‘BEVERLY LEWIS’ THE SHUNNING’

CAST BIOS

DANIELLE PANABAKER (Katie) – A stunning and talented young actress, Danielle Panabaker has quickly grabbed attention as one of Hollywood’s most vibrant stars.

Panabaker next stars in John Carpenter’s latest thriller “The Ward” opposite Amber Heard. She also stars opposite Bobby Cannavale in the upcoming independent feature, “Weakness.”

Panabaker recently starred in Overture Films' "The Crazies" directed by Breck Eisner. She starred opposite Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell as the receptionist at a medical center in a small town whose residents mysteriously begin going insane. Panabaker also starred as the female lead in the highly anticipated remake of "Friday the 13th," opposite Jared Padalecki. The Paramount film, directed by Marcus Nispel and produced by Michael Bay, was released on February 13, 2009 and grossed over $43 million its opening weekend, setting a new record for the highest take for an R-rated horror film. She also appeared opposite Kevin Costner and Dane Cook in the MGM thriller "Mr. Brooks." Her additional film credits include Sony Pictures’ “Yours, Mine and Ours,” opposite Renee Russo and Dennis Quaid and Disney’s “Sky High,” opposite Kurt Russell and Kelly Preston.

On television, Panabaker starred as James Woods’ unwaveringly wise daughter on the CBS drama “Shark.” Panabaker also garnered much critical acclaim for her breakout performance in the HBO miniseries “Empire Falls,” in which she starred opposite Paul Newman and Ed Harris.

Panabaker appeared in the Disney Channel Original Movie "How My Personal Private Journal Became a Best-Selling Novel," where she and her sister, Kay, played versions of the same character. Panabaker's additional television work includes starring roles in “Searching for David's Heart,” for which she won the 2005 Young Artist Award for Best Performance for a TV Movie Leading Young Actress, “Mom at Sixteen,” “Sex and the Single Mom” and the Disney Channel Original Movie “Stuck in the Suburbs.” Her guest starring roles include “The Guardian,” for which she won the 2004 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series Guest Starring Young Actress, “Chase,” “Law and Order: LA,” “Medium,“ “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Eli Stone,” “Law and Order: SVU,” "CSI," "Malcolm in the Middle” and “Summerland.”

Born in Georgia, Panabaker graduated from high school at the age of 14 and received her Bachelor's degree in English from UCLA. She currently resides in Los Angeles.

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SHERRY STRINGFIELD (Laura Mayfield-Bennett) – Born in Colorado Springs and raised in Texas, actress Sherry Stringfield is perhaps best known for playing Dr. Susan Lewis on NBC’s

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hit drama, “ER.” As a series regular, Stringfield garnered three Emmy® nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, two Golden Globe nominations for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama and a People’s Choice Award nomination. Stringfield is also known for series regular roles on “NYPD Blue” and “Guiding Light.”

In high school, Stringfield developed a passion for acting and performed in several school productions before going on to study at the Acting Conservatory of SUNY at Purchase. During that time, she appeared in several off-Broadway shows. Stringfield’s numerous theatre credits include Tom Jones, The Kitchen, Hot L Baltimore, A Dream Play, Devil’s Disciple, Hurly Burly, and Goose and Tom Tom.

Stringfield landed her first role as Christina “Blake” Thorpe on the CBS daytime drama “Guiding Light” in 1989. After spending three years on the show, she left to pursue other ventures, but eventually returned to the small screen with a series regular role on the ABC drama “NYPD Blue” for one season. Stringfield appeared on the first three seasons of “ER,” and rejoined the cast again in the eighth season of the show for four additional years. Her role on the highly successful doctor drama earned her much praise and award attention.

Her other television credits include guest appearances on “Third Watch,” “Touched by an Angel,” “In Plain Sight,” “Law & Order,” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and has had recurring roles on HBO’s “Tell Me You Love Me” and CBS’s “Shark.” She has also appeared in several made-for-TV movies, including “Trade Off,” “Border Line,” “Going Home” and, most recently, the Lifetime movie “Who is Clark Rockefeller?”

Between her busy series television schedules, Stringfield has also appeared in several feature films, including the 1998 Miramax film “54” alongside Mike Myers, Salma Hayek and Ryan Phillippe, and 2000’s “Autumn in New York” with Richard Gere and Winona Ryder. She has also enjoyed success in the independent films “Viva Las Nowhere,” “Forfeit” and “Fencewalkers,” and recently starred in the Screen Gems production, “Stepfather.”

Stringfield currently resides in Los Angeles with her two children.

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SANDRA VAN NATTA (Rebecca Lapp) – Sandra Van Natta, a self described sensate, brings a keen emotional connection to her film roles. She began as an educator with a master’s degree in guidance and counseling. Her greatest desire as an actress is to have the same purposeful impact on the screen that she had in the classroom with her students. She seeks to be an encourager, reflecting the strengths and weakness of humanity.

She was a print model and commercial actor, landing several national SAG advertisements. She has had an eclectic mix of roles in numerous independent films, including “All for Liberty,” a

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Revolutionary War film directed by Chris Weatherhead and a short, “Untouched,” directed by Raphael Vieira. She will also star in the feature length version slated to begin filming in 2011.

Van Natta appeared in the 2004 film favorite “The Notebook” as Aunt Jeanette. She was the sister of Joan Allen and aunt to Rachel McAdams under the direction of Nick Cassavettes. She appeared in 2008’s “Leatherheads” as Beautiful Woman in scenes with George Clooney, Renee Zellweger, John Krazinski and Jonathan Pryce. In 2009, Van Natta had the lead role of Nancy, wife of Terrell, in the sensitive, award-winning dark comedy, “Tedious Existence of Terrell B. Howell.”

Van Natta’s latest independent feature length film, “Cold Soldiers,” began festival screenings in 2010. She had the lead female role of Rebecca Dance, an attorney who sits on the board of a controversial rehabilitation institute for special operation soldiers. “Cold Soldiers” is her second film with BBC trained director Nick Smith.

Van Natta currently lives in Greenville, South Carolina with her husband Mark and three sons.

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BILL OBERST Jr. (Samuel Lapp) – Bill Oberst Jr. has been working regularly since he took up acting 15 years ago, and hasn’t looked back. He began his career as a nationally touring stage actor. His portrayal of John F. Kennedy in the stage play JFK toured 20 states and had the honor of playing at the Kennedy Library. A deeply spiritual and giving person, Oberst gives back by staging a first person recreation of the teachings of Jesus. Oberst’s presentation Jesus Of Nazareth has played to over 1,000 churches and schools, to religious and secular audiences.

Inevitably, Oberst’s calling to act took him to Hollywood, where his mild manner and kindness as a person belied his talent and intensity as an actor. Casting directors and producers aren’t easily impressed, but Oberst began working nearly as soon as he hit town in 2008. To date, Oberst has appeared in over 40 projects on the big and small screen in a wide variety of roles. From a serial killer in “Dismal” to a school principal in his critically acclaimed role in “The Devil Within” to a cop in “The Secret Life of Bees” to his award-winning role as General William Tecumseh Sherman in “Sherman’s March,” Oberst is making his presence felt. He is widely referred to by industry insiders as, “The best actor you’ve never heard of.”

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BURGESS JENKINS (Bishop John Beiler) – Burgess Jenkins is a native of North Carolina and veteran method actor. He is well known for his work in such films as "Remember The Titans" portraying Ray Budds opposite two-time Academy Award® winner Denzel Washington and "The Reaping" as David Winter alongside another two-time Academy Award® winner Hilary Swank.

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Recently, Jenkins played Bobby Irons throughout season six on the hit CW series "One Tree Hill" as well as recurring on Lifetime’s smash hits "Army Wives" and "Drop Dead Diva." He won critical acclaim and the Boston Film Festival Best Actor Nomination for his turn as Bruce Snow in "Insignificant Others."

In addition, he has portrayed the historical figure John Wesley in the award-winning film "Wesley" with Golden Globe winner Kevin McCarthy. He has also starred in the true story "Unshackled" with Stacy Keach, portrayed the racing legend Bill Blair in "Red Dirt Rising" and depicted the embattled Harry O'Ryan in "The Trial,” opposite Matthew Modine.

Last Christmas, Jenkins was seen as the male lead in ABC Family's "Ex-Mas Carol" opposite Christina Milian, Chad Michael Murray and Ashley Benson and starred in the mini-series "Marry Me" with Lucy Liu. In 2011 Jenkins can be seen headlining the father-son movie "Hero" with Justin Miles (NBC's "The Gates") and Greg Allan Williams (HBO's "Soprano's").

Jenkins' training is the result of years of study at some of the top schools and repertory theaters in the country, including four years at the famed Playhouse West with Robert Carnegie and Academy Award nominated actor Jeff Goldblum.

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NANCY SAUNDERS (Ella Mae Zook) – Veteran actress Nancy Saunders made a name for herself appearing in over twenty films in the 1940s and ‘50s. To modern audiences, she is best known for her roles in The Three Stooges film shorts, including “I’m a Monkey’s Uncle” and “The Ghost Talks.” Saunders other film roles include “The Key Man,” the Academy Award® winning short “Two Soldiers,” the Access Award® winning “Millie and Duncan” and “Cherry Falls.”

Saunders has also appeared in more than half a dozen off-Broadway productions, including Shakespearean Repertory theatre. She has also been in Our Town, A Cabin by the Lake, where she originated the role of Cassandra, See How They Run, The Importance of Being Ernest, Summer and Smoke, The Moon is Blue and Hello Out There. Most recently, she appeared on Broadway in Blue Denim.

Saunders, who studied at Duke University, has also trained at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Stella Adler Professional Acting Studio in New York. Her training led to principal roles on several TV series, including “Studio One,” “American Gothic” with Gary Cole, “Dawson’s Creek” and “One Whole Minute” with Hallee Hirsh and Liam Norton for Nickelodeon. She also appeared in a movie-of-the-week, “Love-Struck.”

Saunders has devoted her life to the craft, spending over twenty years coaching professional

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actors, consulting and critiquing play productions and teaching drama, voice and diction in high school and college, directing as many as four plays per year.

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JASON LOUGHLIN (Benjamin Lapp) – Jason Loughlin is a North Carolina native and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in theater from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Loughlin has worked most recently with Boomerang Theater Company in New York City on Venus Observed by Christopher Frye and William Shakespeare's The Tempest.

Regionally he has worked with The Alliance Theatre, Georgia Shakespeare and Theatrical Outfit in Atlanta, and Charlotte Repertory Theatre, Children's Theater of Charlotte and The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival in High Point, NC.

“Beverly Lewis’ The Shunning” is Loughlin’s television movie debut.

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