On This Day

"Philadelphia", one of the first mainstream films about AIDS, directed by Jonathan Demme, starring Tom Hanks and Denzel

"Philadelphia", one of the first mainstream films about AIDS, directed by Jonathan Demme, starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, premieres in Century City, California

Philadelphia is a 1993 American legal drama film directed and produced by Jonathan Demme, written by Ron Nyswaner, and starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. Filmed on location in its namesake city, it tells the story of attorney Andrew Beckett (Hanks) who comes to ask a personal injury attorney, Joe Miller (Washington), to help him sue his former law firm, who fired him after discovering he was gay and that he had AIDS. The cast also features Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, Antonio Banderas, and Joanne Woodward.

Historical Significance

Philadelphia is a 1993 American legal drama film directed and produced by Jonathan Demme, written by Ron Nyswaner, and starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington.

Key People

Tom Hanks

actor and filmmaker

American actor and filmmaker

– present

Denzel Washington

actor

American actor

– present

Events Before

  1. Grace Hopper dies

    Grace Hopper, American u.s. naval officer and computer scientist, known for u.s. naval officer and computer scientist, died on 1992-01-01.

  2. MLB baseball right fielder Sammy Sosa (23) weds Sonia Rodriguez

    MLB baseball right fielder Sammy Sosa (23) weds Sonia Rodriguez

  3. The Maastricht Treaty is signed by 12 countries from the European Community (EC) to create the European Union (EU)

    The European Union is a geo-political entity, created in 1993, covering a large portion of the European continent.

  4. American record producer Lou Adler (58) weds American actress Page Hannah (27) (Daryl's sister)

    American record producer Lou Adler (58) weds American actress Page Hannah (27) (Daryl's sister)

  5. NHL players begin first strike in 75-year history; 10 day action earns large playoff bonus increase, more control over l

    NHL players begin first strike in 75-year history; 10 day action earns large playoff bonus increase, more control over licensing of their likenesses and changes to free agency system

Events After

  1. Aleksandr Popov swims a world record 100m freestyle of 47.83 seconds

    Aleksandr Popov swims a world record 100m freestyle of 47.83 seconds

  2. Kathleen Kinmont files for divorce from Lorenzo Lamas

    Lorenzo Fernando Lamas is an American actor and producer. He is widely known for his role of Lance Cumson, the irresponsible grandson of Angela Channing—played by Jane Wyman—in the soap opera Falcon...

  3. Kapil Dev takes 2/41 as India beats Sri Lanka by an innings and 95 runs in 2nd Cricket Test in Bengaluru; equals Sir Ric

    Kapil Dev takes 2/41 as India beats Sri Lanka by an innings and 95 runs in 2nd Cricket Test in Bengaluru; equals Sir Richard Hadlee's world record of 431 Test wickets

  4. The Church of England ordains its first 32 female priests at the Bristol Cathedral in Bristol, England [1]

    On 12 March 1994, 32 women were ordained as Church of England priests for the first time in history.

  5. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. divorces Emily Black

    Robert Francis Kennedy Jr., also known by his initials RFK Jr., is an American politician, environmental lawyer, author, conspiracy theorist, and anti-vaccine activist serving as the 26th United...

More from the 1990s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on December 14, 1993?
Philadelphia is a 1993 American legal drama film directed and produced by Jonathan Demme, written by Ron Nyswaner, and starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. Filmed on location in its namesake city, it tells the story of attorney Andrew Beckett (Hanks) who comes to ask a personal injury attorney, Joe Miller (Washington), to help him sue his former law firm, who fired him after discovering he was gay and that he had AIDS. The cast also features Jason Robards, Mary Steenburgen, Antonio Banderas, and Joanne Woodward.
Why is "Philadelphia", one of the first mainstream films about AIDS, directed by Jon... significant?
Philadelphia is a 1993 American legal drama film directed and produced by Jonathan Demme, written by Ron Nyswaner, and starring Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington.
Who was involved in "Philadelphia", one of the first mainstream films about AIDS, directed by Jon...?
Key figures include Tom Hanks (actor and filmmaker), Denzel Washington (actor).

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