I have watched the Garage Sale Mysteries franchise from its inception and after the first one aired on the network, I was hooked (mainly because it was a mystery and Lori Loughlin was in it). Back in 2014, when the second installment premiered (All That Glitters Is Gold), I remember seeing this detective show up that I can only describe as bumbling and almost stereotypical, but there was something intriguing and masterful about the way Kevin O’Grady played this new character, Detective Frank Lynwood, and I found myself wondering if we would see him in subsequent films. It would appear that his characterization resonated with the fans and the network, and since that time, he has not missed a single film. I had the opportunity to interview Kevin first back before the premiere of The Art of Murder, but so much has happened in both of our careers since that time that we knew we needed to reconnect for an update. Recently, I had the joy of chatting with the delightfully engaging Kevin, and to be honest, I cannot recall the last time I laughed so much during an interview.

Kevin O’Grady Credit: Copyright 2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

RH: Kevin, it is so nice to get to chat with you again!

KOG: Same here, Ruth.

The last time we spoke, which was about a year and a half, you only hinted at the “Garage Sale Mystery” month mini-series that was coming up. In fact, after I posted my interview, they officially announced it.

I think at that time, I knew for sure, but I wanted to wait to say anything officially in case they changed their minds.

Hallmark TCA’s July 2018

It looks like it was a big success last year, and now here they’re doing it again this year. I’ve already spoken with Sarah Strange, and she didn’t really tell me much of anything about the upcoming four movies. She just said to tune in and watch.

Yeah, that sounds like Sarah. She’s so great. And you certainly keep busy.

Yes, I definitely do, and I love getting to highlight so many actors who work with Hallmark. In fact, I went up to Vancouver last year for the When Calls the Heart Convention, and I am going again this year. So speaking of that show, it was nice to see you in When Calls the Heart this past season. 

Kevin in When Calls the Heart season 5

Yeah, that was a lot of fun. Finally after all these years hearing Lori talk about When Calls the Heart on set…usually, she’s moving right into When Calls the Heart after filming one of our Garage Sale movies. But it was a great opportunity, and Lori had a huge part in me getting that role. I really wanted to play it up since it is a time period piece. As I’m sure the Hearties saw, I changed my hair and my voice. Unfortunately, I wasn’t too familiar with what had been going on prior to my role, and the next thing I knew, I was jumping into this huge plot line. I talked to a few fans, and they were like, “Oh, we hate you!” {laughs} Actually, it was pretty cool getting to be the person who had to defend this guy that so many fans seemed to hate. Quite a different role for me.

I know some people didn’t even recognize you in your role. They didn’t even know you’d been on the show.

Great! That was the intent. We had a lot of fun when I got on set. I had the opportunity to change things about me so that I really could become this character. I didn’t want it to be a case of “Detective Lynwood” playing Archie Reed.

Well, I think you succeeded, and you ended up getting to be a part of what became a rather explosive season. Thankfully, you were on earlier in the season, but the finale of season five did create quite a stir within the Hearties community.

Yes, I heard about that.

But it’s been interesting to see the fans begin to come back to the show as season six filming is well underway again.

Lori Loughlin; Kevin O’Grady Credit: Copyright 2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Sven Boecker

Exactly. During our filming of Garage Sale this year…and this is how much Lori cares and proves just how great Lori is. She created a video to communicate to those fans to tell them that she understands. If you saw that video that played right before the finale of season five, Lori filmed it on the set of Garage Sale Mystery. I was blown away that Lori took the time to do that for the fans. And the thing was–she was right! She knew she had to create that video to talk to the fans, and it was clear that her concern for them was warranted. They really were that angry and upset about the finale. Her foreknowledge was just uncanny. And even then, I happened to look at the comments under that video after the finale ended with Daniel Lissing’s character dying…it was incredible! I was just like, “Wow!” It was unbelievable to me just how much the fans were in an uproar.

I was a little surprised myself. But I did discover that there was a silent majority. We were the ones who didn’t say very much because we just didn’t want to get involved. I did happen to say something once, and a fan got a bit nasty with me, and I decided to just step back and let the fans say whatever they needed to say. This person had claimed that I was the only one who still wanted to support the show, and my first thought was, “Well, probably not.” And as it turns out, there were more of us than what I even realized. And just like Lori predicted, many of the fans began to work through their emotions and move past their anger and hurt. I was so impressed with the way Lori–and Erin {Krakow}, Dan, and Brian {Bird} too, of course–handled the situation. I was impressed with her before, but this made me even more impressed with her.

Yes, and that is Lori. Now you get to understand how lucky I am to work with Lori like I have over the past five years. She really does care that much. I don’t actually know of any show in recent history really taking the time to connect with its fans when a major character passes. Typically, it would be viewed as a hassle to do anything like that. I’ve never seen it. It was impressive, and I was just amazed that Lori would take her own time to do this. She really was concerned, and she said that she had to do this; she had to warn the fans.

I realize with these four Garage Sale Mysteries films coming up, there may not be much that you can say. But is there anything you can tease about any of the four without giving away too much?

Steve Bacic, Sarah Strange, Kevin O’Grady, Lori Loughlin, Connor Stanhope, Eva Bourne Credit: Copyright 2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Sven Boecker

Well, what can I tease that won’t spoil anything? That’s a tough one, but I do have something that comes to mind because it was the last one we filmed. And I’m guessing from what I’ve seen from the promo that they are showing them in the order that we filmed them.

So on August 26th, you will be seeing this fourth one that we shot, and it’s called Garage Sale Mysteries: Murder in D Minor. This one is quite an expansive one and it’s the first time we’ve ever gone into any sort of global impact that has intrigue from the past, from Europe. It even features an investigator from Europe who gets involved. It was cool to watch how this one would go because I could see that we were really expanding the dynamics of the show, instead of it just being confined to the local people who are involved in the community.

If you think about it, in the typical story of Garage Sale Mysteries, that’s a lot of murders to happen in one spot. {laughs} But we don’t spend time thinking about that because, of course, Jen can’t solve anything if these murders don’t happen. This finale of the four is also a great way to end the month. There are  plenty of new and interesting stuff that have been injected into the movies this year, so I don’t think you’ll find it feeling like “the same old, same old.” Lots of dynamics and a lot of new things added that caused us all to go, “Wow. Is this gonna work?” And while I haven’t seen the movies yet, I’ve talked to the producers, and it totally works. And I have confidence in the producers and the network. Plus, Hallmark is in love with these movies and the series. But when you get to the end of this last film of the month, it’s like the final crescendo of things, and I’ve seen a little bit of that footage. It looks great! I hope that answers your question. That’s all I can give without spoiling it.

Definitely, it does. It also looks like Detective Lynwood’s wife is back. 

With Johannah Newmarch

{laughs} Yes, she is. And I only laugh because there are definitely a few people that are very vocal on social media about this character. I love Johannah Newmarch; she’s fantastic. I do wish she was able to be in a lot more of the films and the scenes. But to be honest, the only way she could be in it more is if they did scenes–which they totally could–where you see me going home. That’s something they’ve never done in these films.

I’m gonna say this out loud here in case anyone at Hallmark is reading this, it would be great to have the aspect of Detective Lynwood going home to his wife, sitting down and taking a load off, and both of them could chat about the day a little bit. You can imagine the life of the wife of a homicide detective. She might have to hear a lot of the day’s goings-on and sympathize with the stresses that he goes through. And I’m sure that any spouse that’s in that actual, real-life scenario would probably be there for him and help him all she could. She can be there as a sounding board. I personally think that would create another dynamic to the story that I think the fans would like, considering how much the fans have come to know and (I assume) like me in the show. So I think if we had her more in that dynamic, it would be really good and interesting to see.

I’m in agreement with you, of course. I’m not the most vocal of the fans in regards to Johannah, but the fans of which you speak are the ones who were instrumental in getting an interview set up between Johannah and me. She is one busy lady. But I think it would be fascinating to add that dynamic to the films. It wouldn’t have to be much, but it could help flesh out your characters a bit, I think. Maybe something for the future. 

Eva Bourne; Kevin O’Grady; Johannah Newmarch; Connor Stanhope Credit: Copyright 2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

Totally. Any show that I’m a fan of, especially if they have a character like mine in the show who is very prominent…I can’t think of one that doesn’t extend off for at least a little bit into what is more of their lives, outside of me just showing up at the crime scene and recapping the murder or showing up at the antique store…you know you have to have those scenes. I think it would be great, and in some ways, it seems like it should have already happened. But the thing is that you get these writers and the crux of the story is about Jen and getting the story of the murder worked out. And of course, that is always the most important element in these movies.

Honestly, I agree with you. And it’s entirely possible that no one has thought of doing that. The focus is on Jen and whodunit, which should be the main thing. But in doing that, it’s easy to let any other plot elements slide and not get as developed as much as they should. And since August seems to have now officially become Garage Sale Mystery month, maybe they will start to add in other parts like that. 

I think you have a good point. They just may never have thought of it, and you may be more right than you think! It would make Johannah and me very happy to be featured just a little bit, and we’d be so grateful to Hallmark and the fans both.

I was thinking about this series Garage Sale Mysteries, and it is incredible how well this series has done and how many you have filmed. I think Sarah told me there are fifteen films in the series as of now. And it’s unusual to have film series that last that long. It’s an incredible testament to all of you connected with the show and the network itself.

Hallmark TCA’s July 2018

Yeah, let’s face it. Hallmark is the only place really…well, Netflix has its own movies, but they don’t do it like serial movies. From what I know of Hollywood, that’s how it used to be for quite a while, back in the beginnings of Hollywood. While those weren’t the only movies they were doing in the ’20’s, ’30’s, and ’40’s, they definitely had serial movies where every few months or so, you would get that character doing another type of movie again. So these Garage Sale movies are really a throwback, which is really cool.

But to have this many movies a year and this many movies over such a short period of time, it’s really incredible. I don’t know if everyone saw it, but there was a release that Hallmark did in the early part of the year that said that Garage Sale Mysteries is their most popular or best commodity that Hallmark has right now outside of their Christmas movies. And when I saw that I was like, “Geez! I didn’t know it was that popular!” And again, that’s why they gave us a month, and it was such a massive, popular thing. We’re going to do it again, and we’ll probably continue to do it again until the fans go, “Ah, we’re sick of Lori!” You know what I mean?! “Get us someone else!” But we all know there’s no one else who could do what Lori does, and no veteran actor with the kind of talent and influence Lori has who is also so popular with the fans.

I tend to think that Lori might get to a point where she’s not able to do it anymore before the fans would get tired of it. I can’t see the fans saying, “Oh, we’re tired of Lori!” {laughs}

with Lori Loughlin behind-the-scenes

Me neither! {laughs} You know, I’m not tired of Lori!

Well, the fans are certainly excited for these four Garage Sale Mysteries films, and I will say that all of them last year were just so well-done, I thought. And they still get rerun on the network quite regularly.

What’s cool is that in Canada, there are three networks that show the movies regularly all the time. The Canadian network Bravo is the network that picks up the Garage Sale Mysteries right away. While they don’t show them the same week as Hallmark, they do show them the following week. So Canada is just one week behind. Then they will show reruns of the movies now and then. Then there’s a network called Gusto, which is a network where they show a lot of reruns, including Garage Sale Mysteries. Then one of our main networks, CTV, will show them on Saturday nights every now and then as their main movie. CTV is definitely the equivalent of a network like, say, ABC. So that’s usually when I get most of the people I know across Canada sending me a message saying, “Hey, I just saw you!” It is pretty cool, and it is because of that that I now get some of these odd, extra-long looks when I’m out and about in public. People will be like, “I know I’ve seen you….”

Steve Bacic, Sarah Strange, Kevin O’Grady, Lori Loughlin, Connor Stanhope, Eva Bourne Credit: Copyright 2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Sven Boecker

It’s one of those things that…it’s kind of like lightning in a bottle. You have the storyline, you have Lori and this cast of people like Sarah Strange and Steve Bacic as examples of people who have been acting steadily since the late ’90’s. They came in qualified and well-versed on what it takes to be in a series. They’re just great actors, and they fit perfectly in their roles. Then I come in, and I’ve been acting for a long time too. And everything just worked out. And also, if anyone ever wonders, me and Lori get along fantastically and we’re both jokers and we love to goof off. But we also understand when it’s time to work.

Take a look at any series that has lasted for a long time. I think of Cheers. It went on for eleven years, and Cheers could have gone on forever. There was such a chemistry and something that was so right with those people. You wanted to tune in and know more about these characters. It’s the same kind of feeling with Garage Sale Mysteries, I think. And that really is a testament to the producers and everyone involved who ended up casting us. But it’s also just life, as you know. It just happens. The stories are great and the fans love it. It’s the perfect recipe for success that I hope keeps going on a very long time.

So do you get to beat up anyone this time?

Kevin O’Grady Credit: Copyright 2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

{laughs} Oh, that was cool last year. I know I never really got to tell you about that part, but it was great. They had a couple of stunt guys there to do that, and then I was watching them go through the motions, and my scene partner {I don’t want to share the actor’s name, lest someone has not seen that particular episode} and I decided we could do it on our own. And we did. It was a lot of fun, and it was cool. It was a dynamic of a cop show, which I really loved.

In these next four films, I can’t say that anything like that is happening; I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone. But there definitely are some movies in this block where there’s a bit more detective work that I have to do which reminds me more of a cop show. I think the viewers kind of saw that last year too. There were a lot more scenes last year that were quite heavy with my character. There were a lot of interrogations and interviews of witnesses that I did. And I think it kind of ebbs and flows, which is good. If you have four movies and half the story is just me interrogating people, you might be, “Oh, seen this before. Click!” So instead they choose to change it up, but there are always some interrogations. I have to talk to these nasty criminals and all sorts of people. But I don’t want to give anything away. {laughs}

I still do remember when you had that scene last year and you had to take that guy down; it was great! 

{laughs} I’m glad it turned out.

Kevin O’Grady; Lori Loughlin; Steve Bacic; Connor Stanhope Credit: Copyright 2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

It definitely did. And you could tell that you were really into that part. 

{laughs} Oh yes, I was! You figured me out!

It’s always fun when the viewers can tell when an actor suddenly gets to do something that they really enjoy, and I could tell, Kevin, just how much you enjoyed that scene!

Well, you got me, Ruth!

In addition to the Garage Sale Mysteries films, do you have anything else upcoming that you can mention? No doubt those movies kept you well-occupied for a while.

Yes, I was very occupied with those films, quite happily, I might add. I wish I did have something else upcoming, but I was kept so busy with these four films that I was kind of off the radar for a time. Unfortunately, I’m not like Lori who already has When Calls the Heart and Fuller House coming up. But no doubt other roles will come my way soon enough. I’ve auditioned for a lot of fantastic things lately, but those are just auditions.

Of course, I am not worried, nor do I regret my time with Hallmark. I loved being on Garage Sale, and I wouldn’t trade that time for anything. It’s just the life of a working actor. I did recently audition for a big blockbuster thing that will shoot in Montreal, but we’ll see if that actually happens for me. Maybe next time I talk to you, you’ll say, “Hey, I just saw you in…” And I can say, “Yes, that’s the one.”  You never know.

But the opportunity to do all these Garage Sale Mysteries films are the kinds of things that open up the door to other opportunities that any actor hopes would come. My fingers are crossed for bigger, juicier, more fantastic roles that I can hopefully fit in during the fall and winter and then get back at to playing Detective Lynwood opposite the lovely Lori. Also, in anticipation of one of your questions I am sure you were going to ask, as far as everything is concerned, 2019 will be another year for Garage Sale Mysteries month.

Kevin O’Grady Credit: Copyright 2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Sven Boecker

I kind of figured that. I couldn’t see where that wouldn’t be happening. I tend to think the only way they would stop it is if Lori personally couldn’t commit to doing it. But it’s a good thing to know that we have even more to look forward to next. And maybe Hallmark will snatch you up for a Christmas movie.

Well, me and Lori have talked about that. I can spill the beans a little bit. There have been some definite talks about Lori trying to squeeze in a Christmas movie. Whether or not I’ll be in that remains to be seen. I love working with her, so I hope it does happen. So we’ll see.

And you know, that’s the other thing. I look back on the last five years since 2014, I have shot fifteen movies for Hallmark–fourteen Garage Sale Mysteries and one Christmas movie. And that’s a lot. A lot of Hallmark right there. And I couldn’t be more proud that I’ve gotten the chance to work with the network so much.

And then adding in When Calls the Heart…

Yeah, that’s right! In fact, the thing about Hallmark here in Vancouver, which you know is so great, is that it gives a lot of us actors who have been around in the business for a while such a great opportunity to work on some fabulous material that allows us to have steady work, and that is just so wonderful.  But what is also cool is seeing a lot of my friends who I’ve been working with for fifteen years now having roles on other shows like me. A few of them you’ve interviewed, like Viv Leacock, who plays a private investigator on the Hailey Dean Mysteries, which is so cool. We’re like best buds, and because of him, I got to meet Kellie Martin, and she’s cool too. And another person you’ve interviewed recently, Sandy Sidhu, who’s had a lot of these upcoming roles. And Niall Matter, who I did acting classes with for years. I mean, he’s all over Hallmark and has so many fans. And then there’s great ladies like Tammy Gillis and Sharon Taylor–all these people who have evolved within the industry and now have their own series, and some are even leads in series. It’s a really neat phenomenon.

I know exactly what you mean! In fact, there’s another actor, Marcus Rosner, who the Hearties have watched for years since he tried to steal Elizabeth’s heart in season two of When Calls the Heart. He kept popping up in various roles on Hallmark, but he never seemed to get the girl. Until recently, when he got his first Hallmark lead, and he finally got the girl.

Oh yeah, maybe one day I’ll actually solve the mystery!

Uh, hey, sure, that IS possible. 

Not really possible.

{laughs} It’s possible, but not highly probable. But maybe one day your character will solve it just about the same time as Jen does. Maaybee. Maybe, maybe, I don’t know.

{sarcastically} Thanks, Ruth.

{laughs} Well, maybe it will be something like Jen is truly in peril and you really have to come to her rescue. But then again, you do come to her rescue now and then. Kind of.

Hallmark TCA’s July 2018

What do you mean “kind of”?! ]

Well, I think you’ve saved her quite a few times. I mean, almost every episode you’re the one who shows up. So you may not ever solve the mystery, but you save her so she can come back and solve more mysteries. 

Yes, I do very well at that. {laughs}

That certainly makes you a vital character.

Yeah, I hope so.

Last week, I talked with Jay Brazeau, the coroner. He always speaks very highly of everyone in the cast. 

Jay has one of the longest resumes I’ve ever seen, probably in Hollywood history. Compared to even the old-time Hollywood people, I put Jay in there any day. And he’s one of these sweethearts that has zero attitude or thinking that he’s better than anyone else, and he’s so genuine. Also, he really gets excited about seeing other people’s work. I can say that I’m hoping if I’m still acting when I’m Jay’s age, that I can still have that as well. And the thing too with Jay is the way they have written all those puns…I think that’s kind of how Jay is in real life.

Yes, I think Jay even says he’s kind of playing himself in many ways.

It’s so great to see Hallmark featuring so many of us, and I cannot believe the difference they have made in the film community up here in Vancouver. Fifteen years ago, we just had a few guest spots here and there, and now many of us have recurring roles or leads on our own shows and movies. It’s great to see that.

While I haven’t followed all of you that many years, it’s awesome for me to see what’s happened even in the past few years and to see how things have really picked up for everyone. I tend to get very invested in all of your careers. I have been known to get very excited when I see a tweet come out saying that so-and-so has booked some great role. {laughs}

{laughs} Ruth, we appreciate that. We really do. Fans like you and all the Hallmark fans make it totally worth it. If there’s no one enjoying what we’re doing, then what’s the point? And I can speak for everyone at Garage Sale Mysteries. We all really appreciate you.

I am happy to do it, and it’s nice to feel appreciated. We are all looking forward to this weekend, and I can hardly wait to see what Detective Lynwood gets up to this time!

Thank you, Ruth. I look forward to seeing it myself and seeing what the fans think.

Lori Loughlin; Kevin O’Grady Credit: Copyright 2018 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Sven Boecker

There is nothing I savor more than repeat interviews, and in the case of Kevin, this is one of the most entertaining interviews I’ve had the pleasure of conducting. Indeed, I find myself even more impressed with Kevin each time I interact with him. There is decidedly a reason why Hallmark has utilized his gifts and abilities tremendously over the past five years, and I earnestly anticipate what will be coming in the future for him. Kevin strikes a perfect balance between the ability to understand, recognize and promote his talent while still remaining humble and grateful for every single opportunity afforded him within the industry. Furthermore, the fact that Lori herself is extremely outspoken about the fact that she adores Kevin and his on-set antics and professionalism are a true corroboration of who he is as an individual. After all, I am thoroughly convinced that Lori would not highlight just anyone with whom she chooses to share a set on a regular basis. Besides, the fact that Kevin has such an appealing sense of humor that he demonstrates at appropriate times endears this phenomenally talented man to me even more. Oh, and he actually appreciates me? Trust me, that is ALWAYS the way to this journalist’s heart!

It is my sincerest desire that every home in the U.S. will tune in to the Hallmark Movies & Mystery network every Sunday this month (August) in order to view and support the most successful Hallmark mystery series in history. (And if you are in Canada, take full advantage of what Kevin mentioned concerning these films because I can promise you will not regret that decision.) Moreover, if you are so inclined, feel free to visit each of Kevin’s links below and consider following him where applicable, lest you miss any news about upcoming films and shows. (After all, he does a lot of work with Lori Loughlin, and who doesn’t want to watch that incredible woman on screen?) I cannot praise Kevin enough for taking the time to share some information and laughs with me, and my fingers are crossed that Hallmark will choose to place him in another one of their projects very soon. In my humble opinion, this man has labored intensively to receive the accolades he now enjoys, and it would only make me more ecstatic to see him just a little bit more often on my TV screen!

FOLLOW KEVIN

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

IMDB

Spread the love

Tweet