Switching Sides! All the Hallmark Stars Who Left For Great American Family — and Why (2024)

Image: GAC Media

1/11

<p>The competition between Hallmark and Great American Family (formerly known as GAC Family) is heating up! The latter has been making waves in the family-friendly movie space since 2021, and several Hallmark stars have made the jump over to GAF. Below, find a full list of <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/688574/jodie-sweetin-great-american-family/" target="_blank">every Hallmark star who left the network for GAF</a>.</p><p>GAF was originally established in 1995 as Great American Country (GAC), a country music channel. It was acquired by GAC Media — a new ownership group that includes former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott — in 2021 and rebranded into Great American Family (GAF). The sister network Great American Faith & Living, which focuses on lifestyle and faith-based programming, was launched in 2022.</p><p>In the years since Abbott took over, several major Hallmark stars have moved over to GAF and signed deals with the rival network. Keep reading to see which actors have joined GAF — from <em>When Calls the Heart</em> alums to Hallmark movie mainstays.</p>

Image: Image: ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Ricardo Hubbs

2/11

<p><em>Full House</em> alum Candace Cameron Bure was one of the biggest gets for GAF, and one of the most controversial. Previously dubbed the Queen of Hallmark, Bure had been with the network for 14 years and had starred in nearly 30 movies. She announced <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/675226/candace-cameron-bure-leave-hallmark/" target="_blank">her departure</a> and her new role as GAF’s Chief Content Officer in April 2022.</p><p>“I’m very excited to develop heartwarming family and faith-filled programming and make the kind of stories my family and I love to watch,” Bure said in a statement at the time. “I am constantly looking for ways that I can inspire people to live life with purpose. GAC fits my brand perfectly; we share a vision of creating compelling wholesome content for an audience who wants to watch programming for and with the whole family. Great, quality entertainment with a positive message is what my partnership with GAC is all about!”</p><p>The <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/gallery/aurora-teagarden-mysteries-order/" target="_blank"><em>Aurora Teagarden</em></a> star <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/711640/andrew-walker-candace-cameron-bure-hallmark/" target="_blank">stirred up controversy</a> that November when she told the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/candace-cameron-bure-great-american-family-11668205295" target="_blank"><em>Wall Street Journal</em></a> that GAF will “keep traditional marriage at the core.” Her remarks received widespread backlash, with several fans interpreting them as a response to Hallmark’s recent push for more LGBTQ+ representation.</p><p>Abbott responded to the criticism in an interview with <a href="https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/great-american-family-ceo-candace-cameron-bure-backlash-1235763798/" target="_blank"><em>Variety</em></a>, explaining that Bure’s views are not the company’s. “Candace has such a high profile that when she speaks, she’ll speak on a lot of topics, and she has a wonderful podcast that is fantastic. But when she speaks on that, she’s not speaking on behalf of Great American Media,” he said.</p>

Image: Jill Johnson/JPI

3/11

<p>In November 2023, <em>General Hospital</em> star and<em> All My Children</em> alum Cameron Mathison signed a multi-picture deal with GAF. Mathison was the host of Hallmark’s daytime talk show <em>Home & Family</em>, which ran for nine seasons before it was cancelled in 2019. He also starred in the first seven <em>Hannah Swensen Mystery</em> movies, and his move to GAC is likely the reason <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/716544/why-cameron-mathison-not-in-hannah-swensen-mystery-one-bad-apple/" target="_blank">he did not appear in 2024’s <em>One Bad Apple</em></a>.</p><p>“Cameron Mathison is one of entertainment’s most prolific and cherished stars and has a resume that is respected across the industry,” Abbott said in a statement. “Having collaborated with Cameron on many past projects, I am thrilled to welcome him home to Great American Media and look forward to working with him on content that our viewers will love for years to come.”</p><p>Mathison added, “It is very important to me to create well-crafted, beautiful stories. I am grateful to be back at Great American Media and to collaborate with some of the best creative teams in entertainment to make heartwarming content everyone can enjoy.</p>

Image: Jill Johnson/JPI

4/11

<p>Danica Mckellar was one of the first Hallmark stars to make the jump to GAF, signing a four-picture deal to act in and produce original films for the network in October 2021. Since then,<em>The Wonder Years</em> alum has appeared in a handful of GAF holiday movies, including <em>The Winter Palace, Christmas at the Drive-In</em> and <em>A Royal Date for Christmas</em>.</p><p>“Part of it was because I had the opportunity to do a multi-picture deal, which I hadn’t done at Hallmark, and also not just multi-picture, but also really being a producer, really helping to develop these stories from the beginning,” McKeller told <a href="https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/danica-mckellar-on-gac-move-hallmark-exit-exciting-as-storyteller/" target="_blank"><em>Us Weekly</em></a> of her decision. “And that’s really exciting for me as a storyteller. I love that. Plus, it was Bill Abbott who I adore, and a lot of the executives moved over there honestly. In some ways, [it] feels more like Hallmark than probably if I were still [at] Hallmark.”</p>

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5/11

<p>In addition to starring in several holiday movies for Hallmark, Lori Loughlin also played <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/681100/lori-loughlin-returning-when-calls-the-heart/" target="_blank">fan-favorite Abigail Stanton</a> on the network’s long-running series <em>When Calls the Heart</em>.</p><p>Hallmark cut ties with the <em>Full House</em> alum in 2019 after news of her involvement in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal broke. In August 2020, the actress was sentenced to two months in prison, two years of supervised release, a $150,000 fine and 100 hours of community service.</p><p>Following her release from prison, Loughlin booked her first acting job post-incarceration: GAF’s <em>Fall Into Winter</em>. She followed that up with 2023’s <em>Blessings of Christmas</em>.</p>

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6/11

<p>Hallmark power couple Alexa and Carlos PenaVega are the latest to move over to GAF. The pair, who have been married since 2014, starred alongside each other in several Hallmark movies, including <em>Enchanted Christmas, Love in the Limelight</em> and the <em>Picture Perfect Mysteries</em> franchise.</p><p>News broke in April 2024 that the PenaVega’s will co-star in <em>Mr. Manhattan</em>, an upcoming movie for Great American Pure Flix. Pure Flix joined the GAF family in 2023 following a merger with Sony Pictures Television. It is a subscription-based streaming service that focuses on faith-affirming and uplifting original content.</p><p>“Carlos and Alexa are audience favorites and so beloved for their commitment to family on and off the screen, which is the foundation of Mr. Manhattan,” Abbott said in a statement, adding: “and we are excited about a number of additional projects in development with these two enormously talented actors.”</p>

Image: ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Patrick Randak

7/11

<p>Twelve-time Hallmark movie star Trevor Donovan, best known for<em> USS Christmas, Two for the Win</em> and <em>Love, Fall & Order</em>, was the very first to ink a deal with GAF in October 2021. He went on to star in <em>Jingle Bell Princess, ‘Twas the Text Before Christmas</em> and <em>A Harvest Homecoming</em>, among others.</p><p>In an interview with Christian movie review site <a href="https://www.movieguide.org/news-articles/trevor-donovan-morally-uplifting-movies-bring-family-together.html" target="_blank">Movieguide</a>, Donovan shared that he “couldn’t be happier” with his move to GAC. “I love being able to make these movies that are morally uplifting and inspiring,” he told the outlet. “It just sets a good example for people watching, and it’s cool to see my little niece watching along with my parents and grandparents. So yeah, couldn’t be happier.”</p>

Image: Getty Images

8/11

<p>After co-starring with Donovan in 2021’s <em>Jingle Bell Princess, </em>Merritt Patterson solidified her move to GAF with 2022’s <em>Catering Christmas</em>, 2023’s <em>One Perfect Match </em>and another team up with Donovan titled <em>Twas the Text Before Christmas</em>.</p><p>The Canadian actress was a staple at Hallmark, having joined the company in 2017. She starred in a slew of hit movies for the network, including <em>A Royal Winter, The Christmas Cottage, Christmas at the Palace, Gingerbread Miracle</em> and<em> Chateau Christmas</em>.</p>

Image: Priscilla Grant/Everett Collection

9/11

<p>Although not officially signed with GAF, <em>When Calls the Heart</em> alum Daniel Lissing has done a number of movies with the cable channel, including 2022’s<em> Catering Christmas</em> and 2023’s <em>Christmas Keepsake</em>. He hasn’t completely cut ties with Hallmark, though. In fact, he and his <em>WCTH</em> co-star Erin Krakow are teaming up for an upcoming Christmas movie titled <em>Santa Tell Me</em>.</p><p>The movie will air during Hallmark’s 2024 Countdown to Christmas special and will reunite the actors on-screen for the first time since Lissing’s Jack was killed off in Season 5 of <em>WCTH</em>. Lissing announced the project on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3BouAZPQsu/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, writing alongside a press release: “What a nice why to start the year… reuniting with @erinkrakow on this fun holiday movie 🎥🍿🎄Who’s excited??”</p>

Image: Image: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC

10/11

<p>Paul Greene left <em>When Calls the Heart</em> in Season 8 after four seasons of playing Dr. Carson Shepherd. Although he is not signed to either network, he has worked with GAF more frequently since exiting the show. He appeared in 2022’s <em>I’m Glad It’s Christmas</em> and 2023’s <em>Bringing Christmas Home</em>.</p><p>While speaking to <a href="https://www.tvinsider.com/1071398/paul-greene-christmas-movies-when-calls-the-heart-candace-cameron-bure/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ" target="_blank"><em>TV Insider</em></a> in November 2022, the actor discussed whether or not he’d ever return to <em>WCTH</em> or Hallmark. “There have been talks about some different approaches to completing that storyline or expanding that,” he told the outlet. “That falls into the hands of the gods.”</p><p>He noted: “There are so many cool projects I’m involved in. When you’re on a series, you might be able to sneak in one or two things. I loved being on it, but there are so many other projects I wanted to do”</p>

Image: Jill Johnson/JPI

11/11

<p><em>Days of our Lives</em> alum Jen Lilley left Hallmark in 2022 after six years with the network and over 10 movies. She then signed a four-picture deal with GAF and appeared in 2023’s <em>Paris Christmas Waltz</em>. Some of her most well-known Hallmark movies were <em>Where Your Heart Belongs, USS Christmas</em> and<em> Winter Love Story</em>.</p><p>“Aside from being an immensely talented and hardworking actor, Jen is a generous and kindhearted person who is a perfect fit for GAC,” Abbott said in a statement after signing Lilley. “Many of us on the GAC team have known Jen for years, and we are excited to welcome her to the family as we work together to bring even more entertaining movies to our fans.”</p>