ON THE BEACH: Sunset Beach producer Aaron Spelling says that Peter Barton (ex-Scott Grainger, The Young and the Restless) has signed on to play Eddie on the new NBC soap. Spelling recently worked with Barton on Burke's Law. British actress Lesley-Anne Down has been cast as Olivia Richards, the troubled alcoholic trophy wife of Gregory, the resident tycoon. The character was to be named Sheila, but Spelling says that the actress selected Olivia out of a list of possible names. Down is best known to North American audiences for her roles in the North and South miniseries and Masterpiece Theatre's Upstairs Downstairs. Jason Winston George has been cast as Casey, a troubled African-American lifeguard. George came to Sunset via the nationwide casting call. He hails from Philadelphia, where he taught drama at Temple University. Sherri Saum takes on the role of Vanessa, a reporter. Dax Griffin is set to play Tim, a midwesterner romantically linked to Meg.