‘CHRISTMAS IN CANAAN’ CAST BIOS BILLY RAY CYRUS (Daniel Burton) – Multi-platinum recording artist Billy Ray Cyrus has sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, and earned nearly 30 chart singles, including 15 Top 40 hits, while at the same time establishing himself as a successful and respected actor in film and television. His debut album, Some Gave All, was a blockbuster success and is the longest running No. 1 country album ever, spending 34 weeks on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. Cyrus’ recent album -- 2007’s Home At Last -- entered in the Top 20 on the Billboard 200, hitting No. 3 on the Top Country Album chart, while “Ready, Set, Don’t Go” -- the moving duet with daughter Miley Cyrus -- became a Top 5 country smash. This year, Cyrus released his 11th album, Back to Tennessee, which combines his passion for blues, southern rock, bluegrass, gospel and country. The title track is also featured on “Hannah Montana: The Movie” soundtrack, which climbed to No. 1 on the country charts. Cyrus currently stars as Robby Ray Stewart, the father of Miley’s fictional character in the Disney Channel hit series “Hannah Montana.” He continued his role in “Hannah Montana: The Movie.” In addition to his role on “Hannah Montana,” Cyrus hosted NBC’s “Nashville Star.” His other television and film credits include the acclaimed movie “Mulholland Drive,” the title character in the PAX series “Doc,” the Lifetime film “Flying By,” and the runaway ABC hit “Dancing with the Stars.” Next, Cyrus can be seen in the action-comedy film “The Spy Next Door,” alongside Jackie Chan. # # # MATT WARD (Older Rodney) – In just the few years that Canadian actor Matt Ward has been acting on-screen, he has racked up an astounding number of credits. In 2006, Ward played the supporting role of Axel in the TV movie “Orpheus” and appeared in the TV movie “Fallen.” He made his feature debut as a dancer in “Kickin’ It Old Skool,” starring Jamie Kennedy, and landed a principal role in “Alien vs. Predator 2.” Ward’s other credits include “Vice,” “Sweet Amerika,” the TV movie “Under,” “Ace of Hearts,” “Another Cinderella Story,” the Nickelodeon TV movie “Spectacular!” and the Hallmark Channel Original Movie “Living Out Loud.” He has also appeared in episodes of “Exes & Ohs” and “The L Word.” Also a professionally skilled hip-hop performer and breakdancer, Ward started off performing on concert tours throughout Canada. Among his many dance credits are the Canadian tours of Sean Paul, Snoop Dogg and Ludacris. Ward also choreographed for McDonalds’ “I’m Lovin’ It” campaign and hosted dance parties for MuchMusic. In addition, he has starred in a number of commercials, including ones for such major companies as Comcast, Kyocera, Verizon Wireless and Nokia. Ward also danced in a network promo for the Sci-Fi Channel. (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL / ‘CHRISTMAS IN CANAAN’ – Cast Bios – Page 2 Ward can be seen in the 2009 feature “Lullaby for Pi” and “Tooth Fairy,” starring Dwayne Johnson and Julie Andrews, scheduled for a 2010 release. In addition to acting and dancing, Ward is a skilled gymnast and singer. He also plays the guitar and piano and is a multi-talented athlete. ### JACOB BLAIR (Older DJ) – Now a seasoned actor, Jacob Blair has come far from the pig farm he grew up on in Ponoka, Alberta, Canada. The youngest of three children, Blair moved with his family to Red Deer, Alberta, where he excelled in academics and sports through high school. After studying at Red Deer College, he moved to Vancouver to pursue an acting career, and in 2007, he graduated from the theater program of Studio 58 at Langara College. During his time at Studio 58, Blair performed in numerous stage productions, including You Can’t Take it with You, A Perfect Wedding and Guys and Dolls. While there he also performed in his self directed, one-man show Murphy’s Law…In F Major. Blair soon made the shift from stage to screen. After appearing in TV episodes of “Bionic Woman” and “Battlestar Galactica: Razor Flashbacks,” he landed a role in the TV movie “Battlestar Galactica: Razor.” Blair also had a recurring role as Dan Archer, the popular quarterback, in the CW’s “Aliens in America.” In addition to appearances in the six-time Emmy® nominated TV movie “The Andromeda Strain,” starring Benjamin Bratt, and the 2008 remake of “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” Blair adds to his resume a lead role in the 2009 feature “Deep Cove,” as well as supporting roles in “Smokin’ Aces: Blowback” and “Hot Tub Time Machine,” both scheduled for release in 2010. An accomplished musician, Blair studies music theory and plays classical guitar, bass and piano. He currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. ### JAISHON FISHER (Young Rodney) – At the tender age of two, Jaishon Fisher launched his acting career with a re-occuring role on Aaron Spelling’s Lifetime show, “Any Day Now,” as Victor, Lorraine Toussiant’s nephew. Fisher began appearing in several national commercials such as Pilsbury, Lincoln Mercury, McDonalds, K-Mart, Tyson and a Clio Award-winning Disney World commercial. He then moved on to roles on hit shows such as “ER,” “All of Us,” “The District” and “That’s So Raven.” Additional credits include a reoccuring role on “All About the Andersons,” a part in “The Great Debaters,” voiceover work on Disney’s “Stanley” and the animated film “The Ant Bully.” (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL / ‘CHRISTMAS IN CANAAN’ – Cast Bios – Page 3 Fisher’s feature debut began when he played the son of Samuel L. Jackson in Screen Gems’ thriller “Lakeview Terrace,” produced by Will Smith & James Lassiter for Overbrook Entertainment. To follow up this No. 1 box office hit, Fisher landed the coveted role of Young Bennie Carson in “Gifted Hands – The Ben Carson Story,” based on the life of Dr. Ben Carson. In the film, he portrays a troubled kid from the inner city who transforms his life with the love and encouragement of his mother, played by Kimberly Elise. ### ZAK LUDWIG (Young DJ) – Having trained at the Canadian Academy of the Performing Arts and starred both on stage and in nationally televised Canadian commercials, young performer Zak Ludwig brings with him an impressive resume for a performer as young as he is. The 12- year-old actor has also been recognized internationally for his singing abilities, winning the Promising Voice Student Award at the 2009 Kiwanis International Music Festival. In 2005, Ludwig co-starred as Young Scrooge in the TV movie “Chasing Christmas,” starring Tom Arnold. Soon after, he was seen in the feature “Slither,” which was nominated for a 2007 Saturn Award for Best Horror Film, and in the film “Martian Child,” starring John Cusack. Ludwig also starred in the TV movies “Amber’s Story” and “Anna’s Storm,” and has appeared in such popular series as “Dead Zone” and “Supernatural,” along with a recurring role in SyFy’s original series “Eureka.” Aside from acting and singing, Ludwig enjoys reading, swimming, skiing, break dancing and playing the guitar. The young star also has a purple belt in Tae Kwan Do. ### EMILY TENNANT (Older Sarah) – Even before attending Delta Secondary School in British Columbia, Canada, and landing lead roles in two of the school’s productions, it was obvious that Vancouver native Emily Tennant was meant for the stage and screen. In 2000, she made her debut as a lead in the CBS TV movie “Personally Yours,” and soon landed a number of other roles, including an appearance in an episode of the Golden Globe nominated “Dark Angel,” and a recurring role on Stephen King’s drama series, “Kingdom Hospital.” She starred alongside C. Thomas Howell in the TV movie “Killer Bees!” and as the younger version of Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Daphne in “Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed.” Tennant has appeared in such films as Warner Brothers’ “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” “John Tucker Must Die” and the Oscar-winning “Juno.” She also played lead roles in the TV movies “Destination: Infestation” and “Riddles of the Sphinx,” both for director George Mendeluk with Insight Films, and in 2008, she starred in the short “Valentines,” for which she won a Leo Award for Best Performance by a Female in a Short Drama. (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL / ‘CHRISTMAS IN CANAAN’ – Cast Bios – Page 4 This year, Tennant had a lead role in “Zombie Punch” and a part in “Frankie & Alice,” alongside Halle Berry. The well-established young star will next play Amy Walker in “Flicka 2,” the sequel to the 2006 hit which starred Tim McGraw. ### JESSICA MCLEOD (Young Sarah) – Jessica McLeod’s first claim to fame was not acting, but swimming. McLeod is a Provincial Open Water Medalist, having swum competitively for six years, and in 2006, she was one of only two girls under 10 to qualify for the Provincial AAA Championships in British Columbia. The young athlete is also an active dancer and gymnast, as well as a trained singer. Not one to sit on the sidelines, McLeod is also furthering her acting career, performing with the improv group Spilt Milk Comedy Theatre and training at the Screen Actor’s Studio. She appeared in the 2005 feature “Fetching Cody,” starring Jay Baruchel, alongside Anna Faris in “Scary Movie 4” and “Things We Lost in the Fire,” starring Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro. McLeod also starred in the TV movie “Tornado Valley” and in Warner Brothers’ comedy feature “Mr. Troop Mom,” starring George Lopez. McCleod lives in Victoria, British Columbia with her mother and two cats, Cherry and Welli. # # # TOM HEATON (Wylie) – Perhaps best known for his lead role in the 2000 heist film “Reindeer Games,” starring alongside Ben Affleck, Tom Heaton has been in the entertainment industry for more than four decades.