Beloved Hallmark Stars Who Are Grandparents in Real Life

Hallmark stars have a gift for making family stories feel magical, but some of their sweetest moments happen when the cameras stop rolling. Candace Cameron Bure, Andie MacDowell, Jane Seymour, Bruce Boxleitner, and Donna Mills have all welcomed grandchildren, and their paths to grandparenthood are as different as their careers. One celebrated her first grandchild at 85; another is already preparing to welcome a second. Here’s a look at the real-life families behind some very familiar faces.

For these Hallmark favorites, the family keeps growing

They’ve spent years playing people who find love, reconnect with relatives, or make a fresh start. Offscreen, two of Hallmark’s best-known actresses are discovering that becoming a grandmother brings surprises of its own.

Candace Cameron Bure has a new name to go with her new role

For viewers who grew up watching Candace Cameron Bure as D.J. Tanner on Full House, it may be hard to believe she’s a grandmother. The former Hallmark fixture, known for the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries and holiday films including A Shoe Addict’s Christmas, welcomed her first grandchild in August 2026.

Her son Lev and his wife, Elliot, named their baby boy Bond Leo Bure. He arrived more than two months early and spent weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit before he could go home. After that anxious start, Bure shared how deeply she’d fallen in love with him.

Bure and her husband, former NHL player Valeri Bure, have three children: Natasha, Lev, and Maksim. The family is set to grow again, with Natasha expecting her first child in fall 2026. In the meantime, Bure has embraced a grandmother name that could hardly suit her better: CandyGram.

Andie MacDowell’s granddaughter gave her an unforgettable first meeting

Andie MacDowell has won a new audience playing Del Landry on Hallmark’s The Way Home. At home, the actor and mother of three is grandmother to two little girls. Her son Justin Qualley and his wife, Nicolette, welcomed Cozette in 2022; her daughter Rainey Qualley and Rainey’s partner, Anthony Wilson, welcomed Bluebell Coyote Wilson in December 2024.

MacDowell has described meeting Cozette as an unusually powerful connection. It made her feel seen in a way she’d never experienced before. She’s happy to let the children choose what to call her, though she has ruled out granny. Cozette currently calls her Gaga, a name MacDowell is perfectly content to keep.

Jane Seymour and Bruce Boxleitner know that family legacies take many forms

Both actors have careers that stretch far beyond Hallmark, yet their family updates can be every bit as captivating as their screen roles. Seymour has shared glimpses of her growing group of grandchildren, while Boxleitner has watched his granddaughter develop a love of performing.

Jane Seymour is an Oma four times over

Jane Seymour has played everything from a Bond girl to the beloved title character of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Her Hallmark work includes The Twelve Dates ’Til Christmas, but some of the milestones she seems proudest to share come from her family.

A mother of four and stepmother of two, Seymour became an Oma through her daughter Katherine Flynn’s children, Rowan, Willa, and Luna. In August 2025, her son Kristopher and his wife, Miso, welcomed a daughter, Kristie Love Keach, making Seymour a grandmother of four.

When Kristie Love turned one in August 2026, Seymour shared photos from the celebration and reflected on the joy of watching her grow. It was a tender update from an actor whose busy career has never kept her from making room for the youngest members of her family.

Bruce Boxleitner’s granddaughter is already taking the stage

Bruce Boxleitner has traveled through plenty of fictional worlds, from Scarecrow and Mrs. King and Tron to Hallmark’s Matchmaker Mysteries and Holiday Date. In November 2014, he shared news of a very real arrival: his granddaughter Lulabelle Rose.

Lulabelle is the daughter of actor and musician Sam Boxleitner and makeup artist Andrea Steele. As she approaches her 12th birthday, she’s showing creative interests of her own. She sings and plays guitar with the kids’ band Cream Soda, and she enjoys dressing up for special occasions, too.

Her extended family includes actor Melissa Gilbert, who was married to Bruce and is Sam’s stepmother. With performers across the family tree, Lulabelle has plenty of people who know the thrill of getting onstage.

Donna Mills’ newest role arrived in her 80s

Some people might expect an actor in her mid-80s to slow down. Donna Mills is a lively counterexample: she’s still working, hosting a podcast, and showing no interest in fitting anyone else’s idea of a grandmother.

The Knots Landing star is celebrating a whole new set of firsts

Donna Mills became famous as Abby Ewing on Knots Landing and has since appeared in Hallmark films including 12 Gifts of Christmas and Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses. She turned 85 in 2026, but her schedule and unmistakable sense of style are as energetic as ever.

Mills became a grandmother in 2025 when her daughter Chloe and Chloe’s now-husband, Travis Collings, welcomed their son, Colter Benjamin Collings. For Colter’s first birthday, Mills reflected on the joy of watching him discover the world. His milestones also brought back memories of Chloe’s childhood.