In the 2014 romantic comedy "Obvious Child," stand-up comedian Donna Stern (played by Jenny Slate) decides to have an abortion after a one-night stand with Max (Jake Lacy). Producer Elisabeth Holm says it's more about a 20-something woman figuring out her professional and personal life than about an abortion. Here are some examples of TV shows and films over the years in which a character has an abortion.
'Obvious Child' —
In the 2014 romantic comedy "Obvious Child," stand-up comedian Donna Stern (played by Jenny Slate) decides to have an abortion after a one-night stand with Max (Jake Lacy). Producer Elisabeth Holm says it's more about a 20-something woman figuring out her professional and personal life than about an abortion. Here are some examples of TV shows and films over the years in which a character has an abortion.
Rooks Nest Entertainment/IMDB
"Maude" (starring Bea Arthur) devoted two episodes to the grandmother's unexpected pregnancy -- and her decision to have a legal abortion in New York. The episodes aired on November 1972 to enormous protest, just a year before the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.
'Maude' —
"Maude" (starring Bea Arthur) devoted two episodes to the grandmother's unexpected pregnancy -- and her decision to have a legal abortion in New York. The episodes aired on November 1972 to enormous protest, just a year before the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.
Tandem Licensing Corp./IMDB
The 1987 summer romance "Dirty Dancing" was set in 1963, and while Frances "Baby" Houseman (played Jennifer Grey) was one of the leading roles alongside Johnny Castle (the late Patrick Swayze), there was another baby involved. While at a resort with her family, Baby helps pay for an illegal abortion for dancer Penny (Cynthia Rhodes), which ultimately leaves Penny debilitated. It forces Baby to step in as Johnny's new dance partner for an upcoming competition.
'Dirty Dancing' —
The 1987 summer romance "Dirty Dancing" was set in 1963, and while Frances "Baby" Houseman (played Jennifer Grey) was one of the leading roles alongside Johnny Castle (the late Patrick Swayze), there was another baby involved. While at a resort with her family, Baby helps pay for an illegal abortion for dancer Penny (Cynthia Rhodes), which ultimately leaves Penny debilitated. It forces Baby to step in as Johnny's new dance partner for an upcoming competition.
Great American Films Limited Partnership/IMDB
When high schooler Becky Sproles (played by Madison Burge) becomes pregnant after a chance encounter with football player Luke Cafferty, Becky seeks guidance from Dillon High School guidance counselor-turned-principal Tami Taylor (played by Connie Britton). After careful consideration, Becky decides to have an abortion, with her mom by her side.
'Friday Night Lights' —
When high schooler Becky Sproles (played by Madison Burge) becomes pregnant after a chance encounter with football player Luke Cafferty, Becky seeks guidance from Dillon High School guidance counselor-turned-principal Tami Taylor (played by Connie Britton). After careful consideration, Becky decides to have an abortion, with her mom by her side.
NBC/IMDB
In the 2008 drama "Revolutionary Road," Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet play Frank and April Wheeler, a couple in the 1940s who become sick of their suburban lifestyle and set their eyes on Paris. After April gets pregnant and Frank is offered a promotion, the two put those plans on hold. April, still unhappy, ultimately decides to perform her own abortion, and dies after the botched procedure.
'Revolutionary Road' —
In the 2008 drama "Revolutionary Road," Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet play Frank and April Wheeler, a couple in the 1940s who become sick of their suburban lifestyle and set their eyes on Paris. After April gets pregnant and Frank is offered a promotion, the two put those plans on hold. April, still unhappy, ultimately decides to perform her own abortion, and dies after the botched procedure.
DreamWorks SKG/IMDB
After an earlier miscarriage, Cristina Yang (played by Sandra Oh) in the hit series "Grey's Anatomy" decides to have an abortion in order to keep up her workaholic tendencies. The show's creator and show runner Shonda Rhimes later told <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2011/09/shonda_rhimes_talks_about_grey.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">New York Magazine</a> that she had wanted to include the plot line in the first season, but had "some very strong conversations with Broadcast Standard and Practices back then about the topic."
'Grey's Anatomy' —
After an earlier miscarriage, Cristina Yang (played by Sandra Oh) in the hit series "Grey's Anatomy" decides to have an abortion in order to keep up her workaholic tendencies. The show's creator and show runner Shonda Rhimes later told New York Magazine that she had wanted to include the plot line in the first season, but had "some very strong conversations with Broadcast Standard and Practices back then about the topic."
Touchstone Television/IMDB
In "The Cider House Rules," a 1999 screen adaptation of John Irving's 1985 book of the same name, Homer Wells (played by Tobey Maguire) stars as a young orphan who becomes an apprentice abortionist, despite disapproving of the procedure. Charlize Theron stars as Candy Kendall, a young woman who comes with her boyfriend to the orphanage to seek an abortion, while Erykah Badu plays Rose Rose, a woman seeking an abortion after she's raped by her father.
'The Cider House Rules' —
In "The Cider House Rules," a 1999 screen adaptation of John Irving's 1985 book of the same name, Homer Wells (played by Tobey Maguire) stars as a young orphan who becomes an apprentice abortionist, despite disapproving of the procedure. Charlize Theron stars as Candy Kendall, a young woman who comes with her boyfriend to the orphanage to seek an abortion, while Erykah Badu plays Rose Rose, a woman seeking an abortion after she's raped by her father.
Miramax Films/IMDB
On the NBC drama "Parenthood," shy teen Drew (played by Miles Heizer) finds out girlfriend Amy (Skyler Day) is pregnant and supports her through her decision to have an abortion, even though he had told his sister that part of him wanted to stick out the pregnancy. At the end of the episode, Drew is seen crying in his mother's arms.
'Parenthood' —
On the NBC drama "Parenthood," shy teen Drew (played by Miles Heizer) finds out girlfriend Amy (Skyler Day) is pregnant and supports her through her decision to have an abortion, even though he had told his sister that part of him wanted to stick out the pregnancy. At the end of the episode, Drew is seen crying in his mother's arms.
True Jack Productions/IMDB
Things got very real for viewers of the second season of MTV's "The Real World: Los Angeles" in 1993, when cast member Tami Roman had an abortion in one episode.
'The Real World: Los Angeles' —
Things got very real for viewers of the second season of MTV's "The Real World: Los Angeles" in 1993, when cast member Tami Roman had an abortion in one episode.
MTV/IMDB
On the HBO series "Six Feet Under," teen Claire Fisher (played by Lauren Ambrose) faced an unwanted pregnancy and decided to have an abortion in order to continue art school. She later had a dream about her fetus in heaven.
'Six Feet Under' —
On the HBO series "Six Feet Under," teen Claire Fisher (played by Lauren Ambrose) faced an unwanted pregnancy and decided to have an abortion in order to continue art school. She later had a dream about her fetus in heaven.
HBO/IMDB
In the Canadian high school series "Degrassi: The Next Generation," Manny Santos (played by Cassie Steele) has an abortion in the episode called "Accidents Will Happen." Craig, the student who impregnated her, wanted to keep the baby and start a family. The pair ultimately calls it quits because of the abortion. In the episode, Manny's mother supports her decision and drives her to the abortion clinic. The episode was the subject of controversy in the United States after the network it was on, The N, censored it.
'Degrassi: The Next Generation' —
In the Canadian high school series "Degrassi: The Next Generation," Manny Santos (played by Cassie Steele) has an abortion in the episode called "Accidents Will Happen." Craig, the student who impregnated her, wanted to keep the baby and start a family. The pair ultimately calls it quits because of the abortion. In the episode, Manny's mother supports her decision and drives her to the abortion clinic. The episode was the subject of controversy in the United States after the network it was on, The N, censored it.
Bell Broadcast/IMDB