16 Actors Who Revived Their Once-Dying Careers Through Hallmark Movies
Some once-popular actors have used Hallmark movies to help revive their careers.
Listen, most of us watch the Hallmark Channel on certain occasions. Even if it's just during holiday periods, we've all been drawn into the sappiness and suspense that Hallmark movies bring.
What's intriguing is that, while many Hallmark movies showcase C- and D-list performers who are relatively unknown outside of the world of Hallmark, we occasionally see a familiar face. Indeed, a number of once-popular actors have used Hallmark movies to help revive their careers.
We're not suggesting that you'll see Will Smith or Anya Taylor-Joy on Hallmark. Nevertheless, there are many actors who have appeared on hit TV shows and in major Hollywood films, and who now make their living almost entirely by acting in Hallmark's family-friendly shows and movies.
For years, after her supporting role in the iconic 2004 film Mean Girls, most of us didn’t see or hear anything about Lacey Chabert. The Party of Five alum did some voice acting in animations and one-off roles, but it wasn’t until a few years later, when she discovered that Hallmark movies were her niche, that her career was revived.
Lacey has now appeared in over two dozen movies for this network. What a way to revive one’s career!
There are others who have only done a few Hallmark movies while they ascend to bigger and better things. But either way, joining the Hallmark family has definitely helped further the careers of more than a few actors, and here are some of them below.
1. Lacey Chabert
She got a supporting role in the 2004 film Mean Girls and then went incognito. Later, she discovered that Hallmark movies were her niche, which reignited her career.
Now, Lacey has appeared in more than two dozen of the network’s movies.
2. Candace Cameron Bure
The former Full House star began doing TV movies after her hit sitcom's eight-season run ended. She then partnered with Hallmark and became a legitimate star once again.
She is now known as the "queen of Hallmark Christmas movies."
Steven Ackerman/Crown Media United States LLC3. Chad Michael Murray
The teen TV and movie star may have been an A-lister, but things didn’t really take off for him in Hollywood. He secured many recurring and episodic roles on TV series, including some Hallmark titles.
chadmichaelmurray4. Danica McKellar
Danica's claim to fame was as a child star. As an adult, she began working with Hallmark and soon became a familiar and welcome face in its movies.
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5. Cameron Mathison
He was a soap star for many years before he started starring in made-for-TV movies. He played the role of Ryan Lavery on All My Children, but ended up starting a long-running relationship with Hallmark and has starred in over 15 of its movies.
6. Jesse Metcalfe
He’s known for his role as John Rowland in Desperate Housewives. While he didn’t secure a leading role in a major TV show, he has now appeared in numerous Hallmark movies.
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7. Adrian Grenier
He was once considered a teen movie heartthrob and later starred in the hit show Entourage, but his career stalled after that. He turned to Hallmark and has now starred in several of its movies.
8. Alexa PenaVega
She was a child star who didn’t hit it big in Hollywood. She starred in a few independent movies, but Hallmark movies are really her focus these days.
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9. Brandon Routh
He almost made it big in Hollywood when he starred in the 2006 film Superman Returns, but it was the two Hallmark movies he signed up for that boosted his career when he needed it most.
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10. Dean Cain
He was also well-known for The New Adventures of Superman, and he did a bit more TV work immediately after that, but it was Hallmark movies that cemented a steady career for him.
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11. Wes Brown
He held recurring roles in popular shows, but by 2014, he starred almost exclusively in made-for-TV movies. However, with Hallmark, he's been in a ton of films.
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12. Ashley Williams
She played a fun character on the sitcom How I Met Your Mother, but her spunky personality made her a Hallmark movie star.
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13. Jill Wagner
Her career started on Ashton Kutcher's Punk'd and then transitioned into movies and scripted TV, but Hallmark movies made her a movie star.
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14. Merritt Patterson
The Canadian actor is best known for portraying Ophelia Pryce on The Royals, but she really found an enduring career with Hallmark and has acted in many of the network’s films.
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15. Luke Macfarlane
He has enjoyed recurring roles on some popular TV series throughout his career, but since 2019, he has focused on TV movies. He started working with Hallmark and has now starred in many of its films.
16. Lori Loughlin
She was once the Candace Cameron Bure of her day, but after her shocking role in the 2019 college admissions scandal went public, everyone thought she'd be blacklisted. However, she's actually reprising her spin-off series called When Hope Calls.
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Even if their once-robust careers were dwindling, or they discovered over time that the consistent work offered by Hallmark was exactly what they needed for their careers or lifestyles, all of these artists turned to Hallmark for a profile boost at some point. And it eventually paid off for them.
What are your favorite Hallmark artists, and what is your take on Hallmark movies? Let us know in the comments section.
