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Who Are the DeBolts? And Where Did They Get Nineteen Kids? is a 1977 documentary film about Dorothy and Bob DeBolt, an American couple who have adopted 14 children, some of whom are severely disabled war orphans (in addition to raising Dorothy's five biological children and Bob's biological daughter). VHS and DVD releases use the shortened title Who Are the DeBolts?
The film was narrated by Henry Winkler, who also served as executive producer, and won an Academy Award for Best Feature-length Documentary in 1978, as well as the Directors Guild of America Award and the Humanitas Award for producer and director John Korty in 1979. A 50-minute version of the film shown on ABC in December, 1978, earned a 1979 Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement - Informational Program and an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Informational Program for Winkler, Korty, and producers Warren Lockhart and Dan McCann. A sequel, Steppin' Out: The DeBolts Grow Up, was made in 1980 with Kris Kristofferson as host and narrator. The DVD edition typically includes the 46-minute sequel as a featurette. The family was also the subject of a book, 19 Steps Up The Mountain: The Story of The DeBolt Family, by Joseph P. Blank.
Original Release
09/10/1977
US Release
12/01/1977
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Kim Atwood | Self |
| Marty Atwood | Self |
| Mike Atwood | Self |
| Mimi Atwood | Self |
| Noel Atwood | Self |
| Stephanie Atwood | Self |
| Anh DeBolt | Self |
| Bob DeBolt | Self |
| Dat DeBolt | Self |
| Dorothy DeBolt | Self |
Directors
Writers
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Kim Atwood | Self |
| Marty Atwood | Self |
| Mike Atwood | Self |
| Mimi Atwood | Self |
| Noel Atwood | Self |
| Stephanie Atwood | Self |
| Anh DeBolt | Self |
| Bob DeBolt | Self |
| Dat DeBolt | Self |
| Dorothy DeBolt | Self |
| J.R. DeBolt | Self |
| Karen DeBolt | Self |
| Ly' DeBolt | Self |
| Mary DeBolt | Self |
| Melanie DeBolt | Self |
| Phong DeBolt | Self |
| Sunee DeBolt | Self |
| Tich DeBolt | Self |
| Trang DeBolt | Self |
| Twe' DeBolt | Self |
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|
| Henry Winkler | Executive Producer |
| Shintarô Tsuji | Executive Producer |
| John Korty | Producer |
| Warren Lockhart | Producer |
| Dan McCann | Producer |
| Mark L. Rosen | Producer |
Editors
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 1979 | Emmy | Outstanding Individual Achievement - Informational Program | Won |
| 1979 | Emmy | Outstanding Informational Program | Nominated |
| 1978 | Oscar | Best Documentary, Features | Won |
