explores social commentary, father-son conflicts, and the pursuit of justice in a small country community. With an unsolved mystery and a death penalty on the line, the police detective, judge, and journalist work to uncover the truth and bring closure to the murder of a family.

A man named Arlo gets caught up in the anti-establishment movement of the 1960s and faces discrimination, military draft, and various misadventures while hitchhiking, attending a wedding, and getting involved with a small-town commune.

The 16-year-old Ukrainian figure skater (Monica Keena) overcomes personal tragedies to become the 1994 Olympic gold medalist.