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Hallmark Shocker: Jesse Metcalfe Out as Trace Riley on the Network’s Summer Series Chesapeake Shores
Wednesday, March 31st, 2021
A Hallmark leading man has made the decision to leave the network’s summer drama behind.
It’s a very sad day for fans (Chessies) of the Hallmark Channel’s hit summer series Chesapeake Shores. Leading man, and Passions alum, Jesse Metcalfe (Miguel) has decided to leave the series as Trace Riley — a role he’s played since the premiere in 2016. As exclusively reported by our sister site Deadline, Metcalfe is currently in Canada preparing to film scenes, in which will wrap up the character’s storyline during the early part of the upcoming fifth season.
A spokesperson for the Hallmark Channel told the outlet, “Jesse is a valued member of the Crown Media family; we look forward to continuing to work with him on projects, including original movies on Hallmark Channel, as well as his Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ movie series, Martha’s Vineyard Mysteries.”
Back in September, we reported that season five of the series, based on the novels by Sherryl Woods, would return with 10 episodes on Sunday nights during the summer of 2021 with more emotional drama for the O’Brien family. Now, the question remains… How will Abby O’Brien be able to move on without Trace? She’s been forced to before so we can only hope she finds happiness outside of her high school love.
As for Metcalfe, we are sad to see him go, but look forward to watching him in future Hallmark productions, and wish him the very best!
Metcalfe was named one of our 20 most beloved Hallmark stars and you can view why, and others who made the cut, in our photo gallery below.
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Image: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ricardo Hubbs
1/20
<p>Brendan Penny wooed viewers when his character Kevin O’Brien returned from the military on Hallmark’s <em>Chesapeake Shores</em>. Though the series has come to an end, it’s always a treat when fans get to see him shine in new original movies, as well as the network’s <em>In the Vineyard</em> features.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
2/20
<p>What can we say about Niall Matter? He takes part in many of the Hallmark special movie events: Valentine’s Day, Fall Harvest, <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/572183/hallmarks-countdown-to-christmas-2020/" target="_blank">Countdown to Christmas</a> and even starred opposite Candace Cameron Bure in the <em>Aurora Teagarden Mysteries</em>.</p>
Image: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/David Strongman
3/20
<p>Among Ashley Williams’ many talents is her ability to make viewers laugh with her quirky taglines while pulling on their heartstrings, like in the <em>Christmas in Evergreen</em> movies. No matter what movie she stars in, she incorporates her unique talent into each character yet is able to separate each story as its own. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
4/20
<p>Nikki DeLoach may be familiar to daytime viewers for her two year stint on <em>Days of Our Lives</em> as Brenda. When it comes to Hallmark, she has no problem taking on a strong female lead while allowing the emotions of her character’s dilemma to draw viewers into the main focus of the story. One of her best to date was <em>Love Takes Flight</em>, as a woman in charge of an entire hospital yet not fully in charge of her heart. </p>
Image: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Alan Zenuk
5/20
<p>Jack Wagner may be best known to daytimers for his stints as <em>Bold & Beautiful</em>‘s Nick and <em>General Hospital’</em>s Frisco. But on Hallmark, he’s beloved for his role as Bill Avery in <em>When Calls the Heart</em>. And when the network cast him opposite Josie Bissett in its <em>Wedding March</em> movies, it was like we were right back at <em>Melrose Place</em>, where he played Peter opposite her Jane. </p>
Image: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Allister Foster
6/20
<p>Taylor Cole is always a pleasure to watch and became such a hit with Hallmark fans that she was given her own mystery series, <em>Ruby Herring Mysteries</em>. And here’s a fun fact: She’s also the <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/569530/days-of-our-lives-shawn-christian-daughter-taylor-cole-wedding/" target="_blank">stepdaughter of <em>Days of Our Lives’</em> Shawn Christian</a>. </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
7/20
<p>Sam Page is another actor who can fit into many characters. He can play an ex-boyfriend, as in <em><a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/578916/hallmark-movies-mysteries-miracles-of-christmas-schedule-2020/" target="_blank">A Godwink Christmas: Second Chance, First Love</a></em>, or a prince — and we can always count on his cute dimples. And before he was a Hallmark hottie, he played Trey Shepard on <em>All My Children</em>.</p>
Image: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ricardo Hubbs
8/20
<p>This hunk’s dark hair and blue eyes first garnered the attention of daytime viewers when he played Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald on <em>Passions</em>. Not only did we get to see him in various Hallmark movies, he was a main player in <em>Chesapeake Shores</em> as well as the series <em>A Martha’s Vineyard Mystery</em>.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
9/20
<p>Jill Wagner started out as a co-host for the game show series <em>Wipe-Out</em> and was part of the crew of MTV’s <em>Punk’d</em>. Her aptitude for comedy spills into each character she plays, so it’s no surprise that she’s on Hallmark’s go-to list of stars. Not only has she appeared in some of their most popular movies, but she headlines the series, <em>Mystery 101</em>. </p>
Image: ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Brownie Harris
10/20
<p>Trevor Donovan played <em>Days of Our Lives’</em> Jeremy Horton before making his way to Hallmark. One of our favorite roles was seeing him play a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy in the flick <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/574825/days-of-our-lives-jen-lilley-hallmark-christmas-movie-2020/" target="_blank"><em>USS Christmas</em></a>, opposite fellow former Salemite Jen Lilley (ex-Theresa). Sure, his character started off more Grinch than gregarious, but we all knew his heart would grow at least three sizes before the final reel unspooled.<br /> </p>
Image: ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Eric Zachanowich
11/20
<p>If Hynes’ characters have one thing in common, it’s probably that they tend to be more on the soft-spoken side. However, by the end of each story, such as <em>Winter in Vail</em> or <em>On the 12th Date of Christmas</em>, he leaves us shouting for more. </p>
Image: Hallmark
12/20
<p><em>General Hospital</em>‘s loss was definitely Hallmark’s gain. Fans were still mourning the death of his daytime alter ego — good-guy Nathan — when along came <em>Unleashing Mr. Darcy.</em> Such a hit was that Hallmark feature that it garnered a sequel and Paevey — thanks in part to offerings like <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/general-hospital/news/583737/general-hospital-ryan-paevey-hallmark-home-family-timeless-christmas/" target="_blank"><em>A Timeless Christmas</em></a> — became one of their go-to good guys.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
13/20
<p>Sweeney’s Sami may be one of <em>Days of Our Lives</em>‘ most notorious bad girls, but she’s proven just how versatile she really is since joining the Hallmark family. Between troublemaking stints in Salem, the actress is kept busy by her numrous Hallmark projects, including two movie series, <em>Murder She Baked</em> and <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/days-of-our-lives/news/581967/days-of-our-lives-kristian-alfonso-chronicle-mysteries-cast/" target="_blank"><em>Chronicle Mysteries</em></a>.</p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
14/20
<p>Look up the words “tall, dark and handsome” in the dictionary and you’re going to find Webster’s picture. Having gotten his start playing Roger on <em>Sunset Beach</em> and Nicholas on <em>Days of Our Lives</em>, the guy knows his way around a soapy story. His Hallmark characters tend to have a take-charge attitude, as evidenced in the series <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/561970/soap-alums-hallmark-movies-mysteries-signature-series-premieres/" target="_blank"><em>Matchmaker Mysteries</em></a>. </p>
Image: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Farah Nosh
15/20
<p>On <em>Guiding Light, </em>Lenz won hearts as young heroine Michelle. And after appearing in several Hallmark projects, it was <em>Bottled With Love</em>, in which she appeared opposite Andrew Walker, that really made her a staple on the netowrk. She’s usually cast as the girl next door who is everything we want to be… especially when she gets the guy by story’s end! </p>
Image: Jill Johnson/JPI
16/20
<p>Danica McKellar first stole hearts playing Winnie on <em>The Wonder Years</em>. And though she’s now a wife and mother, we can still see a glimpse of that sweet teenage persona incorporated in some of her Hallmark roles, including the part of super sleuth Angie Dove in the <em>Matchmaker Mysteries </em>movies.</p>
Image: Hallmark
17/20
<p>Fans loved to watch <em>Days of Our Lives’</em> Lilley tear up Salem as bad girl Theresa. However, when it comes to Hallmark movies like <em>Angel Falls: A Novel Holiday</em>, we come to see her play the good girl with a heart of gold. It’s a role she plays well, making her one of the most popular Hallmark heroines out there. </p>
Image: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Ricardo Hubbs
18/20
<p>Mention Hallmark movies to a fan of the genre, and it’s likely they’ll immediately summon up an image of Bure. One of the most popular actresses on the network, she keeps us entertained no matter what the season, plus has her own mystery series, <em>Aurora Teagarden Mysteries</em>. </p>
Image: ©2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Allister Foster
19/20
<p>She was just a little girl when first she played <em>All My Children</em>‘s Bianca — daughter of the iconic Erica Kane — but she’s sense grown into a lovely leading lady. From wholesome holiday movies like <em>Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas</em> to the addictive <em>Crossword Mysteries </em>series, she’s one of Hallmark’s most recognizable faces. </p>
Image: ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Fred Hayes
20/20
