ONE OF WINTER'S TOP NEW ORIGINAL PRIMETIME DRAMAS, "WHEN CALLS THE HEART" ADDS EMMY(R) AND GOLDEN GLOBE(R) WINNING ACTOR JAMES BROLIN TO THE CAST

Series Stars Lori Loughlin, Erin Krakow, Daniel Lissing and Jack Wagner;

Brolin will Guest Star in Season Finale

Hallmark Channel announces Golden Globe(R) and Emmy(R) winner James Brolin ("Marcus Welby, M.D.," "Hotel," "Christmas with Tucker") has joined the cast of the Hallmark Channel Original Series, "When Calls the Heart." Brolin will play Judge Jedidiah Black in the season one finale of the primetime series airing Saturday, March 29 at 9pm ET/PT 8C. "When Calls the Heart" is the second scripted series for the network.

Based on the bestselling novel of the same nameby Janette Oke, "When Calls The Heart" stars Lori Loughlin ("Full House," "90210"), Erin Krakow ("Army Wives"), Daniel Lissing ("Last Resort") and Jack Wagner ("The Bold and the Beautiful," "General Hospital," "Melrose Place"). The series follows the story of young schoolteacher Elizabeth Thatcher (Krakow), who has just arrived to Coal Valley, a 19th century coal mining town in the Western Frontier, that is worlds apart from the wealthy, high-society life where she grew up. As Elizabeth adapts to the frontier lifestyle, she also warms up to handsome Constable Jack Thornton (Lissing). Elizabeth arrives in the aftermath of a mine explosion that claimed the lives of most of Coal Valley's men, leaving behind their widows - including kind-hearted Abigail Stanton (Loughlin) who becomes friends with Mountie Bill Avery (Wagner) a forensic specialist who has been called to the town to help investigate the mining explosion. Brolin will play the part of Circuit Judge, Jedidiah Black a legendary man who is insolent, insufferable and incorruptible who is welcomed to Coal Valley to bring justice to the town.

Brolin is one of television's best-known and most popular stars, he earned a Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) Awards for portraying, Dr. Steven Kiley in "Marcus Welby, M.D." Since then Brolin went on to star in TV series, "Hotel" and "Pensacola: Wings of Gold." Brolin has directed and starred in several movies and television series, some of his television series guest appearances include "The West Wing," "Monk" "Law & Order: SVU," "Psych," "The Defenders," "Community" and on "Castle" as Richard Castle's father. As a producer, director, Brolin has helmed episodes of such TV shows as "Pensacola: Wings of Gold," "Hotel" and "The Young Riders." He made his film directorial debut with "My Brother's War," in which he also wrote and starred. The film earned the Best Film award at the Hollywood Film Festival. Brolin's work in the TV movie "The Reagans" earned him acclaim along with Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) nominations in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Mini-Series or Movie category. Once Brolin finishes shooting "When Calls the Heart," he flies to Chile for his next role in Phoenix Picture's feature film "THE 33" opposite Antonio Banderas, Juliette Binoche and Gabriel Byrne. This past holiday season, Brolin starred in Hallmark Movie Channel's first ever original holiday movie, "Christmas with Tucker," which was the most watched Hallmark Movie Channel Original Premiere among households and women 25-54 delivery in network history, and the fifth most watched telecast in the network's history.

"When Calls the Heart" is a Believe Pictures and Brad Krevoy Television production. Executive Producers are Brad Krevoy, Brian Bird and Michael Landon, Jr. Based on the novel, When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke.

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