Lori Loughlin's Full Comeback: All 20+ Hallmark Movies, The GAC Family Path, And Her Shocking Return To When Calls The Heart

The landscape of feel-good television has been dramatically reshaped as of late 2025, with the official announcement of Lori Loughlin's return to the Hallmark Channel. After a highly publicized, seven-year absence from the network, the actress is set to reprise her beloved role, Abigail Stanton, on the flagship series When Calls the Heart (WCTH). This comeback is the capstone of a multi-year journey back to the screen, one that began with a pivot to the rival network Great American Family (GAC Family) and includes a growing list of new projects.

For years, Loughlin was one of the most recognizable faces of the Hallmark brand, starring in multiple popular movie series and holiday features. This article provides the definitive, updated list of her entire Hallmark and GAC Family filmography, alongside the full context of her unprecedented career hiatus and the details of her highly anticipated return to Hope Valley.

Lori Loughlin: Biography and Career Profile

Lori Anne Loughlin is an American actress, producer, and former model whose career spans several decades, cementing her status as a television mainstay. Her career is characterized by iconic roles across different genres, from sitcom to drama and cozy mystery.

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• Full Name: Lori Anne Loughlin
• Born: July 28, 1964, in Queens, New York City, New York, U.S.
• Profession: Actress, Producer
• Spouse: Mossimo Giannulli (m. 1997)
• Iconic Roles:
  • Rebecca "Aunt Becky" Donaldson-Katsopolis in Full House (1988–1995) and Fuller House (2016–2018).
  • Abigail Stanton in When Calls the Heart (2014–2019, returning 2027) and the spin-off When Hope Calls (2021).
  • Jennifer Shannon in the Garage Sale Mystery film series (2013–2019).
• Hallmark Association: Loughlin was a central figure for the Hallmark Channel, starring in 19 films and a major TV series before her dismissal in 2019.

The Definitive List of Lori Loughlin's Hallmark Movies and Series

Lori Loughlin’s tenure with the Hallmark Channel was prolific, spanning nearly a decade of content that included holiday movies, one-off romantic comedies, and two major, long-running franchises: the period drama When Calls the Heart and the mystery series Garage Sale Mystery. She was dismissed from all projects by the network in March 2019 following her indictment in the college admissions scandal, but her work remains a significant part of the network's history.

The Complete Garage Sale Mystery Film Series (2013–2019)

Loughlin starred as Jennifer Shannon, a garage sale enthusiast who teams up with her business partner, Dani, to solve crimes and mysteries uncovered through her antique finds. The series was a massive hit for the network, producing 16 films before its abrupt cancellation.

• Garage Sale Mystery (2013)
• Garage Sale Mystery: All That Glitters (2014)
• Garage Sale Mystery: The Deadly Room (2015)
• Garage Sale Mystery: The Wedding Dress (2015)
• Garage Sale Mystery: Guilty Until Proven Innocent (2016)
• Garage Sale Mystery: The Novel Murders (2016)
• Garage Sale Mystery: The Art of Murder (2017)
• Garage Sale Mystery: The Case of the Murderous Memo (2017)
• Garage Sale Mystery: Murder by Text (2017)
• Garage Sale Mystery: A Case of the Stolen Necklace (2017)
• Garage Sale Mystery: The Pandora's Box Murders (2018)
• Garage Sale Mystery: Picture a Murder (2018)
• Garage Sale Mystery: The Mask Murder (2018)
• Garage Sale Mystery: Searched for & Seized (2019)
• Garage Sale Mystery: The Hour of the Wolf (2019)
• Garage Sale Mystery: The Fatal Bullet (2019)

Hallmark Original Movies

In addition to her starring roles in the mystery series, Loughlin headlined several popular standalone romantic and holiday movies for the Hallmark Channel:

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• Meet My Mom (2010)
• A Mother's Rage (2013)
• Northpole: Open for Christmas (2015)
• Every Christmas Has A Story (2016)
• Homegrown Christmas (2018)

The Controversy, The Comeback, and The Shocking Return

Lori Loughlin’s career with Hallmark came to an immediate halt in March 2019 following her involvement in the "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions scandal. The network, known for its family-friendly image, quickly severed all ties, removing her from the remaining episodes of When Calls the Heart Season 6 and canceling all future Garage Sale Mystery movies.

Her character, Abigail Stanton, was written off When Calls the Heart by having her suddenly leave Hope Valley to care for her sick mother. This left a void that fans, known as "Hearties," have hoped to see filled ever since.

The Path Back: Great American Family (GAC) and New Roles

Loughlin’s return to acting began not with Hallmark, but with its competitor, Great American Family (GAC Family), which is run by former Hallmark CEO Bill Abbott. This move was seen as a strategic soft-launch for her comeback.

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• When Hope Calls Christmas (2021): Loughlin first reprised her role as Abigail Stanton in the two-hour Christmas special of the When Calls the Heart spin-off, When Hope Calls, which airs on GAC Family. This marked her first major TV appearance following her legal issues and her first time playing Abigail since 2019.
• A Christmas Blessing (2023): She starred in this GAC Family original holiday movie, alongside James Tupper and Jesse Hutch, signaling a full return to the genre she was famous for.

Beyond the world of cozy Christmas and period dramas, Loughlin has also branched out into a new genre. She is set to star in the Dick Wolf drama series On Call, playing a police officer in a role that will stream on Amazon Prime in January 2025.

The Official Hallmark Channel Return to WCTH

The most significant news for fans of her Hallmark era came recently: Lori Loughlin is officially returning to the Hallmark Channel and When Calls the Heart. The announcement confirms she will reprise her role as Abigail Stanton for six episodes in the upcoming Season 14, which is scheduled to premiere in 2027.

This decision, made seven years after her controversial dismissal, signals a major shift in the network's stance and is a direct response to the persistent fan demand from the "Hearties" community. The return is a landmark moment, not just for the show, but for the actress's career, fully restoring her relationship with the network that defined her second act in television.

What’s Next for Lori Loughlin and the Hallmark Universe?

While the focus is currently on the 2027 return to Hope Valley, the door is now wide open for future projects. Her successful partnership with Great American Family has established a dual-network presence, allowing her to continue creating content in the feel-good space. The return to the Hallmark Channel is likely to pave the way for new Hallmark original movies, potentially including a revival of the beloved Garage Sale Mystery series, which many fans believe was left unfinished.

The journey of Lori Loughlin is a story of unprecedented public scandal followed by a measured, fan-driven comeback. From the cozy comfort of her classic Hallmark roles to her dramatic exit and her eventual, triumphant return, the actress has proven her enduring appeal to a devoted audience. Her return to When Calls the Heart is more than just a casting decision; it is a moment of closure and a new beginning for both the actress and the network.