‘LOVE’S CHRISTMAS JOURNEY’ CAST BIOS SEAN ASTIN (Mayor William Wayne) – Sean Astin is one of Hollywood's most respected young actors with a distinctive list of projects and credits. Astin starred as beloved Sam Gamgee in the Academy Award®-winning "The Lord of the Rings Trilogy." The three films have grossed over $3 billion worldwide and have entered the history books of classic cinema. Astin has just recently signed up for Nickelodeon‟s re-launch of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” He will lend his voice to Raphael in the latest animated incarnation of the hugely successful franchise which premieres in fall 2012. Currently, he is lending his voice to Playhouse Disney‟s “Special Agent Oso.” Astin stars as a lovable, bumbling special agent-in-training who enlists viewers at home to help complete his missions. Premiering fall 2011, Astin heads an all star cast in “And They‟re Off,” an independent comedy about thoroughbred horseracing that also stars Kevin Nealon, Cheri Oteri and Martin Mull. Astin also has two other comedies in the can: “Stay Cool” about an older man‟s homecoming whose cast includes Winona Ryder, Chevy Chase, Hillary Duff and more, and “Demoted” in which Astin plays a mean-spirited prank whose victim becomes his boss. Adding to his seemingly boundless list of occupations, Astin released his acting memoir titled There and Back Again: An Actor's Tale. The book opened at #1 on the New York Times Best- seller list, putting him on the map as a true literary story-teller as well as the unabashed screen actor audiences fall in love with again and again. Published by St. Martin's Press and co-written with Joe Layden, the book is a very personal exploration of Astin's prestigious career, from his first big role as Mikey in Warner Bros. classic "The Goonies" through the 18 month arduous challenge of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy shoot. Astin had a very successful run as Lynn McGill in Fox's hit series "24." He was most recently seen in the British miniseries “The Color of Magic,” opposite Tim Curry. He also starred in the Steven Spielberg produced miniseries "Into the West," about the white man's expansion into western America. He was seen in NBC's four-hour miniseries "Hercules," from Hallmark Entertainment. Astin played Linus, Hercules' music teacher, starring alongside Leelee Sobieski, Timothy Dalton and British newcomer Paul Tefler in the title role. Astin also starred alongside his mother, Patty Duke, in the romantic comedy "Bigger Than the Sky." Even with the busy schedule that his film career demands, Astin makes special time for his passion as a very involved public servant. He was invited to Washington, D.C. where his mother presented him with the Creative Coalition's prestigious Spotlight Award for his contributions to their cause. The coalition focuses on bridging the gap between Hollywood and Washington, with members meeting White House staffers to raise money for art programs in schools and promote art awareness in children around the country. Astin is also an adamant (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL/ ‘LOVE’S CHRISTMAS JOURNEY’ – Cast Bios – Page 2 animal rights advocate. He attended the Genesis Awards in Beverly Hills, presenting an award to the Genesis Guest of Honor, Virginia McKenna. Since 1995, Astin has been the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army. He is also an active supporter of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and The Wildlife Waystation. He recently took an oath of office with the White House Chief of Staff to serve on The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, working alongside such prominent public figures as Senator Bob Dole and Astronaut John Glenn. The mission of the council is to recognize and encourage outstanding volunteer service and civic participation by individuals, schools and organizations thereby encouraging more such activity, especially on the part of America's youth. Last fall, Astin partnered with Verizon as the Verizon Literacy Champion benefiting the National Center for Family Literacy. In this position, he assists the NCFL in speaking out for family literacy issues across the country but closer to home; he greatly appreciates the importance, enormous benefit and simple joy that come from teaching his own children to read. Astin is also a promising director. He directed a short film called "The Long and Short of It" which was featured at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. This short was shot on the set of "Lord of the Rings" and features cast and crew from the film. In 1994, he received an Academy Award® nomination and won a Jury Prize at the Texas Film Festival for his short film "Kangaroo Court," which he co-produced with his wife Christine. In addition to this short film, Astin has also directed an episode of the television hit "Angel," and an episode for the HBO anthology "Perversions of Science." Astin is well known for playing the title role in the critically acclaimed "Rudy" and for his feature debut in "The Goonies." His other film credits include “The Final Season,” “What Love Is,” "Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School," which received critical praise at last year's Sundance Film Festival, “Click,” 50 First Dates," "Bulworth," "Smile," "Courage Under Fire," "Memphis Belle," "Encino Man," "Like Father Like Son," "Where the Day Takes You," "Staying Together," "War of the Roses" and "Safe Passage." He has also been seen in several independent movies, including "Deterrence," "Kimberly," "The Last Producer" and "Boy Meets Girl." Astin has earned a degree in History/American Literature and Culture from UCLA. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife and their three daughters. ### ERNEST BORGNINE (Nicholas) – Ernest Borgnine‟s parents emigrated from Italy to Hamden, Connecticut, where he was born on January 24, 1917. His mother took him back to Italy when he was two, but several years later they returned to Connecticut, this time New Haven, where he completed his education through high school. From high school, he went into the Navy, starting out at the bottom and coming out 10 years later as a Gunner‟s Mate 1st Class. (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL/ ‘LOVE’S CHRISTMAS JOURNEY’ – Cast Bios – Page 3 Once he had his land legs back, Borgnine enrolled in the Randall School of Dramatic Arts in Hartford. From there, he broke into the professional ranks at the famous Barter Theatre in Virginia, where he painted scenery and drove a truck in addition to acting. When Borgnine made his Broadway debut as the hospital attendant in Harvey, his career was officially underway. He made a motion picture with the famed Louis de Rouchemont, “Whistle at Eaton Falls,” and then, still in New York, he did more than 200 live television performances including such masterworks as “G. E. Theatre” and “Philco Playhouse.” In the film “From Here to Eternity,” Borgnine played the brutal stockade Sergeant Fatso Judson and went on to become famous around the world for his Oscar®-winning portrayal of the Bronx butcher in “Marty.” Since then, he has done dozens of films for features and television. His favorites include “The Catered Affair” with Bette Davis and the classic “Bad Day at Black Rock.” In the 1960s, “McHale‟s Navy” set a standard for broad comedy and ensemble work. Later, as Dominic Santini on “Airwolf” for three seasons, Borgnine brought a reality to his role that few actors could equal. In the 90s, he added his own brand of humor as the doorman in “The Single Guy.” His staggering number of film roles has made Borgnine something of an icon in the motion picture community. Titles like “The Vikings,” “Torpedo Run,” “Ice Station Zebra,” “Wild Bunch,” “Flight of the Phoenix,” “The Dirty Dozen” and “The Poseidon Adventure” give only a sample of the dozens of films he has starred in. In the animation field, Borgnine can be heard on the Nickelodeon hit, “Spongebob Squarepants.” Borgnine launched his eighties by portraying the legendary J. Edgar Hoover in a one-man feature motion picture, “Hoover.” He followed that with appearances on “JAG,” “Early Edition,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” “Touched By An Angel,” “7th Heaven,” “Family Law” and “The District.” In 2002 he celebrated his continuing good health by mounting a horse to ride in the Western feature, “Long Ride Home.” In 2004, at 87 years young, Borgnine guest-starred in the Hallmark Channel Original Movie, “Trail to Hope Rose,” in which he drove a team of horses. For that role, he received the Wrangler Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. In 2005 he was featured in an Adam Sandler picture, “Strange Wilderness.” Turning 90, he starred in the Hallmark Channel Original Movie, “A Grandpa for Christmas,” for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe. After that, he was in another western for the ION Channel called “Aces „N Eights.” His autobiography, Ernie, hit the shelves in the summer of 2008. Most recently, Borgnine starred opposite Doris Roberts in “Another Harvest Moon,” Bruce Willis and Helen Mirren in “Red,” lent his voice to the animated film, “The Lion of Judah” and starred in another Hallmark Channel Original Movie, “The Wishing Well.” (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL/ ‘LOVE’S CHRISTMAS JOURNEY’ – Cast Bios – Page 4 Borgnine has received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from three separate institutions. He has also been recognized for his support of the Navy Memorial Fund with the Lone Sailor Award from the Memorial Foundation, and he is an Honorary Chief Petty Officer with the Navy Chiefs. He was elected Veteran of the Year 2000 by the Veteran‟s Foundation, and was honored in May 2001 for a lifetime of artistic achievement by the National Film Theater of Great Britain.