‘THE THANKSGIVING HOUSE’

CAST BIOS

EMILY ROSE (Mary Ross) — Emily Rose has become one of television’s fastest rising young stars with an already impressive and diverse body of work. Rose returned for another season as the star of Syfy’s hit supernatural drama series, “Haven,” based on the novella The Colorado Kid from renowned author Stephen King. Rose stars as Audrey Parker, the shrewd and confident FBI agent who continues to navigate the unpredictable and often treacherous town of Haven, that doubles as a refuge for people that are afflicted with a remarkable range of supernatural abilities.

Rose’s other television credits include NBC’s “E.R.” as Dr. Tracy Martin, ABC’s hit drama series “Brother & Sisters” as Lena Branigan, CBS’s “Jericho” as Trish Merrick and David Milch’s HBO series “John from Cincinnati” as Cass. Additional television credits include the USA pilot “Operating Instructions” and guest starring roles in ABC’s “Private Practice,” CBS’s “Two and a Half Men,” “Without a Trace” and “Cold Case.” Rose also has a cult following for her role in the extraordinarily popular video game franchise “Uncharted,” for which she voices and portrays the game’s heroine, Elena Fisher.

Rose received her undergraduate degree in theatrical arts from Vanguard University in Orange County, California and went on to study Shakespeare in Oxford, England at the British American Drama Academy. She continued her studies at UCLA, where she received her MFA in acting.

While at UCLA, Rose was an active participant in Arts Bridge America, a program which fights to keep arts education in public schools and also taught at the UCLA summer Youth Performance Conservatory. She has participated in master classes with Tim Robbins, Henry Goodman, Helen Hunt and Annette Bening. Her theatrical roles include Sylvia in I Gelosi, Dorine in Tartuffe and Beth in Wounded with the Los Angeles Theater Ensemble.

Rose currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Dairek and a miniature schnauzer.

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JUSTIN BRUENING (Everett Mather) — Originally from a small town in Nebraska, with a population of 85 people, Justin Bruening graduated high school with the other nine members of his class. Following graduation, Bruening moved to San Diego and was discovered at a local McDonald's by a modeling agent. Next came his first modeling job in an Abercrombie & Fitch campaign shot by renowned photographer, Bruce Weber. Soon after, he began to study acting and was noticed by the casting director at “All My Children.” He joined the cast in July 2003, playing the contract role of Jamie Martin. While working on ABC’s “All My Children,” Bruening made multiple television guest appearances and gave a memorable performance in the festival favorite “Fat Girls.” He was also featured as one of Daytime’s Hottest Stars in Teen People, Us Weekly, Star and J-14 magazines.

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A mere two months after leaving “All My Children,” Bruening landed the coveted lead role in NBC’s “Knight Rider” remake. He was also tapped to breathe new life into the iconic character, Steve Trevor in David E. Kelley’s “Wonder Woman” reboot for NBC. In addition, he has made numerous television appearances including recurring roles on ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” ABC Family’s “Switched at Birth” and CW’s “Ringer.” Bruening has also starred in various television movies including Hallmark Channel Original Movie “Class” and Lifetime’s “The March Sisters at Christmas” and “Blue Eyed Butcher.”

Bruening and his wife actress Alexa Havin currently live in the suburbs of Los Angeles with their children.

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BRUCE BOXLEITNER (Parker Mather) -- Bruce Boxleitner has starred in a major motion picture franchise, numerous feature films, several popular television series, produced a major network film and TV series, performed on Broadway and authored two science fiction novels. Most recently Boxleitner joined the cast of Hallmark Channel’s first-ever primetime series, “Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove,” starring opposite Andie MacDowell.

Boxleitner received his formal acting training on stage. A native mid-westerner, he is an alumnus of Chicago’s prestigious Goodman Theatre. In 1972, he starred in the Broadway production of Status Quo Vadis with Ted Danson. He then re-located to Los Angeles and quickly landed a guest spot on the legendary television series “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” as well as numerous guest roles on series including “Hawaii 5-0,” “Beretta,” “Police Woman” and “Gunsmoke.”

Boxleitner’s big break occurred when he was cast opposite James Arness in the pilot for the epic TV series “How the West Was Won.” He went on to star in the CBS series “Bring ‘Em Back Alive,” mini-series “East of Eden” and television movie “The Last Convertible.”

In 1982, Boxleitner was cast as the title role in Disney’s cult film “TRON” which garnered him sci-fi fans worldwide. However, it was in Boxleitner’s four-year run for CBS’s “Scarecrow and Mrs. King,” starring opposite Kate Jackson, which endeared him to fans everywhere and made him a household name.

In 1994, Boxleitner joined the cast of the popular TV series “Babylon 5” as John Sheridan, President of the Interstellar Alliance, a war hero-turned-diplomat at the helm of Earth Alliance Space Station in the year 2259. The show aired for five seasons.

Boxleitner most recently starred with Jeff Bridges in “TRON: Legacy,” the popular motion picture sequel to “TRON.” The cast included Garret Hedlund and Olivia Wilde. In addition, Boxleitner reprised his role in “TRON: Uprising” on Disney’s XD TV network, his first animated television series. The multi-talented cast includes Elijah Wood, Mandy Moore, Lance Henriksen, and Paul Reubens. The original “TRON” recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.

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Boxleitner has appeared in several motion pictures include “Gods and Generals” with Robert Duvall, Jeff Daniels, Stephen Lang and Mira Sorvino, “The Babe” with John Goodman and Kelly McGillis, “Kuffs” with Christian Slater and “The Baltimore Bullet” with James Coburn.

Boxleitner’s numerous television movie credits include “The Secret” with Kirk Douglas, “Perfect Family” with Jennifer O’Neal and Joanna Cassidy, “Double Jeopardy” with Rachel Ward, Sally Kirkland and Sela Ward, “Passion Flower” with Barbara Hershey and Nicol Williamson and Hallmark Channel Original Movies, “Love’s Resounding Courage” and “Falling in Love with the Girl Next Door,” among many others.

The veteran actor has appeared in numerous recurring roles on television series including “GCB” and “Heroes” and has guest-starred on “NCIS” and “Chuck,” among others.

A skilled horseman, Boxleitner utilized his talents in numerous Western TV series and films including “The Gambler” television movie series that aired on CBS and NBC, starring opposite Kenny Rogers, “Gunsmoke V: One Man’s Justice” with James Arness (Arness’ final film), the CBS remake of “Red River” with Gregory Harrison, James Arness and Laura Johnson, “Wyatt Earp: Return to Tombstone” with Hugh O’Brian and “Down the Long Hills,” based on legendary western author Louis L’Amour’s novel of the same name.

Boxleitner was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City in April 2012 honoring him for his illustrious career in western films. He is a two-time recipient of the Wrangler Award.

In 1999, Boxleitner authored Frontier Earth and in 2001, its sequel Frontier Earth: Searcher, published by The Berkley Publishing Group.

Bruce Boxleitner currently resides in Los Angeles and has three sons: Sam, Lee and Michael.

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LINDSAY WAGNER (Abigail Mather) — Lindsay Wagner first came to prominence in the critically acclaimed role of Susan Fields in Twentieth Century Fox’s “The Paper Chase.” She received worldwide household recognition, however, she broke the mold for women on television with her iconic portrayal of Jaime Sommers in ABC’s “The Bionic Woman.” Wagner won an Emmy® for Best Actress in a Dramatic Role for her work on this sci-fi hit. In 2010, Wagner returned to her sci-fi roots with a recurring role as Dr. Vanessa Calder on Syfy channel’s hit series “Warehouse 13.”

Wagner has starred in over 40 films. As a result of the volume of her successful television movie productions, she is often referred to as the “Queen of T.V. Movies.” Her television movie

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HALLMARK CHANNEL/ ‘THE THANKSGIVING HOUSE’ – Cast Bios – Page 4 work includes starring roles in Hallmark Channel Original Movie “Thicker than Water” alongside Melissa Gilbert, The Family Channel’s “Voyage of Terror,” Lifetime’s “Four Extraordinary Women” and “Their Second Chance” and CBS’s “A Mother’s Instinct,” along with narrating ABC’s “Scruples.”

In addition to her Best Actress Emmy® for “The Bionic Woman,” Wagner was given a Genii award as Performer of the Year in 1985. Most recently, the Palm Springs Walk of Stars dedicated a Golden Palm Star to her.

Off screen Wagner is passionate about the study and sharing of holistic health, which integrates mind, body and spirit. From 2003-2006, in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Wagner co-facilitated a counseling group for men convicted of family violence and their families. She has co-authored a best-selling vegetarian cookbook, The High Road to Health, in addition to Lindsay Wagner's New Beauty: The Acupressure Facelift and released a meditation CD, “Open to Oneness.” Lindsay Wagner has become sought after as a keynote speaker and is enjoying mentoring younger actors and teaching acting and camera technique.

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JACK SCALIA (John Ross) — Emmy® Award nominated Jack Scalia is a Brooklyn native of Italian and Irish decent. He began his illustrious career as pro-baseball player and then a high profile male model. He joined the Ford Modeling Agency becoming the popular “Jordache Jeans Man.” The success of his modeling career soon made Scalia particularly desirable to many casting directors. His first role was starring opposite Rock Hudson, Suzanne Pleshette and Melanie Griffith in “Star Maker.”

Scalia’s success as an actor continues decades later. He has starred in a near record thirteen television series, including NBC’s “The Devlin Connection” with Rock Hudson and “Berrenger’s,” ABC’s “Hollywood Beat” and “Remington Steele,” PTN’s “Pointman” and CBS’s “Wolf,” “Dallas” and “Tequila & Bonetti.”

In 2002, Scalia received an Emmy® Award nomination in the Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category for his portrayal of Chris Stamp opposite Susan Lucci on ABC’s “All My Children.” He also landed roles in high profile miniseries such as Judith Krantz’s “I’ll Take Manhattan” and Jackie Collins’ “Lady Boss,” for which he was nominated for the Critics Award for Best Actor in a Miniseries. Scalia’s other credits include Barbara Taylor Bradford’s “Everything to Gain,” “Deadly Desire,” “Fear City” opposite Tom Berenger and Melanie Griffith, “Hollywood Wives-The New Generation” opposite Farrah Fawcett and the role of the controversial Joey Buttafuco opposite Alyssa Milano in CBS's “Casualty of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story.” “Illicit Behavior,” “Shattered Image” opposite Bo Derek, which Jack directed and “Follow Your Heart,” “T-Force” and “Silencers,” produced by Scalia’s own production company also followed, adding to an already impressive resume.

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A career high was starring as the lead in a Pulitzer nominated play Red River Rats, written and directed by John Piepilow (“Strangeland”) which drew rave reviews from Hollywood Reporter and Variety. Most recently, Scalia starred in Wes Craven’s “Red-Eye” and in “End Game” opposite Cuba Gooding, Jr. and James Woods.

Scalia also starred in recent independent film festival favorites, such as “Exit” (Plantinum Award Winner at the Houston International Film Festival) and “Taylor” (New York International Independent Film and Video Festival). Scalia recently guest starred on NBC’s “Parks & Recreation.”

Scalia currently resides in Los Angeles and has two daughters, Olivia and Jacqueline.

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ADAM KAUFMAN (Rick Allen) — Perhaps best known for his role as Charlie Keys in Steven Spielberg’s miniseries “Taken” on the Syfy Channel, Adam Kaufman has garnered credits spanning film, television shows and television movies. He made his first television appearance in “Brookfield” in 1999 and has appeared on television and in films regularly since that time.

Kaufman has become a notable mainstay in television movies. His work in this medium includes roles on Lifetime’s “Lying to be Perfect,” ABC Family’s “Hello Sister, Goodbye Life,” Hallmark Channel Original Movie “Perfectly Prudence” and Hallmark Hall of Fame’s “Loving Leah.”

Kaufman’s myriad television appearances include a recurring role on CBS’s “Without a Trace” and guest starring roles on The CW’s “90210” and “Melrose Place,” CBS’s “Hawaii Five-0,” “NCIS” “CSI: Miami” and “CSI: NY,” USA’s “Monk,” AMC’s “Mad Men” and NBC’s “Law & Order” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”

Kaufman studied drama at Lynchburg College, the Circle in the Square Theatre School and at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Theater Institute.

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CERINA VINCENT (Ashleigh Mulligan) — Cerina Vincent got her first big break on the hit FOX children’s series “Power Rangers Lost Galaxy” as Maya, the Yellow Ranger. She quickly went from a TV super hero to a silver screen sex symbol after her Saturn Award Nominated performance in Lions Gate’s horror sensation “Cabin Fever” and her daring, comedic role in Columbia Pictures’ “Not Another Teen Movie.” World renowned as a “scream queen,” horror fans also love her in “Return to House on Haunted Hill,” “It Waits” and other genre favorites, such as David Lynch’s “Darkened Room.” Vincent was the charming lead in Roadside Attractions romantic comedy “Everybody Wants to be Italian” and most recently the title character in the action thriller “MoniKa.”

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In addition to starring in many indie dramas and comedies, Vincent has made dozens of television appearances. She has guest starred on many hit shows including CBS’s “Two and a Half Men,” “Mike & Molly,” “Gary Unmarried” and “CSI” and Fox’s “Bones.” Vincent also starred in the companion web series for AMC’s “The Walking Dead.”

Vincent is also a celebrated non-fiction writer. She co-wrote three books published by Harper Collins: the best-selling How to Eat Like a Hot Chick, How to Love Like a Hot Chick and How to Live Like a Hot Chick. From the success of her books, Vincent is known as a “lifestyle expert” and has appeared dozens of times on the “Today Show,” giving her irreverent yet inspiring advice.

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