‘STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART’ Cast Bios TERI POLO (Jordan Donovan) – Rising star Teri Polo starred in one of the top-rated theatrical films of 2000 “Meet the Parents,” playing the role of Pamela Byrnes opposite Ben Stiller. Due to the success of the original, Ms. Polo will be back in the sequel “Meet the Fockers,” playing Pamela Byrnes Focker. Other notable films Ms. Polo has recently starred in include “Domestic Disturbance” with John Travolta and “Second String” with Jon Voight. Ms. Polo has had multiple notable guest television appearances throughout the 1990s in hit comedies and dramas, including “Sports Night,” “Frasier,” “Felicity,” “Brimstone,” “Northern Exposure” and “Tales from the Crypt,” to name a few. Theatrical films include “Golden Gate,” “The House of Spirits,” “The Arrival,” “House of Frankenstein 1997,” “Quick,” “Aspen Extreme” and “The Phantom of the Opera.” TV films include Danielle Steele’s “Full Circle,” “The Van Helsing Chronicles,” “A Father for Brittany,” “Texarkana” and “The Marriage Fool.” But it is the sweeping popularity of the comedy “Meet the Parents” that launched Ms. Polo’s career into another strata. Upcoming projects for Ms. Polo in 2003 include “Unsaid” alongside Andy Garcia and “Dissolution” with Aidan Quinn. # # # HALLMARK CHANNEL/ “Straight From The Heart” Cast Bios – Page 2 ANDREW MCCARTHY (Tyler Ross) – A perpetually youthful actor who made his debut in “Class” (1983) and became associated (briefly) with the so-called “Brat Pack” of that decade, Mr. McCarthy’s vehicle to stardom came with the theatrical motion picture “St. Elmo’s Fire,” followed by “Heaven Help Us” (both 1985). Co-starring with Molly Ringwald as the unattainable heartthrob in “Pretty in Pink,” Andrew McCarthy’s popularity went to cult-like status. “Mannequin,” about a ne’er do well who has trouble holding a job until he creates a mannequin so perfect he falls in love with her, was the next successful film in Mr. McCarthy’s career (1987) “Less Than Zero” debuted in 1987 with McCarthy starring as the rich, jaded college grad who returns to his family in a youth culture film about post-adolescent rich kids from Beverly Hills High. In 1989, Mr. McCarthy was cast in the lively comedy, “Weekend at Bernie’s,” which led to a 1993 sequel “Weekend at Bernie’s II.” He also won dramatic roles in an impressive variety of films including “Waiting for the Moon” (1987), “Fresh Horses,” “Kansas” (both 1988), Claude Chabrol's “Quiet Days (1990), “Year of the Gun” (1991), “Only You,” (1992) and “The Joy Luck Club” (1993). He garnered critical notice with his portrayal of Robert Kennedy in “Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis” (2000). Mr. McCarthy starred in the TV series “Georgetown” prior to his leading role as Tyler Ross in “Straight From The Heart.” Andrew McCarthy and Teri Polo have portrayed a couple before in the drama “A Father for Brittany,” about a childless couple trying to adopt a baby. # # # PATRICIA KALEMBER (Laurie Woods) - Patricia was raised in Westport, CT and Louisville, KY. After being encouraged by her high-school drama teacher, she studied acting at Indiana and Temple Universities. She finished college with a B.A. degree in theater and immediately started acting in major regional and off-Broadway productions. Back in New York, Ms. Kalember worked in numerous daytime dramas, commercials and theatrical events. She received a nomination for the Outer Critics Circle Award for her part in the long-running play "The Foreigner". She starred on Broadway in Larry Shue's "The Nerd" and together with her husband Daniel in "Betrayal" at the Berkshire Theater. Ms. Kalember has a number of significant feature film, television and stage credits, including a role in Mel Gibson’s “Signs,” the features “A Time for Dancing,” “Jump,” “Home Before Dark,” “A Far Off Place,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry – They Get Even,” “Jacob’s Ladder” and “Fletch Saved.” Television guest credits include “Path to War,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Final Run,” “When Husbands Cheat,” “Degree of Guilt” and “Early Edition.” She also starred in two series, “thirtysomething” and “Sisters.” Some of Kalember’s legitimate theatre credits include “Blythe Spirit,” “The Vagina Monologues,” “The Nerd,” “The Foreigner,” “Betrayal,” “The Front Page” and “Two Gentlemen from Verona.” # # # HALLMARK CHANNEL/ “Straight From The Heart” Cast Bios – Page 3 GREG EVIGAN (Edward Morgan) – In “Straight From The Heart,” Greg Evigan plays a New York lawyer who lets the pressures of a painful past relationship rule his emotions and jeopardize his opportunities for future happiness. Born in South Amboy, New Jersey, Evigan auditioned for and won a part in the Broadway show, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” one month after high school graduation. After “Jesus Christ Superstar” he joined the cast of another touring company, playing the lead in the musical, “Grease.” Mr. Evigan, who has been successful in both comedy and drama, actually started his robust career in music, performing in New Jersey bands. Greg plays piano, drums and saxophone, along with writing in a variety of different styles of music. He is mixing a new CD with original pieces, which he recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios in London. Currently, Mr. Evigan is working on a co-production of a new series slated to begin shooting in Singapore in the spring of 2003. He also just completed a movie called “He Sees You When You’re Sleeping,” which is based on a novel by popular fiction writer Mary Higgins Clark. Other important career highlights include writing a track on the “Osbourne Family Album” with his son Jason, lead singer of the band “Dillusion.” Mr. Evigan also has a long history with TV projects and was featured in the final episode of the 2002 season of “Reba,” playing what may be a recurring character on the popular comedy series. Mr. Evigan is an actor, singer, songwriter and musician, who is known around the world for his character portrayal of B. J. McKay on the hit television series “B. J. and the Bear.” He also starred as Joey Harris in the hit television series “My Two Dads.” Greg also sang the theme songs on those two series. Younger viewers have embraced Mr. Evigan’s work since he was cast in two Aaron Spelling series, “Melrose Place” and “Pacific Palisades.” - HALLMARK CHANNEL - .