12 Actors Returning to TV in Hallmark’s 2020 Holiday Flicks

Hallmark 2020 Holiday Movies Actors
Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Project Angel Food; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images; Rachel Luna/Getty Images

It’s beginning to look a lot like…paychecks! Past and current TV stars are getting a little extra cash for shopping this year, appearing in holiday-themed TV movies for Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas series and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ Miracles of Christmas series.

Between the two channels, parent company Crown Media is rolling out a wonderland of 40 films, with yuletide programming kicking off October 23. (It’s not all Christmas, though! Check out Love, Lights, Hanukkah! on Hallmark on December 20 at 8/7c.)

To get in the holly jolly spirit, scroll down to see a dozen TV stars holidaying with Hallmark this year. Hey, that’s one for each of the 12 days of Christmas!

Rochelle Aytes
Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Project Angel Food

Rochelle Aytes

This alum of Criminal Minds and The Purge plays an event planner who has to win over a (good-looking) firefighter, played by Mark Taylor, to convince him to donate his spruce tree to the community Christmas celebration. A Christmas Tree Grows in Brooklyn premieres November 24 at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel.

Eion Bailey
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Eion Bailey

As a widowed dad, Bailey (Once Upon a Time) keeps crossing paths with bakery owner Molly (Alvina August) in Deliver by Christmas, airing October 25 at 9/8c on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Catherine Bell
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Catherine Bell

This actress of JAG and Good Witch fame stars as a woman forced to plan her son’s Christmas Eve wedding—with the help of the bride’s uncle (Mark Deklin)—after the couple’s wedding planner quits. Meet Me at Christmas (the title isn’t locked) debuts November 14 at 9/8c on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Jonathan Bennett
Rich Polk/Getty Images for IMDb

Jonathan Bennett

The former Cake Wars host and Dancing With the Stars contestant is sure to warm hearts as one half of a gay couple hoping to adopt. The ensemble film Christmas House, costarring Sharon Lawrence and Treat Williams, airs November 22 at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel.

Marc Blucas
Charley Gallay/Getty Images for WGN America

Marc Blucas

Anyone wanna bet a rivalry turns romantic? This alum of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Fix plays one of two competing TV hosts (Alison Sweeney takes the other role) on a yuletide assignment in a small town. A Bright and Merry Christmas premieres November 25 at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel.

Sarah Drew
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Sarah Drew

Grey’s Anatomy’s erstwhile Dr. April Kepner makes sweet music in Christmas in Vienna—airing November 14 at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel—as a concert violinist who finds inspiration and love while touring the Austrian capital.

Adrian Holmes
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Adrian Holmes

Holmes (Arrow, V-Wars) stars as an enigmatic man who reconnects with a doctor from his past (played by Holly Robinson Peete), bringing a potentially life-changing revelation. The Christmas Doctor will see you November 15 at 9/8c on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Danica McKellar
Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Danica McKellar

In Christmas She Wrote, the Hallmark staple and Wonder Years grad stars opposite Dylan Neal as a romance novelist who returns to her hometown after a professional setback—and finds an unexpected suitor hoping to win her back. The movie airs December 6 at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel.

Tamera Mowry-Housley
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images

Tamera Mowry-Housley

The Sister, Sister actress and former cohost of The Real turns back the clock as a top newscaster who gets a second shot at love thanks to a carousel turned time machine. Take a whirl at the Christmas Carnival December 13 at 8/7c on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries.

Janel Parrish
Emma McIntyre/Getty Images

Janel Parrish

Pretty Little Liars‘ Mona is the leading lady of Holly & Ivy, airing November 1 at 9/8c on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Her character partners with a (strapping) contractor, played by Jeremy Jordan, to fix up a house in time to take in her ailing neighbor’s (Marisol Nichols) kids.

Holly Robinson Peete
Araya Diaz/Getty Images for Stella & Dot

Holly Robinson Peete

On top of The Christmas Doctor, the former cohost of The Talk appears in Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing, the latest in the Christmas in Evergreen series, airing December 5 at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel. This time, her character, Michelle, is gearing up for her wedding!

Aaron Tveit
Justin Kahn/Elsie Fest via Getty Images

Aaron Tveit

The Broadway talent—you probably saw him as Danny Zuko in Fox’s Grease Live!—plays a handsome fella who escapes a snowstorm in the home of a small-town woman (Laura Osnes) who doesn’t realize he’s the prince of Galwick—whatever Galwick is!—in One Royal Holiday, premiering November 1 at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel.




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  1. G

    GreenQuill

    Not a fan of the gay movies. Watching 2 men make out is not my thing. My opinion - your disapproval or comments are not necessary.

  2. C

    CyanFries

    I don't see anything wrong with Alison Sweeney, Holly Robinson Peete and Catherine Bell playing the characters they are portraying. They are familiar to most of the viewers and I think the viewers like familiarity. They look great for their ages! Grandparents aren't always "old" anymore. Some grandparents are younger than these women!

  3. G

    GreenBowtie

    Where is Paul Campbell, Rachel Boston, Hilarie Burton, Alicia Witt & Steve Lund

  4. G

    GoldBattery

    Where is Kristoffer Polaha?

  5. O

    OrangePopcorn

    And most importantly Trevor Donovan

  6. G

    GreenFlask

    Looking forward to the upcoming shows

  7. O

    OliveHelmet

    Here’s hoping you have an awesome and spectacular birthday Jack Wagner

  8. O

    OrangeCandy

    So what, do you have something against older people. Guess what, we all need love no matter how old we are and all relevant stories aren’t just about younger people.

  9. C

    CyanBasketball

    Trevor Donovan appears this Sunday November 29, 2020 at 8:00 pm EST, in a movie filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina!

  10. O

    OrangeCandy

    If you didn’t want a response, you really shouldn’t have posted anything at all.

  11. C

    CyanBasketball

    They may not be NECESSARY, but many married gay men have adopted children who have what ever sexual preference they were BORN WITH, and many of whom would not be adopted if it weren't for the overwhelming love shown by these couples. So, move into the 21st CENTURY, or if it ISN'T "YOUR THING", switch to HALLMARK CROWN that night, but don't express your minority negative opinions on here & say our disapproval comments are not necessary, since you obviously already realize you are in the vast minority of homophobes.

  12. B

    BlueBandAid

    Some of them should be playing grandparents like Alison Sweeney Catherine Bell Holly Robinson Peete they old

    1. O

      OrangeMagnet

      Some of - Alison Sweeney is 44, Catherine Bell is 52 & Holly Robinson-Peete is 56.