‘GOOD WITCH: TALE OF TWO HEARTS’ Cast Bios
CATHERINE BELL (Cassie) – Catherine Bell is best known for her work as the headstrong Marine Corps attorney Lt. Sarah ‘Mac’ MacKenzie on the action drama series “JAG” and in the ensemble drama series “Army Wives,” in which she portrayed Denise Sherwood on the long running Lifetime series.
Born in London, Bell moved to Los Angeles with her family at the age of three. While studying biomedical engineering at UCLA she ventured into modeling, which soon led to immediate recognition in both the United States and overseas. Building on her success as a model, she decided to pursue an acting career, which was launched soon thereafter.
Bell has built a new, loyal fan base with Hallmark Channel’s “The Good Witch” movie franchise, the most successful in network history. Starring as Cassie Nightingale, Bell completed seven original movies in the series, including “The Good Witch,” “The Good Witch’s Garden,” “The Good Witch’s Gift,” “The Good Witch’s Family,” “The Good Witch’s Charm,” “The Good Witch’s Destiny” and “The Good Witch’s Wonder.” In 2015, “The Good Witch” movie franchise transitioned into a successful television series for Hallmark. Just completed its fourth season, the popular franchise is proud to be celebrating 10 years. Bell's other TV credits include starring roles in the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries originals “Home for Christmas Day” and “Christmas in the Air,” UPtv’s “High-Rise Rescue,” Lifetime’s “Still Small Voices” and “Last Man Standing,” CBS’ “Company Town” and TNT’s “Good Morning Killer” as well as guest starring roles on “King & Maxwell” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
Bell’s feature film credits include Universal’s mega-hit Bruce Almighty opposite Jim Carrey, as well as Men of War, and Netflix’s The Do-Over alongside Adam Sandler. Most recently, Bell starred in the Hallmark Channel Original Movie “A Summer to Remember.”
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JAMES DENTON (Dr. Sam Radford) – Nashville native James Denton, who originally attended college on a basketball scholarship, wasn't bitten by the acting bug until he was 28. He landed the role of George Gibbs in a Nashville production of Our Town and got fine reviews, but thought there was a more solid career in selling advertising. He started his ad career in Tennessee and then moved to North Carolina before taking off for Chicago to risk everything to become a professional actor.
He soon was accepted as one of Chicago’s brightest stars. After earning a key role when the “Untouchables” series came to town to film, Denton was drawn to Los Angeles, where his strong theatre reputation had preceded him and he was locked in with choice turns in film, on TV and on the stage.
As one of the stars of the Golden Globe® and SAG Award-winning “Desperate Housewives,” Denton started building his Hollywood career with performances in such films as Primary Colors, Face/Off and That Old Feeling but soon, off-beat roles in adventurous TV series were claiming his time. In 1997 Denton landed the role of the eerily sociopathic Mr. Lyle on NBC’s hit drama, “The Pretender.” Two television movies followed the series’ multi-year run – “Pretender 2001” and “Pretender: The Island of the Haunted.” In 2001, Denton was cast by ABC to star opposite Kim Delaney in Steven Bochco’s “Philly,” which was critically acclaimed but short-lived. But Denton’s growing reputation quickly led to being cast in the new series “Threat Matrix” as Special Agent Jon Kilmer, a top player in this nation’s homeland security community. In addition to starring roles on TV, he has guest starred in shows such as “JAG,” “Slider,” “Dark Skies,” “Two Guys and a Girl,” “Ally McBeal,” “The West Wing” and “NCIS: New Orleans,” and had a recurring role on “Devious Maids.” His latest run of feature films includes Grace Unplugged, which was released in the fall of 2013. He was previously seen on Hallmark Channel in the original movie “Stranded in Paradise,” which premiered in summer of 2014. In July of 2016, Denton executive produced and starred in the Hallmark Channel original movie “For Love and Honor,” which also featured his son Sheppard in his television debut.
Acting obviously is serious work for the handsome and athletic star. He got his start on the stage in Chicago, his first role there was as Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire and his last was the terrorist in the French farce, Lapin, Lapin. He was a company member of the Griffin Theatre and at the Strawdog Theatre Ensemble. Denton added a steady string of roles and accolades to his quickly growing list, including one of the leads in the world premiere of Flesh and Blood, performing in and composing the music for The Night Hank Williams Died and his portrayal of Kentucky preacher C.C. Showers in The Diviners, which gained him a coveted Joseph Jefferson Best Actor nomination. For these performances, he was listed as one of Chicago’s hottest actors by Screen Magazine. In Los Angeles, Denton appeared in the premieres of Asylum at the Court Theatre, Locked Up Down Shorty’s at the Powerhouse Theatre and In Walked Monk at the Hudson Theatre.
Denton devotes a large portion of his time to Band from TV, which was formed when Greg Grunberg (“Heroes”), Hugh Laurie (“House”) and Bob Guiney (“The Bachelor”) decided to band their musical interests together to raise money for charity. The Band, which now includes Jesse Spencer (“House”), Scott Grimes (“ER,” “Band of Brothers”) and Adrian Pasdar (“Heroes”) plays several shows around the country every year to raise money for charity and since their inception BFTV has raised almost two million dollars for various causes supported by the band.
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BAILEE MADISON (Grace Russell) — A rising young star, Bailee Madison is already one of the most proficient actresses in the business, effortlessly executing both dramatic and comedic roles as well as establishing her presence in the world of philanthropy. With inherent charm, sharp intelligence and a vibrant personality, Madison is a multitalented actress who has showcased her talents across the board.
In the spring of 2017, Madison added the title of producer to her list of credits with the movie “A Cowgirl’s Story,” in which she also starred. On the big screen, she played a lead role alongside Christina Hendricks in 2018’s The Strangers: Prey at Night, the highly anticipated horror sequel to 2008’s The Strangers. Prior to this, she played the role of daughter of Marisa Tomei and the granddaughter of Bette Midler and Billy Crystal in 20th Century Fox and Walden Media’s Parental Guidance, which was released on Christmas Day in 2012, and starred as a withdrawn child haunted by insatiable demons in producer Guillermo Del Toro’s 2011 thriller Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark alongside Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce.
In 2009, Madison delivered one of the most sought out performances from a child actress under the age of 10, earning a Critics’ Choice Movie Award nomination for her work in Jim Sheridan’s film Brothers opposite Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal. She also played the young Betty Ann Waters in Fox Searchlight’s Conviction, starring Hilary Swank and Minnie Driver. Other films include Letters to God and the Hallmark Channel Original Movies “Date with Love” alongside Shenae Grimes-Beech and Andrew W. Walker, “Northpole: Open for Christmas” in which she starred with Lori Loughlin and Dermot Mulroney, “Northpole” starring Tiffani Thiessen, “A Taste of Romance” with Teri Polo, “Smart Cookies” with Patricia Richardson and “Pete’s Christmas” starring Bruce Dern. For her role in Columbia Pictures’ comedy Just Go with It, starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston, Madison earned rave reviews in an article in The Wall Street Journal titled “How 11-Year-Old Bailee Madison Stole Adam Sandler’s Movie.”
Madison also captured audiences’ hearts with her role as May Belle in Disney’s Bridge to Terabithia and left lasting impressions with her performances in the independent film Phoebe in Wonderland, starring Felicity Huffman and Elle Fanning, and on NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU.” She appeared as Maxine in Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place” and had a recurring role, playing young Snow White, in ABC’s hit series “Once Upon a Time.” Madison also starred as Hillary Harrison on ABC’s hit sitcom “Trophy Wife,” alongside Malin Akerman, Bradley Whitford, Michaela Watkins and Marcia Gay Harden and more recently, had a recurring role in the “The Fosters.”
A driven and talented young actress, Madison is equally committed to using her public profile to raise awareness for those less fortunate. Between filming major motion pictures, Madison has been devoting her time and energy to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), an organization that encourages children nationwide to raise money to find a cure for childhood cancer through running their own lemonade stands. In 2011, Variety honored Madison for her philanthropic efforts at the “Variety Power of Youth Awards,” which pay homage to the industry’s most talented young activists. In 2012, ALSF named Madison their national Youth Spokesperson.
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