‘MATCHMAKER SANTA’ CAST BIOS LACEY CHABERT (Melanie) - Lacey Chabert is best known for her role as Claudia on the Golden Globe® Award-winning FOX television series “Party of Five.” Chabert was seen in Warner Brother’s “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” opposite Jennifer Garner and Matthew McConaughey. She received outstanding reviews and an MTV Movie Award for her role in the box office hit “Mean Girls” from director Mark Waters. She also starred as Anjelica Huston’s daughter in “Daddy Day Care” and as Brooke Ellison in Christopher Reeve’s final directorial project, “The Brooke Ellison Story” for A&E. She most recently starred opposite Gena Rowlands in “What If God Were The Sun” for Lifetime. Originally from Purvis, Mississippi, Chabert got her big break on the Broadway stage playing young Cosette in Les Misérables. In 1998, she made her feature film debut as Penny Robinson in “Lost in Space.” On television, Chabert has appeared in “All My Children” as well as several made-for-TV movies, including “Gypsy” starring Bette Midler, “A Little Piece of Heaven” with Cloris Leachman and the Hallmark Channel Original Movie “Elevator Girl.” She has also voiced numerous animated films and TV shows, including “The Wild Thornberrys.” ### DONOVAN SCOTT (Chris) - Donovan Scott studied at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco and then went on to join the Comedia Del Arte’ Troup, where he eventually became the Artistic Director. He went on to tour the East Coast for several years directing, writing, and performing with that troupe. Eventually, Donovan Scott returned to San Francisco were he did more theatre. His theatre experiences took him to Alaska, where he opened the Alaska Repertory Theater. His next move was to San Diego, where he performed leads in three plays at The Old Globe Theater. Next stop: Los Angeles to try his hand at television and feature films. Donovan Scott has made his living as an actor in Los Angeles ever since, working with Steven Spielberg in the movie “1941,” co-starred in Robert Altman's “Popeye” with Robin Williams, starred in the “Savannah Smiles,” “Zorro the Gay Blade,” “Sheena Queen of the Jungle,” “Police Academy,” Scott also co-starred in “Back to the Future 3,” “Psycho 3” and over 30 other feature films. Donovan Scott was under contract with NBC for 5 years, starred and co-starred in a variety of television series, mostly sitcoms, including the two series “Slap Stick Studios” (a Saturday morning kids show) and co-starred for 13 weeks with the great Lucille Ball in “Life with Lucy.” He has also starred or guest starred in over 50 Television shows. Scott's illustrious repertoire also includes directing, co-writing and starring in 3 films and 2 mini-series in Russia, where he lived for five years. Scott was nominated for a Silver Bear Award in Germany for one of his television series. Since moving back to Los Angeles, he continues his work in television and films. His Santa characters can be seen in an abundance of television shows and movies for television and national commercials. (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL / ‘MATCHMAKER SANTA’ – Cast Bios – Page 2 Scott also teaches improvisation and comedy for Carolyne Barry, where in 2010 and 2011, he was voted one of the top three improvisation teachers in the Los Angeles area. Scott is about to start his second season at the ACME theatre, with his popular web comedy variety show series “Scotty and Friends,” which he writes, directs, hosts, and performs in. ### ADAM MAYFIELD (Dean Ford) - Adam recently completed two independent features. “The Preacher’s Daughter”, starring opposite Andrea Bowen, gave him the opportunity to work near his hometown of Houston. The psychological thriller, “Would You Rather” finished shooting in LA last fall and is planning a 2012 release. The tall Texas native with swagger and matinee good looks cut his teeth into acting in high school. After graduating DePaul University’s respected Theatre School in Chicago and having numerous plays and musicals under his belt, Mayfield moved to Los Angeles. He quickly got noticed and made his TV debut in David E. Kelly’s “Boston Public.” After some guest star work, Los Angeles theatre and countless commercials, Mayfield was led to New York, where he landed a contract role on ABC’s “All My Children.” Mayfield has since moved back to LA and when he’s not on set or auditioning you can find this avid outdoorsman backpacking in the hills of Angeles National Forrest, assuming he’s not camping in the Colorado Rockies. ### FLORENCE HENDERSON (Peggy) - There is a good explanation why Florence Henderson has endured as one of the most beloved American entertainers of the last six decades. Long before she became a television icon as Carol Brady of "The Brady Bunch," Florence's talent, love of performing and love of people were matched with an ethic of hard work and a curiosity to explore new dimensions. These qualities opened doors of opportunity and success soon followed in almost every genre of the performing arts. That talent, drive and determination have been a constant since she literally sang for her supper at age six in the height of the Depression in Indiana. It followed her when she arrived with suitcase in hand to try out for the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York at age 17, and in more recent times, performing on "Dancing with the Stars" at age 76 in 2010. Henderson passed her audition at the American Academy, but lasted there only for a year before a Broadway job beckoned. Henderson had mixed feelings about leaving school, but an administrator set her straight, "What, are you crazy?!! That's why you're here!” From a role in the chorus of Josh Logan's Wish You Were Here, Henderson was discovered and became a (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL / ‘MATCHMAKER SANTA’ – Cast Bios – Page 3 protégé of the legendary Rodgers and Hammerstein and embarked on the national tour of Oklahoma! in the lead role of Laurey. From there, her name was soon above the Broadway marquis in Fanny. Leading roles would follow in major productions of The Sound of Music, The Girl Who Came to Supper (Noel Coward's last play), South Pacific, and The King and I, among others. But the emerging medium of television piqued her interest, and Henderson accepted the job as the "Today Show" Girl, sitting alongside pioneering broadcaster Dave Garroway as a female anchor (and would be succeeded by Barbara Walters when she left). Henderson was also a mainstay on live performance shows like "Ed Sullivan," the "Bell Television Hour" and others. Later, her ability to match wits as well as sing made her a favorite of Dean Martin and Johnny Carson (becoming the first woman to guest host his show). Her competitive nature also came out in her love of game shows, and regular appearances on shows like "Hollywood Squares" and “Password” also reinforced her appeal as a personality. But that was all a warm up for mega-popular "The Brady Bunch," the television series that has remarkably not left the airwaves in syndication since it ceased production in 1974 after 117 episodes. Aired in over 122 countries, "The Brady Bunch" was an opportunity that Florence Henderson initially viewed as lukewarm at best. Her work between her nightclub act, stage productions and television appearances was satisfying and allowed her to balance her family life as mother of four school-aged children. The Hollywood-based production would also mean having to uproot her family from their home base in New York City. But the series about the blended family with its trademark tick tack toe opening credits hit an immediate chord with the American public. Carol Brady became one of the most popular mothers in television history, an irony given that Henderson's childhood was anything but idyllic. Born the last of ten children to a tobacco sharecropper and his wife, Henderson faced the hard consequences of poverty and deprivation at an early age. Her mother loved music and taught her how to sing fifty songs by age two. Exhausted by the difficulties of her life, her mother moved away when Henderson was twelve, leaving her with her next oldest sister and her father, who struggled with alcoholism. She had to grow up fast but singing was her saving grace. One of her best friends came from a well to do family and recognized her talent, arranging for a scholarship for theatrical studies in New York. Although loving, compassionate and forgiving about her parents and the difficulties they faced, Henderson created the mother in Carol Brady that she never had. In the aftermath of "The Brady Bunch," Florence Henderson continued to star in major theatrical productions, headline in Las Vegas and perform live at major venues around the country. (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL / ‘MATCHMAKER SANTA’ – Cast Bios – Page 4 Today, she stars in her autobiographical one woman show All the Lives of Me, which takes her audience from her hardscrabble childhood in Indiana through each chapter of her career and personal life to the present. Although she had represented General Motors as a spokesperson early in her career, Henderson also became in high demand for commercials both during and after “The Brady Bunch.” For many years, she was affiliated with Wesson Oil and Tang, among others. The Wall Street Journal recently ranked her #5 in consumer appeal among celebrity product endorsers. Today, she is the national spokesperson for Bausch & Lomb's Crystalens, the corneal lens implant she wears herself after cataract surgery. Today, Henderson maintains a non-stop work schedule and is excited at the opportunities that she is blessed to have continue come her way.