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

Writers Guild of America

• Original Long Form – Michael Lazarou – nominated