CAST BIOS TORI SPELLING (Carol Cartman) – Tori Spelling is a versatile actress whose career spans film, television and theatre. Spelling most recently starred in the VHI series “So NoTORIous” loosely based on the actress’ life. She also starred in the Los Angeles stage production of the highly acclaimed “Maybe Baby, It’s You.” In the two-person show, Spelling portrayed 11 different characters. Spelling, who portrayed Donna Martin on the FOX cornerstone series “Beverly Hills, 90210,” starred in “Scary Movie 2,” the sequel to the 2000 blockbuster smash. She also just completed production on the independent feature “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” opposite Poppy Montgomery and Fred Willard. Spelling received critical praise for her performance in the Fine Line Features’ comedy “Trick,” playing an aspiring actress who is constantly coming between her best friend (Christian Campbell) and his potential hunky one-night stand. Her additional feature credits include a cameo in “Scream 2” and a starring role in the Miramax comedy-drama “The House of Yes.” In the film, Spelling garnered kudos for her portrayal of a young college student who meets her fiancée’s dysfunctional family over a stormy Thanksgiving weekend. Recognized for her outstanding dedication and support to many charities, Spelling received the Youth Leadership Award from Washington D.C.’s Holocaust Memorial Museum. She also lends her support to the Dream Foundation, a charitable organization that helps terminally ill adults fulfill their dreams. Spelling is married and resides in Los Angeles. # # # (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL / “A Carol Christmas” Cast Bios – Page 2 DINAH MANOFF (Marla Jacobs) – Dinah Manoff is an accomplished stage actress. Her Broadway credits include “Leader of the Pack” and Neil Simon’s “I Ought To Be In Pictures,” for which she won a Tony Award for Best Actress in 1980. Manoff’s other theatrical credits include “Alfred and Victoria” at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, “Kingdom of Earth” at Theatre West, “The Last Survivor” at the Mark Taper Forum and “Rose and Walsh” at the Geffen Playhouse. In addition to starring in “Telegrams from Heaven,” she wrote the play and earned the Dramalogue Award as Best Director of the Year in 1993. Manoff is perhaps best known for her starring role in the long-running sitcom “Empty Nest.” She was also a regular on “State of Grace” and the landmark series “Soap,” had multiple appearances on “Cybill,” and guest-starred on “Touched by an Angel,” “The Outer Limits,” “George & Leo.” Her television movie credits include “Celebrity,” “Maid for Each Other,” which she also wrote, “Babies,” “The Cover Girl and the Cop,” “Flight 90,” “A Matter of Sex,” “The Seduction of Gina,” “For Ladies Only,” “Raid on Entebbe” and the Hallmark Hall of Fame production, “Looking for Lost Bird.” On film, in addition to reprising her role in “I Ought To Be In Pictures,” Manoff has appeared in “Grease,” “Ordinary People,” “Backfire,” “Child’s Play,” “Bloodhounds of Broadway,” “Staying Together,” Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael” and “The Amati Girls.” Manoff is the mother of twin boys born in 2002 and the daughter of respected actor/director Lee Grant. # # # NINA SIEMASZKO (Roberta Timmons) – Nina Siemaszko is certainly no stranger to the story of “A Carol Christmas,” having starred in a version of “A Christmas Carol” mounted at the prestigious Goodman Theatre. Among her other stage credits are “The Sound of Music,” “A Cry of Players” and a number of Polish-spoken productions at the RefRen Theatre. On television, Siemaszko currently stars in the Hallmark Channel Original Mystery Movie Franchise, MYSTERY WOMAN. She also had a recurring role as one of the President’s daughters on “The West Wing” and has guest starred on such series as “Philly,” “The Guardian,” “NYPD Blue” and “Chicago Hope.” She starred in the after school special “Nothing But Sun: Children of the Holocaust,” the TV movies “Lonesome Dove,” “More Tales of the City,” “Breast Men,” “An Enemy of the People” and “Stolen Hearts,” and the miniseries “Sinatra.” Among her numerous feature film credits are “The Big Tease,” “Jakob the Liar,” “The Long Way Home,” “Suicide Kings,” “Goodbye Lover,” “The American President,” “Airheads,” “Little Noises,” “Bed and Breakfast,” Lost Angels” and “Tucker.” # # # (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL / “A Carol Christmas” Cast Bios – Page 3 JASON BROOKS (John Joyce) – Jason Brooks began his career with his memorable portrayal of Peter Blake on “Days of Our Lives,” which won him the Soap Opera Award for Best Villain. Brooks then appeared in many guest-starring roles and also starred in numerous movies for television including: “Alibi,” “Three Secrets” and the pilot, “The Darwin Conspiracy.” Next, while appearing on the series “The Pretender,” Brooks was offered the lead role of Sean Monroe in “Baywatch Hawaii.” After two years of shooting on location, Brooks returned to Los Angeles where he has starred in independent feature films including the award-winning “The Rose Technique.” He starred in the original play “Johnny on the Spot” to rave reviews at the Matrix Theater before appearing opposite Jeff Goldblum in the television film “War Stories.” Brooks recently completed guest-starring roles on the hit dramas “Dragnet” and “The Practice.” # # # GARY COLEMAN (Ghost of Christmas Past) – Gary Coleman unveiled his gubernatorial candidacy and officially announced his run for governor of California in 2003. Coleman posted a total of 12,500 votes, placing seventh in a field of 135 candidates. Coleman’s portrayal of the mischievous, wise-cracking Arnold in the long-running hit TV sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" made him an instant superstar around the globe. Born February 8th in Zion, Illinois, Coleman began his career at age six as an energetic model in children’s fashion shows and print ads in Chicago, resulting from a letter of request from the bold youngster to a local department store manager to join other kids on the runway. Numerous commercials followed which, ultimately, garnered the attention of renowned producer Norman Lear. For his work on “Diff’rent Strokes,” Coleman earned four People’s Choice Awards, an NAACP Image Award and numerous other honors. Coleman made his network television debut at age eight on the popular daytime serial “The Edge of Night.” He continued with numerous appearances on many other favorite shows, appeared in and produced numerous movies for television, produced his own cartoon series during the mid-‘80s, “The Kid With The Broken Halo,” spun from his movie of the same name and voiced the character of “Kenny Falmouth” on LucasArts’ CD-ROM game entitled “The Curse of Monkey Island.” Coleman returned to Hollywood after a self-imposed exile to the outskirts of Denver, Colorado, where he explored his love of music by hosting “Gary Coleman’s Colorado High,” his own Sunday night radio show for Denver’s light rock/jazz WAVE affiliate, KHIH-FM. His other interests include four-wheel off-roading, computers, video games, bowling, and writing when he is afforded a respite. # # # (more) HALLMARK CHANNEL / “A Carol Christmas” Cast Bios – Page 4 WILLIAM SHATNER (Dr. Bill) – William Shatner is one of the best-known film and television actors in the world. The two-time Emmy® Award and Golden Globe Award winner is currently scene in ABC’s hit series, “Boston Legal.” His most recent credits also include the hit movie “Showtime” with Robert DeNiro and Eddie Murphy; “Miss Congeniality” with Sandra Bullock and Michael Caine; NBC’s “Third Rock from the Sun,” earning him an Emmy nomination; ABC’s “The Practice” earning Shatner one of his two Emmy® Awards; international spokesperson and star of Priceline.com’s groundbreaking television and radio commercials; the host of “The Miss USA Pageant”; the host of UPN’s “Iron Chef USA”; “National Lampoon’s Loaded Weapon”; “Star Trek: Generations,” and “Groom Lake,” a film he co-wrote, starred in and directed. Shatner’s prolific career also includes scriptwriting, directing and producing, as well as starring roles in the hit television series “Star Trek,” “TJ Hooker” and “Rescue 911.” Add numerous Broadway shows, dozens of feature films, television documentaries, co- founding a special effects house, writing 27 books, breeding horses, and being an active philanthropist, and it’s perfectly understandable why William Shatner is often referred to as a modern-day Renaissance Man. Shatner’s consistent passion, however, is family. He loves spending time with his three daughters and their children. He and his wife, Elizabeth, divide their time between their hilltop home in Los Angeles and their horse farm in Kentucky. - HALLMARK CHANNEL - .