American Experience Partners of the Heart (Season 15, Episode 8)
TV Episode | 60 min | Documentary, Biography, History

American Experience

Partners of the Heart (Season 15, Episode 8)

TV Episode | 60 min | Documentary, Biography, History

During World War II and the era of staunch racial segregation, a Black carpenter's son named Vivien Thomas, who had a talent for surgery, along with a white surgeon named Dr. Alfred Blalock, who defied the medical establishment created a ...See moreDuring World War II and the era of staunch racial segregation, a Black carpenter's son named Vivien Thomas, who had a talent for surgery, along with a white surgeon named Dr. Alfred Blalock, who defied the medical establishment created a partnership that changed the course of cardiac surgery. With only a high school diploma, Thomas became a leading cardiac pioneer and educator of two generations of the United States' premiere heart surgeons. This moving documentary tells the story of Thomas and his relationship with Blalock, one that ushered in advances in surgery that are still in existence today. Written by Leslye Allen (L. J. Allen-2) See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
32 cast members

Name	Known for
Morgan Freeman Narrator (voice) Narrator (voice) See fewer	Seven (1995)
Courtney B. Vance Voice of Vivien Thomas (voice) Voice of Vivien Thomas (voice) See fewer	The Hunt for Red October (1990)
Beau James Dr. Alfred Blalock Dr. Alfred Blalock See fewer	Serial Mom (1994)
Christopher Haley Vivien Thomas (as Chris Haley) Vivien Thomas (as Chris Haley) See fewer	The Studio (2005)
Jane Leuders Dr. Helen Taussig Dr. Helen Taussig See fewer	American Experience (1988)
John Dryden Newsreel Voice (voice) Newsreel Voice (voice) See fewer	Everything or Nothing (2007)
Susan Allenback Extra (as Susan Allenbach) Extra (as Susan Allenbach) See fewer	Syriana (2005)
Dean Avery Extra Extra See fewer	Falling to Peaces (1999)
Donna Barrett Extra Extra See fewer	American Experience (1988)
Alfred Blalock Self (archive footage) (as Dr. Alfred Blalock) Self (archive footage) (as Dr. Alfred Blalock) See fewer
Jim Brady Extra Extra See fewer	American Experience (1988)
Johnny Cassell Extra Extra See fewer	American Experience (1988)
Denton A. Cooley Self (as Dr. Denton A. Cooley) Self (as Dr. Denton A. Cooley) See fewer	Untitled Artificial Heart Project (2013)
Sam De Crispino Extra (as Sam Decrispino) Extra (as Sam Decrispino) See fewer	Enemy of the State (1998)
Koco Eaton Self (as Dr. Koco Eaton) Self (as Dr. Koco Eaton) See fewer	American Experience (1988)
J. Alex Haller Jr. Self (as Dr. J. Alex Haller Jr.) Self (as Dr. J. Alex Haller Jr.) See fewer	Operation: Lifeline (1978)
Reid Hill Extra Extra See fewer	Servant (2019)
Rick Kain Extra Extra See fewer	White House Plumbers (2023)
Paul Lazzati Extra Extra See fewer	Tom Hayden: In Hiding
Tom McNutt Extra Extra See fewer	Sweet Girl (2021)
James Pasierb Extra Extra See fewer	The F.B.I. Files (1998)
Joe Pinter Extra Extra See fewer	The Sentinel (2006)
Jeremy Rallings Extra Extra See fewer	American Experience (1988)
Will Rosser Extra Extra See fewer	Critical Rescue (2003)
Brian Schaffer Extra Extra See fewer	American Experience (1988)
Richard Scott Self (as Dr. Richard Scott) Self (as Dr. Richard Scott) See fewer	American Experience (1988)
Rowena Spencer Self (as Dr. Rowena Spencer) Self (as Dr. Rowena Spencer) See fewer	American Experience (1988)
Helen Taussig Self (archive footage) (as Dr. Helen Taussig) Self (archive footage) (as Dr. Helen Taussig) See fewer
Vivien Theodore Thomas Self (archive footage) (as Dr. Vivien Thomas) Self (archive footage) (as Dr. Vivien Thomas) See fewer
Desiree Marie Velez Extra (as Desiree Marie) Extra (as Desiree Marie) See fewer	Super Mario Bros. (1993)
Levi Watkins Self (as Dr. Levi Watkins) Self (as Dr. Levi Watkins) See fewer	The Remarkable Journey (2000)
Tony Williams Dr. Vivien Thomas at the Train Tracks Dr. Vivien Thomas at the Train Tracks See fewer	Taken 3 (2014)