When it comes to Hallmark Channel movies, you may always count on the familiar faces of alum like the Queen of ChristmasLacey Chabert, Hallmark leading manAndrew Walker, andsoap opera-turned-romcom starRyan Paeveyto show up on your screen and make you long for a romance like theirs. But sometimes, you just might see a familiar face that you were never expecting.
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From notable female powerhouses to memorableScreamcast members to some unexpected royalty, several major celebrities have graced the screens of Hallmark Channel viewers in romcoms and Christmas films over the years.
Dolly Parton
FromMountain Magic ChristmastoChristmas of Many Colors,Dolly Partonhas been no stranger to acting or to Christmas specials over the course of her career, and in 2019, the country phenomenon headed to Hallmark Channel for a Christmas movie centered around her Tennessee theme park Dollywood.
Christmas at Dollywoodstarred Hallmark alumsDanica McKellarandNiall Matter,and featured some special scenes with Parton herself in the romcom about two opposing event planners who are hired to plan a Christmas celebration at Dollywood and form an unexpected romance.
Zachary Levi
Zachary Leviwent from computer geekChuckto superheroShazamin recent years, but in between those notable roles, the actor starred alongsideGilmore GirlsstarAlexis Bledelin 2013’sRemember Sunday,aHallmark Hall of Famefilm that originally premiered onABCbefore airing on Hallmark Channel.
Levi played Gus opposite Bledel’s Molly in this50 First Dates-esque story about a waiter who falls in love with a jewelry seller who lives with short-term memory loss, the two starting over each day as Molly attempts to grow their relationship.
Meghan Markle
Long before she ever was the Duchess of Sussex,Meghan Marklehad a promising career in Hollywood. Starting with aminor role onGeneral Hospitaland a stint as a briefcase girl onDeal or No Deal, Markle eventually made it over to Hallmark Channel where she starred in the 2016 romcomDater’s Handbook.
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Markle played leading lady Cass, who, after reading a book on dating, decides to change her entire personality to find the right man, even though he’s been right in front of her all along.
Skeet Ulrich
Skeet Ulrichmay be best known for his roles inScreamandRiverdale, but some may be surprised to learn that the actor starred in a lesser-known Hallmark Hall of Fame film that soared onCBSduring its 2005 premiere.
Ulrich starred alongsideKeri RussellinThe Magic of Ordinary Days,based on the novel byAnn Howard Creelabout a young, unwed, expectant mother who winds up in an arranged marriage to a farmer and creates an unexpected family during World War II despite their utter differences.
Patti LaBelle
Best known for hits like “Lady Marmalade” and “On My Own,” Grammy Award-winning singerPatti LaBellealso has a long list of film and TV work under her belt, including a starring role in the 2018Hallmark Movies & MysteriesfilmChristmas Everlasting.
The movie starsTatyana Alias Lucy, a successful lawyer whose life comes to a halt when her sister unexpectedly passes away just before the holidays and she’s called upon to handle her estate, arriving back home to friends old and new, including LaBelle’s Mrs. Swinson.
LeAnn Rimes
WhenLeAnn Rimesisn’t belting out the hits or winningThe Masked Singeras a singing sun, she’s had a notable career in acting, froma one-episode stintonDays of Our Livesto a starring role in Hallmark’sIt’s Christmas, Eve.
Not only did Rimes supply the soundtrack to the 2018 film, but she played the titular character Eve, a school superintendent who rediscovers her love of music after meeting one of her students' single fathers, who happens to work in the school’s music department that’s in need of financial help.
Henry Winkler
Henry Winklermay be best remembered for his time as Fonzie onHappy Days,and later to a whole new generation as Principal Himbry inScream,but in 2008, the actor became known as Uncle Ralph in the Hallmark Christmas filmThe Most Wonderful Time of the Year.
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The film follows Jen, who is all business when it comes to Christmas until her Uncle Ralph arrives and introduces her to Morgan, a Christmas-loving young man who shows Jen the meaning of the season with the help of her uncle.
Ben Savage
When you think ofBen Savage, odds are all you can see is little Cory Matthews causing hijinks for Mr. Feeny inBoy Meets World. But in recent years, after reprising his iconic sitcom role in theDisney ChannelrebootGirl Meets World, the actor headed to Hallmark in one of the network’s firstHanukkah-themed films.
Love, Lights, Hanukkah!premiered in 2020 and followed Savage as David, a friend to a Jewish family who learn of a long-lost relative who only ever celebrated Christmas, and learn of her holiday traditions while guiding her through theirs.
Mariah Carey
In 2015, Hallmark Channel’s Queen of ChristmasLacey Chabertteamed up with the music world’s Queen of ChristmasMariah CareyinA Christmas Melody, which marked the singer’s directorial debut for film.
According to the movie’sIMDb, Carey cast her favoriteMean Girlsactor in the lead role as Kristin while Carey played her own mean girl character Melissa McKean-Atkinson in this movie centered around the power of music during the Christmas season, which concludes with the movie’s child stars performing Carey’s Christmas hit that year, “Oh Santa.”
Christopher Lloyd
With a slew of notable works under his belt from the 80s classicBack to the Futureto 2022’sSpirit Halloween: The Movie,Christopher Lloydtackles any genre he’s thrown into. And in recent years, one of those genres has been romantic Christmas comedies on Hallmark Channel.
Lloyd made his Hallmark Channel debut in 2015 withJust in Time for Christmasas Grandpa Bob, and returned to the network in 2021 inNext Stop, Christmasas a magical train conductor alongside his formerBack to the Futureco-starLea Thompson.
