<<

‘TOM DICK & HARRIET’

CAST BIOS

STEVEN WEBER (Tom Burns) – The son of a nightclub singer and a borscht belt talent agent, ’s not surprising that ’s own love for the limelight emerged at an early age. By the time he was in third grade, the City-born Weber was appearing in television commercials. Pursuit of an acting career brought his film debut in “The Flamingo Kid” and a role on the soap opera “.” He appeared in the acclaimed war film “Hamburger Hill” and made his Broadway debut in The Real Thing. But it was the NBC “Wings” where Weber soared to national attention, as he and starred for seven seasons as brothers running a one-plane airline in .

Weber’s acting career has been as eclectic as it is accomplished – whether starring in the television version of ’s horror story on ABC or appearing years earlier on the same network as JFK in “The Kennedys of Massachusetts.” His films also demonstrate his wide range, with roles in thrillers “Single White Female” and “The Temp,” as the title in the gay romantic comedy, “Jeffrey” and as a sleazy 1930s pimp in Showtime’s comic musical “.”

Returning to the stage, Weber has played the lead in the hit Broadway musical , appeared with and Mary Stuart Masterson in the production of National Anthems, and again on Broadway in The Philanthropist.

Most recently, Weber starred in the Hallmark Movie Channel Original “Duke” and wrapped guest starring roles on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” the new TNT original series, “,” produced by Steven Spielberg and starring Noah Wyle and as Lauren Graham's potential love interest on “.” Weber will play Hugh J. Magnate, Jr. in the live action/CG adaption of the hit Nickelodeon animated series, “The Fairly OddParents,” entitled “A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner!”

Weber, a NYC native from Queens, studied at New York’s High School of the Performing Arts and is a graduate of the theatre program at the State University of New York at Purchase.

###

ANDREW FRANCIS (Dick Sweeney) — Andrew Francis is a producer and actor who started his professional acting career at eight years old. He has appeared in hundreds of television shows and feature films including most recently, “Primary” and “Fakers,” for which he was nominated for a Gemini Award in the Best Actor Category. Francis has voiced several lead characters in numerous animated shows including, “My Little Pony, “Dinosaur Train,” “Voltron Force” and “.” ### (more)

HALLMARK CHANNEL / ‘TOM DICK & HARRIET’– Cast Bios – Page 2

MICHELLE HARRISON (Harriet Fellows) — Last seen as Kate Henry in CBC's cowboy drama “Wild Roses,” Michelle Harrison has remained one of the more sought after actresses in Canada. After attending Circle in the Square Theatre School in , Harrison came to Canada and began her work in film, television and theatre. She has shared the screen with a list of talented actors including: Sir Ben Kingsley, Ben Affleck, Aaron Eckhart, Jennifer Aniston, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Carol Burnett. She has also appeared in more than 60 movies and television shows in the US and Canada. Harrison most recently had a recurring role on “Emily Owens, M.D.” on the CW Network.

Audiences may remember Harrison from hit shows such as: “House,” “Cold Case,” “NCIS,” “Supernatural,” “The L Word,” “Stargate Universe,” “Eureka” and “Fringe.” Popular movies include: “Paycheck,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” “Love Happens,” “Good Luck Chuck,” “The Invisible” and “40 Days and 40 Nights.” On her time off, Harrison is the lead singer of a band called Ginger 66 and spends time with her family on a little island in the Pacific Northwest.

###

MICHAEL EKLUND (Reese Danzinger) – is one of Canada's busiest up-and- coming actors who has come to be known for disappearing into every role and radically transforming his look for each new character.

Eklund has recently completed several feature films including “The Hive” starring opposite Halle Berry and and directed by Brad Anderson, “Ferocious” reuniting with director/writer Robert Cuffley and starring and and “Primary,” starring opposite for director/writer Ross Ferguson. Prior to these films Eklund shot the lead role in the feature “Errors of the Human Body,” a /drama set and shot in Dresden, Germany, written and directed by Eron Sheean which is now being screened to rave reviews on the festival circuit.

Eklund can be seen in “The Divide” directed by with a brilliant cast including and . He also stars in “The Day,” an apocalyptic siege warfare film spanning 24 hours during which a small group of survivors are pit against insurmountable odds, directed by Doug Aarniokoski. His film “The Making of Plus One” debuted at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and is the second film Eklund has done with director Mary McGuckian, the other being “Inconceivable.”

Eklund garnered a 2008 Leo award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for his work on “Walk All Over Me,” written and directed by Robert Cuffley, which premiered at the 2007 Film Festival. Other feature credits include “” with , “The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus,” “Gunless” and “The Entrance.” Television appearances include guest starring or recurring roles on “Alcatraz,” “Fringe,” “Intelligence,” “The Bridge,” “,” “Flashpoint,” “Battlestar Galactica” and Movie Television’s critically acclaimed “Terminal City.”

### (more)

HALLMARK CHANNEL / ‘TOM DICK & HARRIET’– Cast Bios – Page 3

MACKENZIE PORTER (Kelly Burns) – The multi-talented singer/songwriter and actress MacKenzie Porter is no stranger to show business. With a country sound reminiscent of the Dixie Chicks, a debut single released in 2012 and a string of film credits under her belt, Porter is poised to launch into the limelight.

Raised on a cattle and bison ranch in Southern Alberta, Porter began studying piano, violin and voice at the young age of four. As a classically trained violinist, Porter performed for many years as a soloist and a chamber musician, performing with various symphonies. Porter’s family of musicians helped cultivate her sound and for a number of years Porter toured with a family band including her brother , 2004 winner of , before branching out to perform on her own. In 2011, Porter won the Nashville North Star competition and has recently opened for , , Trooper, the Canadian Tenors and has performed for such notables as Gene Simmons and Prime Minister Harper. She performed as part of 2011’s Capital Hoedown featuring Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney and Miranda Lambert.

Porter is also an accomplished actress and her credits include numerous feature films and television productions. She has worked with such names as Patrick Swayze, Carmen Electra, Michael Madsen, Aidan Quinn, Jason Priestley and Kim Coates. Porter was awarded the 2010 Best Actress Award at the Rosies, the Alberta Film and Television Awards, and was named one of the Top 11 Talents to Watch in British Columbia by BC Living last year.

--HALLMARK CHANNEL--