WILLIAM "BILLY" BALDWIN SUITS UP AS A FIREFIGHTER IN HALLMARK CHANNEL'S ORIGINAL MOVIE, "BE MY VALENTINE"

Film Begins Production September 18 for World Premiere Valentine's 2013

Actor, writer and producer William "Billy" Baldwin ("Gossip Girl," "Parenthood") will suit up as a firefighter once more in the romantic drama "Be My Valentine," it was announced today by Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President, Programming, Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel. One of Billy Baldwin's most critically acclaimed performances was in Ron Howard's Academy Award(R)-nominated, action-thriller "Backdraft," in which Baldwin played one of two firefighting brothers on the trail of a serial arsonist. In "Be My Valentine," a Hallmark Channel Original Movie, Baldwin will play a firefighter and single dad who takes a second chance on love after a career-ending injury causes him to reevaluate his life choices. "Be My Valentine" is slated to premiere Saturday, February 9 (9 p.m. ET/PT, 8C).

Billy Baldwin is best known for his starring roles in blockbuster films such as "Flatliners," "Backdraft," "Born on the 4th of July," "Sliver," "Fair Game," "Virus," "Double Bang," "Danny Phantom," "Art Heist," "The Squid and the Whale," and as himself in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." On television, Baldwin starred as Senator Patrick Darling in the TV drama "Dirty Sexy Money" and is currently a regular guest on "Gossip Girl." The actor had an opportunity to play his real-life brother Alec Baldwin in a made for TV movie that occurred within the series "30 Rock." Baldwin has also had recurring roles on hit shows like "Parenthood" and "Hawaii Five-0." Mr. Baldwin is married to singer-songwriter Chynna Phillips.

"There is something in the defining spirit of our network that great actors like Billy Baldwin are coming to Hallmark Channel," said Michelle Vicary.

"We are so honored to have Billy star in this movie because he creates unforgettable characters that have warmth, charm, character and heart," Vicary concluded.

"Be My Valentine" is written by David Titcher with revisions by J. B. White. Executive Producers are Howard Braunstein and Steve Solomos.

Hallmark Channel, owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc., is a 24-hour basic cable network that provides a diverse slate of high-quality entertainment programming available in high definition (HD) and standard definition (SD) to a national audience of over 87 million subscribers. The top-tier program service is distributed through approximately 5,500 cable systems and communities as well as direct-to-home satellite services across the country. Hallmark Channel is the nation's leading destination for quality family programming with an ambitious slate of original TV movies and specials, as well as some of television's most beloved sitcoms and series, including The Golden Girls, Frasier, Little House on the Prairie, and The Waltons. Since 2010, Hallmark Channel has also been home to original daytime lifestyle programming and is debuting two new daily series, Home & Family and Marie, on October 1, 2012. Hallmark Channel's sibling network is Hallmark Movie Channel, also available in HD and SD, which focuses on family-friendly movies with a mix of classic theatrical films, presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library, original Hallmark Channel movies and special events.