BRUCE BOXLEITNER ADDED TO CAST AS SERIES REGULAR IN HALLMARK CHANNEL'S "DEBBIE MACOMBER'S CEDAR COVE"

Primetime Series Stars Andie MacDowell and Dylan Neal; Two-Hour World Premiere July 20

Hallmark Channel announces Bruce Boxleitner ("TRON," "Babylon 5," "Scarecrow and Mrs. King") has been cast as a series regular in Hallmark Channel's first-ever primetime series, "Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove." The two-hour drama is set to premiere Saturday, July 20 (8 p.m. ET/PT, 7C), with Boxleitner joining the cast regularly as Bob Beldon, owner of the local Cedar Cove Inn, Thyme and Tide.

The series is based on the bestselling book series Cedar Cove by #1 New York Times bestselling author, Debbie Macomber and stars Andie MacDowell ("Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Groundhogs Day") along with Dylan Neal ("Dawson's Creek," "The Bold and the Beautiful"), Sarah Smyth ("50/50," "Call Me Fitz"), Paula Shaw ("Freddy vs Jason," "Hitched For The Holidays") and Brennan Elliott ("Strong Medicine"). As previously announced, Teryl Rothery ("Stargate SG-1," "Kyle XY," "Dragon Ball") has been cast as a series regular playing Grace, Judge Olivia Lockhart's (MacDowell) best friend.

A native mid-westerner, Boxleitner received his formal acting training on stage and is an alumnus of Chicago's prestigious Goodman Theatre. 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" and he went on to star in the CBS series "Bring 'em Back Alive." 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.

Boxleitner most recently starred with Jeff Bridges in "TRON: Legacy," the popular motion picture sequel to "TRON." In addition, Boxleitner reprised his role in "TRON: Uprising" on Disney's XD TV network, his first animated TV series. 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 and 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.

"Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove" is a 16 Lighthouse Road Productions Ltd. production. Executive Producers are Dan Wigutow, Caroline Moore, Ron French, Debbie Macomber and Harvey Kahn. The series is produced by Connie Dolphin with Steve Harmaty as Co-Executive Producer. The pilot was directed by Michael M. Scott, written by Bruce Graham ("Debbie Macomber's Trading Christmas") and was adapted from material from Debbie Macomber's series of books, Cedar Cove. Carl Binder is the show runner for the series.

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 87 million subscribers. 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, and Happy Days. The channel is also home to a range of lifestyle programming, anchored by Home & Family, a daily two-hour live show shot in a fully functional house located on the Universal Studios lot, and Marie, a one-hour talk show hosted by iconic entertainer, Marie Osmond. Hallmark Channel's sibling network, Hallmark Movie Channel, also available in HD and SD, focuses on family-friendly movies with a mix of original films, classic theatrical releases, and presentations from the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame library.

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