Heat Wave

Heat Wave is a 1990 American thriller-drama television film about the 1965 Los Angeles Watts Riots, directed by Kevin Hooks and starring Blair Underwood, Cicely Tyson, James Earl Jones, Margaret Avery, and David Strathairn. Cast Blair Underwood as Robert Richardson Cicely Tyson as Ruthana Richardson James Earl Jones as Junius Johnson Margaret Avery as Roxie Turpin David Strathairn as Bill Thomas Glenn Plummer as J.T. Turpin Vondie Curtis-Hall as Clifford Turpin Paris Vaughan as Lada Adam Arkin as Art Berman Charlie Korsmo as 12-year-old Jason Sally Kirkland as Mrs. Canfield Mark Rolston as Officer Zekanis Robert Hooks as Reverend Brooks T.E. Russell as Dominique Freeman Awards and nominations CableACE Awards Actress in a Movie or Miniseries – Cicely Tyson – won Editing a Dramatic or Theatrical Special/Movie or Miniseries – Debra Neil – won Movie or Miniseries – Jon Avnet, Jordan Kerner, Steve Golin, and Sigurjón Sighvatsson – won Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries – James Earl Jones – won Directing a Movie or Miniseries – Kevin Hooks – nominated Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special – James Earl Jones – won