Additional Coverage:
- Fans Weigh In as Hollywood Icon Marilu Henner Joins Hallmark Channel’s ‘When Calls The Heart’ Cast: ‘What!!!’ (parade.com)
Nearly 50 years after her standout role on the 1970s hit series Taxi, Marilu Henner is set to join the cast of Hallmark Channel’s cherished period drama When Calls the Heart, which is currently filming its 14th season.
Henner, 74, will portray Bernice “Birdie” Grant, the mother of Mountie Nathan Grant, played by Kevin McGarry. Birdie’s arrival on horseback is timed just before Nathan’s wedding to Elizabeth Thornton, the beloved schoolteacher and widow portrayed by Erin Krakow since the show’s debut in 2014.
Fans of When Calls the Heart, affectionately known as Hearties, greeted the news with enthusiasm, flooding social media with excitement over the introduction of Nathan’s mother. Many praised Henner’s casting, celebrating her extensive career and welcoming her warmly to the series.
Described by Hallmark as “free-spirited and colorful,” Birdie is characterized as a lively and adventurous woman. She’ll appear in at least two episodes this season, quickly embracing Elizabeth both figuratively and with a warm hug. Birdie, fresh from charitable work in Switzerland, is optimistic, resourceful, and ready for a little mischief-making her a perfect fit for Hope Valley’s close-knit community.
Henner, a long-time Hallmark favorite who has starred in over 20 of the network’s movies including the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries, expressed her excitement about joining the show. “I’ve been a proud member of the Hallmark family for many years, and now I’m even more thrilled to be part of its crown jewel, When Calls the Heart!”
she shared. “This role is particularly special to me because I get to play Nathan’s mother, the fabulous and feisty Birdie!
And I’m very lucky that Elizabeth is going to be my daughter-in-law!”
Having already begun filming near Vancouver, Henner praised the cast’s warmth and camaraderie, saying, “They truly are a family. I want to move to Hope Valley!”
The show’s sense of community was also on display recently when Henner joined fellow Hallmark stars in New York to celebrate the channel’s 25th anniversary. During a panel discussion, she described the gathering as “like a family reunion weekend… an incredible family experience.”
Lori Loughlin, who returns as Abigail Stanton in season 14 after a seven-year absence, welcomed Henner on Instagram, writing, “We love you @therealmarilu.” Henner responded warmly, “And I love you!!!
Thank you for welcoming me! Xoxo.”
When Calls the Heart season 14 is slated to premiere on Hallmark Channel in January 2027, with all previous seasons available for streaming on Hallmark+. Additionally, Henner will be featured in a cameo role in Hallmark’s upcoming NFL-themed Christmas movie Holiday Touchdown: A Bears Love Story, premiering October 17.