BROADCASTING CHRISTMAS׳ Cast Bios MELISSA JOAN HART
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‘BROADCASTING CHRISTMAS’ Cast Bios MELISSA JOAN HART (Emily) – Melissa Joan Hart has a list of credits far beyond her years. Having made her first national commercial at age 4, she is a veteran of television, film and theater. Hart is best known for her starring role in “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch,” which is in syndication around the world and inspired two “Wonderful World of Disney” movies. Recently, Melissa appeared in the feature film God’s Not Dead 2, alongside Jesse Metcalfe and Ernie Hudson. In 2015, she wrapped her 6th and final season on the ABC Family series “Melissa & Joey.” She executive produced the half-hour show along with her co-star Joey Lawrence. In 2014, Hart appeared in and directed the holiday film Santa Con. Hart first made her mark in television playing the title role in Nickelodeon’s “Clarissa Explains It All,” and has appeared in numerous other popular series, including “Just Shoot Me,” “Law and Order: SVU” and “That ’70s Show;” she also co-hosted the “American Music Awards” with Brandy. She starred in the hit ABC Family movie “Holiday in Handcuffs,” as well as many others, including “My Fake Fiance,” “The Secrets of Pine Cove,” “Dirtbags,” “Rent Control” and “Two Came Back.” On the big screen, Hart starred in the romantic comedy Drive Me Crazy, for which she won a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award. She appeared in Can’t Hardly Wait, and she starred in and executive produced the thriller Nine Dead. Hart made her Broadway debut opposite Martin Sheen in “The Crucible,” and starred opposite William Hurt and Calista Flockhart in the Circle Repertory production of “Beside Herself.” She returned to the stage to star in Nora Efron’s Off- Broadway show “Love, Loss and What I Wore.” Hart works actively for a variety of charities, most particularly those that benefit children. She currently resides in Connecticut with her husband and three sons. # # # DEAN CAIN (Charlie) – Dean Cain grew up in Malibu, CA and made his feature film debut in the critically acclaimed film The Stone Boy, which also starred Robert Duvall and Glenn Close. An athlete at heart, he attended Princeton University, and became an All-American defensive back, setting two NCAA records for interceptions. He signed with the Buffalo Bills, but a knee injury quickly ended his professional career before it began. Cain returned to acting, and is perhaps best known for his role as Superman on ABC’s “Lois & Clark.” Dean is currently starring in a number of projects, including the third season of VH1’s hit series “Hit the Floor,” recurring on the hit CBS series “Supergirl,” and hosting the third season of the CW’s “Masters of Illusion.” Dean next stars in the feature film, Gosnell, due out in early 2016. Cain has starred in more than 100 films, including the cop dramedy Best Men, with Drew Barrymore and Luke Wilson, Flight of Fancy, Dog Boys, Rag and Bone, Christmas Rush, Futuresport, and the Hallmark Hall of Fame film “The Runaway”, with Maya Angelou. He also spent a season playing Rick on the popular series “Beverly Hills 90210.” Cain was seen recurring on the Fox comedy “Don’t Trust the B in Apartment 23,” starring Krysten Ritter, and starred on NBC's competition series “Stars Earn Stripes,” which benefitted the Wounded Warrior Project (partnered with American Sniper, Chris Kyle). His feature credits include The Broken Hearts Club, Out of Time (opposite Denzel Washington), God’s Not Dead and Vendetta. He is also well-known for starring in numerous other films, television series and TV movies, including USA Network's “”The Perfect Husband: The Laci Peterson Story,” as well as memorable roles on “Las Vegas,” “Hope and Faith” and “Clubhouse.” Cain also served as host of the long-running TBS series “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!,” which he also produced. # # # CYNTHIA GIBB (Patrice) – Cynthia Gibb began her career at age 14 in New York City as a Ford model, and has had starring roles in numerous feature films, network TV series, more than 20 TV movies, and countless series guest-starring roles. Gibb starred in last year’s Hallmark Channel Original Movie “Christmas Land.” Woody Allen gave Gibb her first acting job in his film "Stardust Memories." Next was a 2-year stint on the daytime drama "Search For Tomorrow,” immediately followed by a lead in the hit TV series "Fame." Between seasons of “Fame,” Gibb starred opposite Rob Lowe and Patrick Swayze in the feature film Youngblood and in Oliver Stone's Salvador, opposite James Woods. She starred with Burt Reynolds in Malone, and in Jack’s Back, opposite James Spader. Other of Gibb’s many feature films include Death Warrant, starring with Jean-Claude Van Damme and Robert Guillaume, Short Circuit 2 and Full Frontal plus, most recently, Caged No More and Before I Sleep. She became a member of The Actor’s Studio when she starred in Lyle Kessler’s play, “Robbers.” She was highly lauded for her work in the title roles of TV movies "The Karen Carpenter Story" and CBS's "Gypsy," opposite Bette Midler, for which she received a Golden Globe nomination as Best Supporting Actor. In addition to “Fame,” she starred in the network series “Deadly Games” and “Madman of the People.” # # # JACKEE HARRY (Veronika) – Jacqueline Yvonne "Jackée" Harry, better known mononymously as Jackée, is best known for her roles as Sandra Clark, the sexy neighbor on Norman Lear’s hit TV series “227,” and as Lisa Landry on the sitcom “Sister, Sister.” Harry is the first African American to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. She recently starred as Pauletta Birdsong in Byron Allen's syndicated sitcom “The First Family,” and she also starred as Evelyn Rand in the TV series “Girl Meets World.” In 1983, she made her acting debut in “Another World” as Lily Mason, a role she continued until 1986. In 1985, Harry began co-starring with Marla Gibbs as Sandra Clark on the NBC sitcom “227,” for which she won an Emmy Award, and for which she received a Golden Globe Award nomination. Harry starred opposite Oprah Winfrey in “The Women of Brewster Place,” and in 1991, she joined the cast of “The Royal Family.” She starred in the long-running series “Sister, Sister,” and for three seasons on “Everybody Hates Chris.” Harry has guest-starred in countless episodes of popular TV Series, among them “Amen,” “Designing Women,” “American Dad,” “That’s So Raven” and “Unhappily Ever After.” Harry has appeared in more than 20 feature films, including You Got Served, Precious, The Cotton Club and Forbidden Woman. -- HALLMARK CHANNEL – .