‘EXPECTING A MIRACLE’ CAST BIOS JASON PRIESTLEY (Pete) - Now in his third decade as a professional performer, Jason Priestley continues to be one of the most versatile talents in the entertainment business both in front of and behind the camera. Presently filming the feature film "The Last Rights of Ransom Pride" on location in Alberta, Canada with co-stars Kris Kristopherson, Dwight Yokum, Scott Speedman and Lizzy Kaplan, Priestley is enjoying being back in his native country. He spent last summer directing numerous episodes of ABC Family's newest hit show "The Secret Life of the American Teenager", including the season finale. Priestley recently starred with Marisa Coughlin in the Lifetime series "A Side Order of Life" written by Margret Nagel and produced by Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen. He also directed an eight part reality series for GAC called "The Road Hammers." Shot in Nashville, the show follows a country band in its quest to break into the ultra competitive world of country music. That same year, Priestley directed "The Other Woman" for the Lifetime Network. Starring Josie Bisset and Ted Whittal, the movie was based on the Joy Fielding novel of the same title. ### TERI POLO (Donna) – Teri Polo recently wrapped filming as the titular character in the ABC pilot “Finnegan,” and will soon be seen in the third film of the “Meet the Parents” series, “Meet the Little Focker,” opposite Robert De Niro and Ben Stiller. Polo’s other film credits include “Beyond Borders” co-starring Angelina Jolie, the suspense thriller “The Unsaid” opposite Andy Garcia and “Domestic Disturbance” opposite John Travolta and Vince Vaughn. She co-starred opposite De Niro and Stiller in “Meet the Parents,” for which she won a People’s Choice Award, and its sequel “Meet the Fockers.” Originally from Dover, DE, Polo began her performing career as a dancer. By 13, she was attending New York’s School of Ballet. The summer before her senior year, she was signed to a modeling contract, which led to a role as “Kristin” on the daytime drama “Loving.” Polo made her primetime debut in the dramatic series “TV 101.” Television audiences may remember her as “Michelle Capra,” the doctor’s wife who was (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL/‘EXPECTING A MIRACLE’ – Cast Bios – Page 2 determined to master the strange surroundings (and even stranger characters) of Cicely, AK, in “Northern Exposure.” She also starred in the comedy series “I’m with Her” as well as David E. Kelley’s “The Wedding Bells.” Other television credits include Hallmark’s “Love Is a Four-Letter Word,” the original film “Second String” opposite Jon Voight, and the television movie “Straight from the Heart.” She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role opposite Jimmy Smits on “The West Wing.” Polo currently lives in Los Angeles with her family. ### CHEECH MARIN (Father Arturo) – Primarily known as an actor, director, and performer, Cheech Marin has developed the finest private collection of Chicano art in this country. Much of it formed the core of his traveling exhibition Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge, which broke attendance records during its groundbreaking 15-city tour during 2001-2007 to major art museums across the United States. He states, “Chicano art is American art. My goal is to bring the term ‘Chicano’ to the forefront of the art world.” This focus is what led to his touring exhibitions, The Chicano Collection/La Colección Chicana: Fine Art Prints by Modern Multiples, and Papel Chicano: Works on Paper from the Collection of Cheech Marin. Selections from his collection can also be seen in his Los Angelenos/Chicano Painters of L.A., an exhibition on view at LACMA in Los Angeles, June 15 through November 2, 2008. A third-generation Mexican American, Marin has received numerous awards for his work on behalf of Latinos, including the 2000 Creative Achievement Award from the Imagen Foundation and the 1999 ALMA Community Service Award from the National Council of La Raza and Kraft Foods. In 2007, he received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts for his contributions to the creative arts from Otis College of Art & Design in Los Angeles, and received the inaugural Legacy Award for Arts Advocacy from the Smithsonian Latino Center. He serves on the boards of the Smithsonian Latino Center and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. As an actor, Marin is familiar to many as one half of the hilarious duo Cheech and Chong; together, they made eight feature films. He has since appeared in more than 20 films, including “Spy Kids,” “Tin Cup,” and “Once Upon a Time in Mexico.” His television credits include co-starring with Don Johnson in the popular CBS drama, “Nash Bridges,” a recurring role on the hit series “Lost,” and a guest appearance on “Grey’s Anatomy.” His latest films include “The Perfect Game” (Lionsgate Entertainment); “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” (Walt Disney Pictures); and “The Miracle of Dommatina” (Hallmark Channel). In addition, in 2005, Cheech directed the Broadway production of Latinologues, a collection of comedic and poignant monologues revealing the Latino experience in America. ### (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL/‘EXPECTING A MIRACLE’ – Cast Bios – Page 3 REBEKA MONTOYA (Magdalena) – Raised on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico and with strong Colombian roots, Rebeka Montoya was born in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She grew up watching her father work in the entertainment industry and quickly fell in love. Soon, she was auditioning for roles herself at the age of seven and hasn’t stopped working since. Montoya was the manager and lead singer of a top 40 rock band named Utopia, which played all over Puerto Rico and performed as the emcee of the Extreme Games Competitions and most of the surfing contests around the island. After graduating with a BA in marketing and advertising and a BA in Business Administration from the University of Puerto Rico, she was chosen to participate in the music reality show “Protagonistas de la Musica.” Being a finalist for the competition made her realize she wanted to move to Miami and pursue an entertainment career, where doors began to open for her. She quickly landed a role in the Spanish-language soap opera “Prisionera,” which lead to additional soap opera work. She was given her own show, “Ritmo y Sabor,” where she interviewed great Latin and International stars like Juanes, Shakira and more. All this, while acting in several plays for the University of Miami. Montoya currently lives in LA pursuing her acting career, and has been blessed enough to be cast in projects like “Convincing Benny,” “Sunscreen” and “Platinum Illusions.” She can be seen in the upcoming Spike TV movie “Crash & Burn” and just wrapped “The Gold and the Beautiful.” In addition, she is currently appearing in several webisodes for the popular NBC drama “Heroes.” ### SHALIM ORTIZ (Juan) - Shalim Ortiz recently starred in season two of the hit TV show “Heroes,” where he had a recurring role as Alejandro Herrera. In 2008, his performance on the show led him to receive a nomination for the prestigious Imagen Foundation Award. Ortiz’s recent projects include a guest starring role on “CSI: Miami” and the lead in his first supernatural thriller “Gurdian.” In Panama, he shot the feature film “Art of Travel,” costarring Brooke Burns, Chris Masterson, and Johnny Messner. His next film “Spin,” marked Ortiz’s first lead role carrying a film. Here his music also shines as he performs the title song “Rosario” on the film’s soundtrack. Ortiz also soon stars in his first foreign language film “Yuniol,” filmed in the Dominican Republic. This is the first time Ortiz and his renowned mother, Charytin Goyco, work together professionally in a feature film. His performance in “Yuniol” marks Ortiz’ first nomination for ‘Best Actor’ at the prestigious 2008 Casandra Awards, held in the Dominican Republic. Ortiz was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on February 26. At an early age, he moved to Miami, where he developed his skills in music and acting. He later joined the Thespian Society of (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL/‘EXPECTING A MIRACLE’ – Cast Bios – Page 4 Performing Arts and developed a passion for theater. Before completing elementary school, he had already been part of a much successful television show called “Los Angelitos” (Little Angels). His desire to branch out led him to take on projects as a guest host in various shows including "Evolution," and "Pepsi Charts” and later as a model. As theater has always played a key role in Ortiz’s life, he performed as the lead in Oliver Mayer’s much acclaimed cabaret musical entitled Rocío In Spite Of It All. The prestigious L.A. Times hailed Ortiz’s performance saying: “silken-voiced Shalim steals several scenes as a dazzled fan who befriends these dueling divas.” Ortiz’s first passion lays in music. He dedicated himself to write and become a renowned recording artist, delivering two albums (Sony Records) combining his Spanish roots with Latin beats and influences from rock and ballads; the music he grew up with. -- HALLMARK CHANNEL -- .