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Lizzie Lanuza
Monday, August 26th, 2024
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Cameron and Vanessa Mathison are revealing the kind of relationship they will have going forward. The former couple, who announced their divorce in July after 22 years of marriage, have made some comments on social media that make clear how they will be moving forward in the future, particularly considering they share two children. But what does the future hold for Cameron Mathison and his ex-wife Vanessa?
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Do Cameron and Vanessa Mathison Still Get Along?
The duo might have shared their decision to separate in July, but if their Instagram interactions are to be believed, they still get along just great and are committed to being a team for their two children. Cameron Mathison recently posted an Instagram picture showing off matching tattoos he’d gotten with his daughter, Leila, and son, Lucas, to which Vanessa replied with the comment “We did good,” in regards to the kids.
“My last few days with my kids before they’re off to Europe for college (Paris and London), and we hit some our favorite places. So many beautiful memories watching these two grow up into the incredible humans they are. I could not be more grateful,” Mathisoncaptioned the Instagram posthe shared on August 17.
This isn’t the first time Vanessa Mathison has responded to a comment from Cameron Mathison, with Vanessa responding to Cameron Mathison’s picture of himself on August 16 with five read-heart emojis. In that picture, Mathison reflected on his next chapter, saying: “I don’t know what this next chapter holds for me, but I’m approaching it with gratitude, acceptance, and the determination to be positive and to benefit others every chance I get.”
More: Meet the Real-Life Partners of Hallmark’s Biggest Stars
On July 22nd, the two shared a joint Instagram message that read: “After 22 years of marriage, we have made the difficult decision to part ways. We enter this new chapter with deep love, kindness, and respect for each other. We hold gratitude in our hearts for the wonderful years we shared together.”
Mathison’s last picture with his children showcased the three of them getting matching tattoos, and fans appreciated getting to see the family together and the way the former Hallmark star has handled his divorce.
“You are a true representation of an amazing father!! Good luck & safety & great times for Leila & Lucas & you as you venture into your next journey!!”one person wrote.
“Such a bittersweet time in our lives!!! So many emotions” another person added.”
“Aw so beautiful Cameron. So wonderful to see a great dad raising beautiful kids. May they now spread the beautiful seeds of kindness and all the things they learned from you in the world,”a third comment read.
Mathison, who first rose to fame on All My Children as Ryan Lavery and currently stars on General Hospital as Drew Quartermaine is set to star on Jingle Bells, Wedding Bells for Great American Family’s Great American Christmas, alongside Candace Cameron Bure. Before joining Great American Family, Mathison was a staple at the Hallmark Channel, where he hosted Hallmark’s daytime talk show Home & Familyfor all nine seasons up until its cancellation in 2019. He also co-starred in the first seven Hannah Swensen Mystery movies with Days of Our Livesalum Alison Sweeney. That series has continued in his absence, with Victor Webster replacing him as the co-lead.
Check out which Hallmark stars have left the network for Great American Family and why in the gallery below.
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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 already 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>
Image: Getty Images for Women's Cancer
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>
Image: Getty
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: “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
