Hallmark’s Alexa and Carlos PenaVega Announce Devastating Loss: ‘Feeling Absolutely Gutted’ (2024)

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<p>Hallmark stars typically film two to three movies a year for the network, but they still manage to make time for their families. In fact, many of the actors have praised Hallmark for promoting a healthy work-life balance and for cultivating a tight-knit community within the company. Keep reading to learn more about your favorite <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/gallery/hallmark-actors-dating/" target="_blank">Hallmark stars’ kids in real life</a>.</p><p>The Hallmark network is notorious for heartwarming romances and feel-good holiday flicks. It’s also known for treating actors very well, which makes it easier for them to have fulfilling family lives outside of work.</p><p>The Queen of Hallmark herself, Lacey Chabert, credited the network’s support and flexibility for her smooth transition into being a working mother.“She was just barely four months old when we filmed [<em>Moonlight in Vermont</em>],” Chabert said of her daughter Julia during a 2017 appearance on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8cnz65oD7A" target="_blank">BUILD Series</a>. “I was excited to get back to work, I love love love my job so much … but it was a little daunting.” She added: “I am lucky that my job allows me to bring her to set with me, which is really nice.”</p><p>In addition to getting support from the network when it comes to their own families, Hallmark itself feels like one big family that the actors can lean on. “Over the course of the past year and a half … It’s been way more of a family dynamic,” <em>Three Wise Men and a Baby</em> star Andrew Walker said during a 2022 interview with the fan site <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJnGH7OuqA4" target="_blank">Fangirlish</a>. “We call it the Hallmark Family for a reason … We’re able to be around each other a lot more at these conventions and at these Hallmark parties.”</p><p>Read on to learn more about the families of the biggest Hallmark stars, including <em>The Way Home</em> and <em>When Calls the Heart</em>cast members.</p>

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<p>Alison Sweeney is best known for portaying caterer-turned-sleuth Hannah Swensen in the beloved<em> Hannah Swensen Mysteries</em>franchise, but to her kids, she’s just mom. The <em>Days of our Lives</em> alum shares two children with her husband David Sanov: son Ben and daughter Megan, whom they welcomed in 2005 and 2009, respectively.</p><p>These days, her kids are practically all grown up. In fact, her now-19-year-old son even served as a “rotating intern” on 2023’s A <em>Zest for Death: A Hannah Swensen Mystery</em>. “As a parent, I always strive to teach my kids new life skills,” Sweeney told <a href="https://people.com/alison-sweeney-son-worked-on-her-latest-movie-exclusive-8348382" target="_blank"><em>People</em></a> of the experience. “There are so many different career opportunities available today that I love when opportunities allow Ben to understand all the options available to them.”</p><p>She added of her eldest child: “Ben is such a conscientious worker. He has a part-time job during the school year and he thrives with the responsibility … From being on set, he’s developed a new understanding and appreciation of camera operations, which has been fun to watch him explore.”</p><p>In October 2023, Sweeney shared the exciting news that Ben had been accepted to Baylor University. “Congrats Ben, on getting accepted to your first choice university!! ⭐️⭐️ Sic ‘em Bears!” she captioned a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CykD2T_LVwT/?=" target="_blank">photo</a> of Ben posing in front of the campus.</p>

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<p>Autumn Reeser is a proud boy mom! The <em>Wedding Veil</em> star shares sons Finneus “Finn” Warren and Dashiell “Dash” Warren with her ex-husband Jesse Warren.</p><p>In a February 2024 Instagram post, Reeser got candid about parenthood and revealed what she’s learned from raising her two boys. “Today my son told me that his favorite thing about me as a parent is that I make him feel seen (…um, I basically won a Parenting Oscar in that moment, amiright?),” she wrote alongside a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C30ORwHJIs6/" target="_blank">black-and-white photo</a> of her and her sons. She continued: “To me, that should be our goal as parents. Not getting them into the ‘right’ school or making sure they excel in their activities or showing them off to our friends… but giving our children the irreplaceable gift of feeling truly known.”</p><p></p>

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<p>Jen Lilley has her hands full as a mom of four. She and her husband Jason Wayne share sons Kayden and Jeffrey, whom they adopted from foster care in 2019 and 2020, respectively, as well as daughters Julie and Jackie.</p><p>The actress’ fourth pregnancy with Jackie was a surprise to the couple and the birth also didn’t go as planned. “This was a surprise pregnancy during new Covid variants and ramp-ups. I hadn’t taken any prenatal vitamins, I was under a lot of stress, and with my history of miscarriages, I had to trust that God would indeed protect and empower her through the pregnancy and that was absolutely true for the insane delivery!” Lilley told <a href="https://people.com/parents/jen-lilley-welcomes-baby-with-husband-jason-wayne-daughter-jackie-grace/" target="_blank"><em>People</em></a>. She added of the delivery: “I had no idea if I was really in labor. I had Jackie 7 minutes after pulling up to the ER. If I hadn’t left when I did, I would have had her in the car, and I’m not sure she would have survived.”</p><p>Despite not planning for the pregnancy, Lilley said that she was “so, so happy” to become a family of six. “I’m going to have to get a bus now,” she joked.</p>

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<p>Jack Wagner was previously married to his <em>General Hospital</em> co-star Kristina Wagner from 1993 to 2006. The former couple welcomed their first son, Peter, in 1990, and their second son, Harrison, in 1994.</p><p>The <em>When Calls the Heart</em> star met his then-23-year-old daughter Kerry for the first time in 2011. She had been placed for adoption at birth by her biological mother, whose identity is unknown, and had hired a private investigator to find her father. The pair have since grown very close.</p><p>In June 2022, Jack and Kristina’s youngest son Harrison died at age 27 from an accidental overdose. At the time, the Wagner family revealed that Harrison “ultimately lost his battle with addiction.” They also set up <a href="https://newlifehouse.com/harrison-wagner-scholarship-fund/?fs=e&s=cl" target="_blank">the Harrison Wagner Scholarship Fund</a> in his honor. “Harrison was a bright, exuberant young man whose smile lit up any room he was in. He has left behind many men and family members who loved him deeply,” a statement on the fund’s website reads. “We hope that Harrison’s memory will live on through this scholarship and will help other young men get help for their addiction that would not otherwise be able to afford it.”</p><p>Jack reflected on his son’s death one year later, writing alongside a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtJ0133rRhh/" target="_blank">throwback photo</a> from when Harrison was a child: “My youngest, so pure, so perfect. I love you Harrison, I miss you Harrison. My Heart goes out to parents who have lost a child. There are No Words So we cry And Celebrate Harrison Hale Wagner 12/1/94-6/6/22💔.”</p>

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<p>Lacey Chabert’s daughter is the center of her world. She and husband David Nedhar welcomed their only child together, Julia Mimi Bella, on Sept. 1, 2016.</p><p>Since becoming a mom to Julia, Chabert has been candid about how her priorities have changed. “Now, [Julia’s] the most important thing, and it’s not only about my marriage but also what works for the family and the baby,” Chabert said during her 2017 appearance on the BUILD Series.</p><p>The <em>A Merry Scottish Christmas</em> star is very private when it comes to her personal life and she doesn’t share photos of her family often. In September 2023, she shared a rare <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwqWOrMy5Xl/?img_index=1" target="_blank">throwback photo</a> from when Julia was a newborn to mark her 7th birthday.</p><p>“From 7 days old to 7 years old💜 My baby turns 7 today 🎉Happy Birthday, Julia!!!! You light up our lives with your sparkly spirit. We love you more than words can describe. Happy Birthday baby girl!” the proud mom wrote in the caption.</p>

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<p>Andrew Walker and his wife Cassandra Troy are a proud family of four. The couple welcomed their first son, West Bryon Walker, on July, 20, 2015, and their second son, Wolf Reinhard Walker, on Dec. 25, 2019.</p><p>In April 2023, Walker brought his then-8-year-old son West on to the set of the third installment of his<em> Curious Caterer</em> franchise. West spent the day learning the ropes from the film’s cast and crew, including Walker’s co-star Nikki DeLoach. The dad of two documented the set visit on Instagram, writing on his story: “Well, we now may have another actor in the family.” Walker also shared several <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CrZDkEFSNaJ/" target="_blank">behind-the-scenes photos</a> on his feed, captioning the carousel post:“Talking character development with our new showrunner.”</p>

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<p>Italia Ricci is one half of a Hollywood power couple, and now, she and her husband Robbie Amell are a family of three. The pair welcomed their son, Robert Amell V, on Sept. 10, 2019. The <em>Catch Me If You Claus</em> star announced the happy news on <a href="https://twitter.com/italiaricci/status/1172200428563390465?s=20" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, writing alongside a photo of the newborn’s tiny hand: “Today we welcome Robert Amell V into the world but also find out that being triple extra pregnant increases your odds of birthing Gollum.”</p><p>While appearing on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2R5d-0F-w4" target="_blank"><em>The Mother Daze</em></a> podcast, Ricci got candid about her postpartum struggles and her transition into motherhood. “The new mom thing … I wanted to love it so so much and I didn’t and I felt like I was kind of broken, like something was wrong with me,” she said. “I knew I loved him and I wanted to take care of him and do everything I could to make the best life for him, but I didn’t have that.”</p><p>She continued, “You don’t want to admit it because you feel like a terrible, terrible mother … I’m obsessed with him now but it didn’t come naturally to me and I really wanted it to.”</p>

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<p>Not only do Alexa and Carlos PenaVega share the screen, but the Hallmark stars also share their life together. The couple, who got married in 2014, welcomed their first child together, son Ocean King, on Dec. 7, 2016. Their second son, Kingston James, was born on June 30, 2019. Daughter Rio Rey followed on May 7, 2021.</p><p>On Nov. 17, 2023, the pair announced that they are <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/699444/carlos-alexa-penavega-kids/" target="_blank">expecting their fourth child</a> on Instagram. “Thank God we love adventures 😍😍😍 Oh baby here we come! Número cuatro! 🎉,” they captioned <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CzwvUgMRQyk/?img_index=1" target="_blank">photos</a> of Carlos cradling Alexa’s baby bump.</p>

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<p>Nikki DeLoach has the cutest family of four. She and her husband, Ryan Goodell, are parents to sons William and Bennett.</p><p>When the <em>Days of our Lives</em> alum was just five months pregnant with her youngest son, she learned that Bennett had multiple congential heart deffects and might not survive. After giving birth, Bennett had to have open heart surgery and went on to have two more live-saving surgeries.</p><p>DeLoach has been candid about how the experience permanently changed her life. “Bennett turned me into the best version of myself,” she said during an interview with <a href="https://www.theretaility.com/home/nikki-deloach" target="_blank"><em>The Retaility</em></a>. “I had such warped priorities in so many ways before he came into my life. Even after having had my first kid, I still had those same warped priorities. I got myself on a red carpet two weeks after giving birth. Bennett blew all of that out of the water.”</p><p>These days, DeLoach frequently fundraises for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles — the hospital that saved her son’s life — and she is very dedicated to giving back to other families facing medical crises. “I will never be able to fully thank CHLA for all they have done and continue to do for us,” she captioned a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C0NTW89vAak/?hl=en&img_index=1" target="_blank">November 2023 post</a>, urging her followers to donate to the hospital on Giving Tuesday. “My son is alive and thriving because of them. We love this place so much,” she added.</p>

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<p>Andie MacDowell’s kids are following in her footsteps. The Cedar Covestar shares son Justin Qualley and daughters Rainey and Margaret Qualley with ex-husband Paul Qualley, whom she was married to from 1986 to 1999.</p><p>While Justin prefers to stay out of the spotlight, both Rainey and Margaret have pursued careers in entertainment and are accomplished actresses in their own right. Margaret recently starred in the Academy Award-nominated film <em>Poor Things</em> and has had roles in <em>Drive-Away Dolls, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood</em> and <em>Stars at Noon</em>. She also starred alongside her mom in Netflix’s <em>Maid</em>, which they both earned Golden Globe nominations for. Rainey, on the other hand, has appeared in the 2022 thriller <em>Shut In</em> and several shorts. MacDowell currently stars on Hallmark’s hit time-travel drama <em>The Way Home</em> and “would love” for <a href="https://soaps.sheknows.com/soaps/news/717344/del-the-way-home/" target="_blank">Rainey to join the cast</a>.</p><p>“That would make me happy,” MacDowell told Soaps.com about the prospect of starring alongside her eldest daughter.</p>