‘CHRISTMAS AT THE PLAZA’ Cast Bios

ELIZABETH HENSTRIDGE (Jessica Cooper) – Born in England, Elizabeth Henstridge trained classically and worked in theatre and film before coming to Los Angeles in 2012. Before she could unpack her belongings, Henstridge booked a starring role in The CW pilot “Shelter,” produced by Bad Robot/J.J. Abrams. Currently, Henstridge plays Simmons on ABC’s “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D,” which is going into its seventh and final season. She has loved becoming a part of the Marvel family and cultivating a rabid fan base. As a bonus, she’s learned a lot of scientific jargon, which her “mum” is quite pleased about. Henstridge is also making headway on the directing path, having directed the “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” episode “As I Have Always Been,” which will air in 2020.

In addition to acting and directing, Henstridge is passionate about working with the cleft lip and palate charity Smile Train, The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Teenage Cancer America in Los Angeles.

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RYAN PAEVEY (Nick Perrelli) – A relative newcomer to the entertainment business, Ryan Paevey launched his career in December 2013, playing Detective Nathan West on ABC's longest running “General Hospital.” His character instantly became a fan favorite, spawning counterfeit social media accounts across Twitter and Facebook as well as attracting thousands of followers. Paevey spent four years on the show and his departure became one of the most mourned deaths in the history of the soap.

During his time on “General Hospital,” he also starred in two Hallmark Channel Original Movies: “Unleashing Mr. Darcy” (2016) and “Harvest Love” (2017). In 2018, he appeared in “Marrying Mr. Darcy” on the Hallmark Channel and in “Hope at Christmas” on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. His latest TV movies, “Friend to Fiancé” and “A Summer Romance,” aired recently on the Hallmark Channel and he can currently be seen in a guest arc on BET’s new drama “Games People Play.”

Born and raised in Southern California, Paevey spent most of his childhood exploring the great outdoors. Acting was never on his radar growing up and he was happiest when he was outside, camping, hiking or rock climbing. Though he’s a true outdoorsman at heart, his striking features caught the attention of a modeling agency and he started modeling on the side for extra cash while working in construction. Aside from his print work, Paevey was featured in Christina Aguilera’s music video “Your Body.”

On his days off, Paevey can be found (or, actually, not found) scouting out uncharted territories for the occasional cliff jumping session or finding other ways to satisfy his craving for thrill seeking -- sitting still is not an option. He is also a self-proclaimed nerd, loving video games and all things tech.

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BRUCE DAVISON (Reginald Brookwater) – Bruce Davison’s four-decade career has included everything from Shakespeare to “Seinfeld.” Making his professional stage debut in 1966 as Jonathan in Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Bad at the Pennsylvania Festival Theatre, he appeared on Broadway in 1968 in the role of Troilus in Tiger at the Gates at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. The following year, he was seen off-Broadway in A Home Away from Home and appeared at the Lincoln Center in the cast of King Lear.

Success in the movies came immediately for Davison after he and a trio of up-and-coming talents (Barbara Hershey, Richard Thomas and Catherine Burns) starred together in the poignant but disturbing coming-of-age film Last Summer. Following this, he was awarded a starring role opposite Kim Darby in The Strawberry Statement, an offbeat social commentary about ’60s college radicalism, and in the cult horror flick Willard in which he bonded notoriously with a herd of rats.

Moving further into the ’70s, Davison had strong roles alongside greats like Burt Lancaster in the well-made cavalry film, Ulzana's Raid, and the powerful independent film, Short Eyes. Other notable films include the musical film version of Mame, The Jerusalem File, Mother, Jugs & Speed, Grand Jury and Brass Target. Davison also earned theatrical roles in The Skin of Our Teeth, The Little Foxes and A Life in the Theatre. In 1977, he won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for his work in Streamers. On TV, he starred in mini-movie productions of “Mourning Becomes Electra,” “Deadman's Curve” (portraying Dean Torrence of the surf-era pop duo Jan and Dean) and “Summer of My German Soldier,” co-starring Kristy McNichol.

During the 1980s, Davison took over the role of the severely deformed John Merrick as The Elephant Man on Broadway; portrayed Clarence in Richard III at the New York Shakespeare Festival; was directed by Henry Fonda in The Caine Mutiny Court Martial; played a moving Tom Wingfield opposite Jessica Tandy's Amanda in The Glass Menagerie; received a second Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for his work in the AIDS play The Normal Heart; and finished off the decade gathering up fine reviews in the amusing A.R. Gurney period piece The Cocktail Hour. Other notable films from this period include, Kiss My Grits, Crimes of Passion, Spies Like Us and The Ladies Club. But it was not until he was cast in and earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for the groundbreaking gay drama Longtime Companion that his film career revitalized. After copping Golden Globe, Independent Spirit, New York Film Critics and National Society of Film Critics awards for Longtime Companion, other gay-themed films welcomed his presence, including The Cure and It's My Party. Davison eventually served as a spokesperson for a host of AIDS-related organizations, including Hollywood Supports. He is also active with foundations that help abused children.

Davison’s more popular films have included Six Degrees of Separation, starring Will Smith, the family adventure film Far from Home: The Adventures of Yellow Dog and the box-office hit X- Men as well as its sequel. His more controversial art-house showcases include, Dahmer and Hate Crime. In 1998, Davison received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his work on the CBS hit “Touched by an Angel.” In 2002, he received a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Directing in a Children’s Special for helming the TV movie “Off Season.”

Davison has also had leading roles in such series as “Harry and the Hendersons,” the revival of “Knight Rider,” “The Last Resort” and A&E’s “Those Who Kill.” His many recurring TV roles have included “The Practice,” “The L Word,” “Seinfeld,” “Kingdom,” Amazon Prime’s “Mozart in the Jungle,” “The Blindspot” and ABC Family’s “The Fosters.”

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JULIA DUFFY (Amanda Clark) – Julia Duffy made her mark in television starring as Stephanie on the classic CBS hit “,” starring . During the many years “Newhart” aired, Duffy’s reputation flourished by her earning seven Emmy nominations, five American Comedy Award nominations, three Viewers for Quality Television awards and a Golden Globe nomination.

Duffy began her career in summer stock in her hometown of before attending the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Soon after graduating, she began a four-year run as Penny on the soap opera “The Doctors” and played Juliet in a PBS production of “Romeo and Juliet.”

Recognizing Duffy’s impressive talents, the Coen brothers cast her opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones and in the Universal Studios feature Intolerable Cruelty. She also appeared in several other features, including Together Again for the First Time, Be My Baby, Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd and Charlotte’s Web 2: Wilbur’s Great Adventure.

Duffy’s television credits include UPN’s “Social Studies,” NBC’s “The Mommies,” ABC’s “Baby Talk” and the CBS hit “.” Her recent TV appearances include “The Cool Kids,” “American Housewife,” “Scream Queens” and a recurring role on HBO’s “Looking.” Duffy has also appeared in television series/miniseries, including “The Blue and the Gray,” “Kidz in the Wood,” “Children in the Crossfire,” “The Covergirl and the Cop,” “Menu for Murder” and “Sooner or Later.”

Duffy has performed in over 20 stage plays, including The Enchanted at the Kennedy Center and Once in a Lifetime on Broadway. She’s also worked in several regional theater productions in such venues as St. Louis Rep, The Huntington Theater in Boston, the Laguna Playhouse, the Pasadena Playhouse, The Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey and the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival in L.A. Duffy has also appeared Off Broadway at Playwright’s Horizons.

Duffy recently released the book Bad Auditions, a lighthearted look at her own audition room adventures. Aimed at helping and encouraging young actors, it’s available on shelves and online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

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