June 6, 2002

MULTIPLE EMMY AWARD-WINNERS MARY TYLER MOORE AND JEAN STAPLETON STAR IN "LIKE MOTHER, LIKE SON: THE STRANGE STORY OF SANTE AND KENNY KIMES," A TELEVISION MOVIE TO BE REBROADCAST SUNDAY, JUNE 23 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

Robert Forster ("Jackie Brown") and Gabriel Olds ("Urbania") Also Star

In the Drama, the Shocking True Story of the Mother and Son Grifter Team Whose Cross-Country Crime Spree Ended with the Murder of a Wealthy New York Socialite

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE SON: THE STRANGE STORY OF SANTE AND KENNY KIMES, a television movie starring multiple Emmy Award-winners Mary Tyler Moore and Jean Stapleton, along with Robert Forster ("Jackie Brown") and Gabriel Olds ("Urbania"), will be rebroadcast as the "CBS Sunday Movie," Sunday, June 23 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. (Originally broadcast 5/20/01)

The psychological drama, based on the shocking true story of a mother and son grifter team convicted in the 1998 murder of Irene Silverman, a wealthy New York socialite, explores the criminal behavior of Sante Kimes (Moore) and her relationship with her son Kenny (Olds), whom she molded into her accomplice from a very early age.

Despite the fact that she married a very wealthy man, Ken "Papa" Kimes (Forster), Sante was still driven to a life of crime with the attitude that she deserved to have whatever she wanted without having to pay for it. Kenny was constantly pushed by his mother to take part in her schemes and was taught as a child how to distract shopkeepers so that his mother could steal merchandise. Though Kenny was often torn between his need for the love and approval of Sante and his feelings of repulsion for her, her emotional manipulations kept him bonded to her.

Papa Kimes was thoroughly charmed by his wife, and while he didn't understand what drove her to the life of deception on which she seemed to thrive, he nevertheless ignored her flaw until a family maid sued her for involuntary servitude. He then stood by when Sante pleaded guilty and the judge sentenced her to four years in jail. During that time, Papa Kimes, Kenny and an elder son, Kent, returned to a more normal life.

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Prison had no impact on Sante. When she was released, she returned home and forced Kenny to partner with her again in committing crimes. When Papa Kimes died suddenly, leaving nothing to Sante and Kenny, Sante convinced her son that they only had each other and had to commit more daring schemes -- and even murder -- in order to survive in a world that was out to get them.

In 1998, Sante set her sights on Irene Silverman (Stapleton), a wealthy New York socialite who rented small apartments in her upper east side home so that she would always have people nearby. When Sante sent Kenny to rent an apartment from Irene, the older woman was totally charmed by him -- so much so that she neglected to run a routine background check on him. Silverman had no way of knowing that the young man she had just invited into her home would soon be accused, along with Sante, of her murder.

LIKE MOTHER, LIKE SON: THE STRANGE STORY OF SANTE AND KENNY KIMES was produced by The Konigsberg-Smith Company. Mary Tyler Moore, Sue Pollock, Scott Brazil and Larry Garrison are the executive producers. Frank Konigsberg and Drew Smith are the producers. Arthur Allan Seidelman directed the film from a script by Paul Eric Meyers.

RATING: TVPG-DL

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Press Contacts:         Susan J. Marks  323/575-2118            [email protected]
                                Kate H. Fisher          212/975-3818            

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