16 Actors Who Revived Their Once-Dying Careers Through Hallmark Movies

Some once-popular actors have used Hallmark movies to help them revive their careers.

Maryjane

• Published in Film & TV
• June 25, 2022

Listen, most of us watch the Hallmark Channel on certain occasions. Even if it's just during holiday periods, we've all been sucked into the sappiness and suspense that Hallmark movies bring.

What's intriguing is that, whereas many Hallmark movies showcase C- and D-class performers who are relatively unknown outside of the world of Hallmark movies, we occasionally see a familiar face on Hallmark. Indeed, a percentage of once-popular actors have used Hallmark movies to help them revive their careers.

We're not suggesting that you'll see Will Smith or Anya Taylor-Joy on Hallmark. But nevertheless, there are many actors who have appeared on hit TV shows and in major Hollywood films 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 field, that her career got revived.

Lacey has now featured 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 then went incognito. Then, she discovered that Hallmark movies were her niche and it hit off 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 started doing TV movies after her hit sitcom's eight-season run ended. She then partnered with Hallmark and became a legitimate star again.

She is now known as the "queen of Hallmark Christmas movies."

3. 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 nabbed many recurring and episodic roles on TV series, including some Hallmark titles.

4. Danica McKellar

Danica's claim to fame was as a child star. As an adult, Danica began working with Hallmark and soon became a familiar and welcome face in its movies.

5. Cameron Mathison

He was a soap star for many years before he started starring in made-for-TV movies. He played a role as 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 the Desperate Housewives. He didn’t nab a leading role in a major TV show but he's now appeared in numerous Hallmark movies.

7. Adrian Grenier

He was once considered a teen movie heartthrob, and then he starred in the hit show Entourage, but his career stalled after that. Well, he turned to Hallmark and has now done movies with Hallmark.

8. Alexa PenaVega

She was a child star who didy hit it big in Hollywood. She starred in a few independent movies but Hallmark movies are really her focus these days.

9. Brandon Routh

He almost made it big in Hollywood when he starred in the 2006 Superman Returns, but it was still the two Hallmark movies he signed up for that boosted his career when he needed it.

10. Dean Cain

He was also good at The New Adventures of Superman, and he did a little more TV work immediately after that, but it was Hallmark movies that cemented a steady career for himself.

11. Wes Brown

He did hold recurring roles in popular shows but by 2014, he was starred almost exclusively in made-for-TV movies. But in Hallmark, he's been in a ton of movies.

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.

13. Jill Wagner

Her career started on Ashton Kutcher's Punk'd and then went into movies and scripted TV but Hallmark movies made her a movie star.

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.

15. Luke Macfarlane

He has enjoyed recurring roles on some popular TV series throughout his career, but since 2019, he is focused on TV movies. He started working with Hallmark and has now starred in so 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 but she's actually reprising her spin-off series called When Hope Calls.

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 paid off for them eventually.

What are your favorite Hallmark artists and what is your take on Hallmark movies? Let us know in the comments section.

Maryjane