If you are an avid Hallmark viewer like I am, I would be quite shocked if you didn’t recognize Milo Shandel (please note the correct pronunciation–it is “Mee-loh,” not “Mi-loh,” as I quickly discovered in the course of our conversation). While you might not know him by name, you probably recognize his face and you may even remember some of his more memorable characters (I hope When Calls the Heart fans remember him). Towards the end of last year, he and I finally had the opportunity to chat about his career, and in honor of the upcoming premiere of Matching Hearts this weekend (February 8 on the Hallmark Channel and the W Network), it is my delight to share our most entertaining and quite informative chat.
Photo by Farrah Aviva
RH: Milo, I’m so glad it worked out to chat with you today! I have been trying to figure out the best way to get in contact with you for a while now, and I’m so glad it happened!
MS: Ruth, thank you for reaching out. I’m so sorry we haven’t connected before. I have three kids and my time often gets sucked into this kid vortex a lot. I will sometimes hear, “Hey, you never got back to me about that audition yesterday.” And I will say, “I’m sorry, I was on the soccer field, and it was pouring rain. Then my kids were hungry, and I had to get some lunch.” It’s a constant juggling act right now.
I understand totally! After all, you’ve had to wait a few months for this interview to get posted because I have a teenage daughter and two parents and a very busy life too. So no problem. I’m just glad we could chat today.
Well, thank you for being patient with me.
With Emily Tennant
No problem, Milo. It works both ways. I have a reputation for being persistent. So I’ve been following your career for a while now, basically since you started doing Hallmark stuff. That was how you ended up on my radar. But I notice you’ve had quite a career on the stage as well.
Yeah, I didn’t really start doing TV until 2010. I had been doing theater for twenty years before then, mostly musical theater. But I did go to acting school. I started out doing classical drama. I did Shakespeare at the Stratford Festival in Ontario. And then I naturally gravitated to musicals because I could sing–thankfully–and that was where most of the work was. I ended up touring with Mamma Mia all over North America for six years.
That’s what I was reading! I wish I would have had the opportunity to see you in that. But I only saw Mamma Mia when I was in London.
First National Tour
Mamma Mia cast
Okay, I was not in that production. I know I played many cities, but not London. I played Seattle, Spokane, Vancouver…I’ve probably been to more states and cities in the U.S. than ninety-nine percent of Americans ever get to see. With six years of traveling around like that you really get to know the country quite well. We also played Mexico City for two weeks, Guadalajara for a week…it was a great time.
My wife came down as well. She was also in Mamma Mia, but she was in the Toronto company for years. We were apart for three years doing this thing. We would talk to each other every night. We had the same frame of reference, but we were talking about different companies. Because those big musicals are cookie-cutter musicals–they’re exactly the same from show to show pretty much–I could say to her, “I was doing ‘Under Attack’ tonight, and my top hat fell off” or whatever, and she knew exactly what I was talking about. She was in the exact same number in the exact same show. She did end up coming down and joining me on the road together for a couple of years. When we were on the road, that’s where we first got pregnant and had our first child. That was an interesting experience.
Mamma Mia tour
I can imagine. So since you had all this stage work going on, how did you make the transition to doing more film and TV?
It had more to do with where I was living. We were based in Toronto for years, but we’re both from Vancouver. Once we had our first child and I’d been touring for six years, I wanted to go back to Vancouver and decompress a little bit. And be around family. And show off the baby. Then it just kind of got its hooks into me, and we ended up staying. Every time we would talk about going back to Toronto, something would happen and we would stay a little longer.
Then I ended up getting cast in this kid’s show called Mr. Young. It was a kid’s sitcom, and that was out of the blue. I had never done any TV, but the requirements for that type of show were very theatrical. So my theatrical experience and my bent for comedy are what got me the job. I ended up being on that show for three years. And by that time, I had pretty much decided to give up the theater for a while and pursue more TV. And Vancouver’s the place to do that. Plus, we were with family. And we had another child, and then we had another child. And we just started to put down roots again, and that’s why we stayed.
When Calls the Heart
That makes sense. Now, I was trying to figure out what your first Hallmark thing was. That can be a challenge sometimes. But I think your first Hallmark movie may have been A Novel Romance.
You know, I think you’re right actually. It was either A Novel Romance or it was When Calls the Heart. But I’m pretty sure it’s A Novel Romance. It’s funny. I had auditioned for When Calls the Heart several times before I got the role of Jenkins. I think I auditioned when they were shooting the pilot–not the original TV movie, but the pilot for the series. I know I auditioned for the role of Ned Yost. And I think there was a mayor role, Silas Ramsey, if I remember right. I remember I auditioned for Michael Landon Jr. I had a callback. I seem to remember auditioning for Reverend Anderson as well. Now, I wasn’t bitter that I didn’t get those roles. Vancouver is a pretty small acting community, so you see the same guys at your auditions. You figure out pretty quickly what your type is when you walk into the room and look around. It’s like, “Oh, it’s me and all the other bald, middle-aged guys.”
with Jack Wagner
When Calls the Heart
{laughs}I can imagine. But you were on When Calls the Heart as Mr. Jenkins for quite a while. We saw you over several seasons.
Yeah, that worked out really nicely. And that was partially due to Peter DeLuise talking to the writers and producers saying, “There’s this character they keep talking about but we haven’t met yet.” And I think they realized that they needed to write something for this Jenkins banker guy. Peter is a great guy, and he made sure that I was brought in for that. And the rest is history. It was fun, and it was a nice run for sure.
with Peter DeLuise
I remember that back during seasons two and three, I used to get early access to the episodes and review them ahead of time. I was pretty sure I remembered your character, and the first thing that popped up when I did a search was a review I had done and I mentioned your name in the review. And that was nice to see. It was back in 2016.
Well, that’s good to hear.
Of course, I don’t think your character will pop up again in the show. I think he’s long gone at this point.
Yeah, he took the money and ran. {laughs} I think he sold the bank. Took the money. Went back east. I think he could show up again, but if he did, I tend to think he will have lost all his money at the casinos or something. Let’s face it. He was not the best banker in the world. He made some bad investments. He was a bad judge of character.
When Calls the Heart
Although now Gowen’s reformed.
If he can reform, then there’s hope for everyone.
Right. And they could always bring you back in their spin-off show When Hope Calls. They shoot that up in North Bay, and while they only have done one season so far, we’re definitely hoping for more.
Oh, that’s true. Yes, North Bay! I’d love to go!
Mr. Young
They’ve shared their characters between the two shows in a few episodes, so you never know. Now, you were in a Christmas movie not this past season but back in 2018. A Gingerbread Romance.
Yes, that’s right. I was the mayor of Philadelphia. Now, I don’t know if they ever mentioned in the movie that it was Philadelphia, but when I auditioned for it, it was Philadelphia.
I don’t always remember where these movies are supposed to take place. Very often, they mention Seattle or Portland, and I often sit there thinking how there’s no place like that in those areas, but that’s okay. So many of these are filmed up in Vancouver, so I just go along with it. But back to your character, it’s always nice to see you pop up on Hallmark or elsewhere because you often play a principal or a mayor.
Yeah, that’s kind of my jam. It’s the male authority figure. Principals, mayors, a lot of doctors–I do a lot of doctors on episodic TV. And it’s great. I don’t mind it at all. I really don’t mind being typecast as long as I’m working.
I see you’ve also been in a couple of these Hallmark mysteries.
Milo Shandel Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Kailey Schwerman
Yes, Mystery 101: Words Can Kill. And you’ll see me pop up in the next Picture Perfect Mysteries: Dead Before Diamonds film coming out later this month. I can say I will be back to my usual jam in that one. I’m playing a rich art collector, which might be kind of a stretch, I guess. The lovely thing was that I was directed by Ron Oliver in that one. He is just a treat to work with.
Credit: ©2020 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: David Dolsen
But I always say, thank God for Hallmark. There are so many different seasonal movies. Speaking of that, I have another film coming up this weekend, Matching Hearts, with Taylor Cole and Ryan Paevey. I’m looking forward to seeing what the Hallmark audience will think of it. You’re definitely going to see a different side of me–lighter, goofier–what kids and younger audiences know me for. But Hallmark just has all kinds of movies that they do now. The mystery movies. Of course, the Christmas movies. There’s summer, autumn, Valentine’s Day…there’s always something to audition for with Hallmark.
I’m so glad to hear that. I am always watching the Hallmark movies. And I think that’s what prompted me to reach out to you for an interview because I saw a whole string of these Hallmark movies, and I was like, “Oh, there he is again.”
Mr. Young
{laughs} Hopefully the fans aren’t getting sick of me so that Hallmark doesn’t go, “Oh no, we can’t cast him in this part!”
Oh, no, of course not! We’re not sick of you, Milo. In fact, the interesting thing for me–and I think a lot of the fans feel this way–it’s kind of like the way old Hollywood used to do things. You’d have those character actors that would pop up in so many of these movies, and it was always fun to see who they might be playing this time. It’s like that with Hallmark. They have a pool of actors that they pick from.
Mr. Young
Exactly. And I think it’s great. It also reminds me of a Repertory Theater company where you might go see a show on a Tuesday night, and some of the company are in that show. And then you’d go the following week on a Wednesday night, and it’s a completely different play. There’s a couple of different actors from the first one, but then there’s also some new ones. I also think it’s smart from their perspective because they have a certain brand. And they have a certain audience who expects a certain type of movie and actor. For whatever reason, there’s something about me and these other actors…there’s a comfort level from the network and from the audience, and I’m happy to fill that role. It’s a lot of fun working on these movies. It’s always a positive experience. My kids like to watch them too, so it’s great.
Photo by Farrah Aviva
That’s nice to hear because a lot of times actors tell me how now that they have a family, they prefer to do Hallmark movies because when they work on something from another network, their kids can’t always watch it.
How very true. You know, I just remembered this. My old company manager from Mamma Mia who lives in New York just loves watching Hallmark movies. She watches them all! So every time she sees me in one, she’ll send me a little message to say that she saw me. It’s kind of a nice way to stay connected to people. All my friends back in the U.S. can keep up with my work by watching my Hallmark movies.
I’m sure the When Calls the Heart community remembers you well. I do not doubt that when they see you in other Hallmark movies, they will probably say, “Hey, there’s Mr. Jenkins from Hope Valley!”
That’s very true. You know what else is so funny? I keep trying to grow a beard. So every time I grow a beard and it looks great, I end up going in for an audition–usually Hallmark–and they’ll be like, “Great! Booked! Here are your dates. Oh, and you don’t mind shaving off the beard, do you?” Sometimes when you go in for an audition with an altered appearance such as a beard, they can’t see past that alteration and it may keep you from getting the job. But I guess with Hallmark, they know what I look like without the beard, and that’s the look they want. And they know I’ll shave the beard if they ask, and I’m not going to complain. Unless there’s a lumberjack movie coming up or something where everybody has to have a beard. Who knows?
You never know. I know Hallmark has begun to allow more beards from their leading men.
Yes, I’ve heard that. They don’t want a full-on, bushy beard, but they don’t seem to mind a little five o’clock shadow or a little scruff. But that might end up making me look like I’m homeless, so I just figure I’ll trim it all off.
Hipster Bunch cast
directed by Milo
I understand you’ve done some directing of independent film as well.
Yes, most of my professional directing has been in the kid’s genre. I’m kind of a specialist in kid’s multi-cam sitcoms. The same genre that my show Mr. Young was in. That’s the classic four-camera setup like the way that a show like Friends was shot. Will and Grace is another perfect example. Or Big Bang Theory. It’s that style of shooting. I’ve done a couple of short films and a web series. I was really very lucky to parlay my kid’s show experience into directing. I’ve done two different kid’s sitcoms, ten episodes of those. Got nominated for a Leo Award. It’s something I’d like to continue to do, but I think I would have to expand my toolbox a little bit and start shooting some traditional single-cam stuff.
I’m so glad you’ve gotten the chance to do that, Milo. I know that the Vancouver film community is very supportive.
Directing a sitcom
Yes, it really is. If somebody has the gumption to put together a script and they want to shoot something, everybody appears. We all do each other favors. We are all willing to help out and get things made because everyone’s trying to make it in the business.
I’ve also started to write with my wife. We’ve been putting together concepts for kid’s shows for a few years now. We had some traction back east with some production companies, but nothing’s been produced yet. But we have an idea that’s been bought by Netflix, so hopefully, Netflix is going to develop and end up producing this show that we came up with. But it’s up to them now since they purchased the rights from us for eighteen months. So we’ll see what happens.
I’m getting into all aspects of behind-the-camera, and you kind of have to do that in Canada. It’s not a big enough industry that you can only do one thing if you want to make a career. You have to do a little bit of everything. Just like you can’t act in one style. You’ve got to be able to act in all different kinds of genres and do a little bit of producing, a little directing, maybe a little theater as well. You have to sort of be a jack-of-all-trades.
Mr. Young
I’ve heard that from a lot of my friends in the business. Recently, I got to see just how amazing the Vancouver film community was when I went up there last fall for a screening of Daughter. I couldn’t get over how supportive that community was! So, Milo, do you have anything else upcoming besides these two Hallmark films you mentioned?
Yes, well, it’s no longer upcoming, but I was on an episode of Nancy Drew recently. I was on episode six, and if you missed it, you can still stream it. What I will say is that you will have to look closely because I’m wearing a mask. I won’t say why I’m wearing a mask. But you’ll be able to recognize my voice. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t watched it.
I am watching and basically enjoying Nancy Drew. It’s taken a little while for me to get into the show, but seeing all my friends in it makes me want to keep watching. I’ve been watching both Nancy Drew and Batwoman. They’re both kind of interesting and feature a lot of the Vancouver film community.
Legends Of Tomorrow
Oh yeah, I’ve been watching Batwoman too. I’m a huge Batman comic geek, so I’ve been enjoying Batwoman. It’s interesting. I grew up as such a total comic book nerd, but I’ve barely done any of these superhero shows. That’s been the one gap in my resume. I did one episode of Legends Of Tomorrow. But everybody else that I know has done Flash and Arrow and Supergirl. I’m like, “Don’t they have a doctor in that city?!” {laughs}
Well, there are more spin-off shows coming.
I know. They’re not going anywhere. So once they finally run out of actors, they’ll knock on my door. {laughs}
Now I’ve heard about Are You Afraid Of the Dark?, but I have not watched the show. I know you were a part of that.
Legends Of Tomorrow with Jesse Reid
Yes, I was. I would call that a gentle horror. I’m playing a high school teacher in that. If you can manage it, it’s a good show. It’s a well-thought-out reboot.
Then I noticed you’re in The Baby-Sitters Club that will be coming up.
Yes, I am in that, and it’s on Netflix. Again, I’m playing a teacher. I’ve played a lot of teachers over the past year. I also am in a Netflix rom-com called Love, Guaranteed with Damon Wayans Jr. and Rachael Leigh Cook. Netflix has been doing a lot of these rom-coms lately. They’re kind of bringing the rom-com back, which is just great. The director of this one is Mark Steven Johnson. He was the writer and director of a movie called Simon Birch which was based on the John Irving novel A Prayer For Owen Meany. That movie was shot back in Toronto back in 1997/1998. It was one of my first times on a set. I was in the background. I mentioned to Mark in the audition that I wanted to let him know that I was on the set of Simon Birch. It was a cool little moment to share with him because I think that was one of the first things he ever did as a writer/director. Anyway, I was very happy to be involved with this rom-com. It was a lot of fun to shoot, and I look forward to everyone getting to see it.
Mr. Young
Well, it sounds like you have a lot that’s already out and maybe even more coming out this year, Milo.
Yeah, last year was a great year, and this year is starting off well too. I’ve been juggling all that with family stuff. My wife just got her teaching degree back in 2018, and she just started teaching this fall. My oldest son just started high school this school year. So it’s been a very momentous year.
That sounds great! We missed seeing you in a new Christmas movie this past season, but I’m sure there will be more in the future.
Oh, definitely. There’s always a lot of auditioning, and sometimes things come out of the blue. Luckily, I’m at a point in my career where certain casting directors will see that there’s a small part like a doctor or something where they just need someone to come in and deliver a whole bunch of technobabble, and sometimes I just get the offer. It’s kind of nice when that happens.
That just sounds wonderful! You certainly sound busy.
Yes, we definitely are. We’ve got all these projects coming up. I’m trying to do some more writing on other projects. Then we’re trying to get the kids through school this year and through soccer season, and then maybe one of the days, I’ll try to get some exercise! {laughs}
I know that can be a challenge to fit everything in sometimes. Well, I can say it was nice to see some of your Christmas movies from past years replay this during the tenth year of Countdown to Christmas. I always love it when Hallmark does that. And we are definitely looking forward to this weekend with Matching Hearts.
Thank you so much, Ruth, for reaching out. And thanks to all the fans for their wonderful support!
To the typical TV viewer, Milo may appear to be a “one-trick pony” whose wheelhouse does not typically venture beyond that of principal, teacher, doctor, or banker. However, upon further scrutiny, it is entirely evident that Milo is an incredibly capable artist in his own right who continues to delve more deeply into the world of film and TV whenever he has the chance. While he can portray an authority figure with ease and inject some well-timed comedy into the mix, I have no doubt that he could play just about any role he wanted to if he put his mind to it. His characterization of Mr. Jenkins in When Calls the Heart demonstrated that he can play a misguided businessman with an agenda that could have brought the entire town of Hope Valley to its knees financially. Maybe one day Hallmark will consider casting him as a cold-blooded killer in one of their mystery films. (I must admit that I wouldn’t mind seeing that!) Regardless, Milo is one of those extraordinary people who is immeasurably gifted but is also far too humble to draw undue attention to himself. He is kind, reliable, dedicated, and altruistic, and I tend to think his creativity and work ethic are two qualities that are going to provide him with even more possibilities in this ever-expanding industry in which he works.
If you can tune in to the Hallmark Channel or the W Network to watch Matching Hearts this weekend on Saturday, February 8th, I truly hope you will do so. Since it boasts an impeccable cast and a marvelous crew, I am expecting it to be sheer delight, and I hope that all of us Hallmark fans get to watch and tweet together. Additionally, if you are so inclined, please visit Milo’s links below and consider following him if you would like to. Even though Milo’s experience within the world of acting is something that spans more than a couple of decades at this point, I am convinced that even more amazing opportunities are still to come for him, and I greatly anticipate being there to support him every step of the way along with as many of you, my readers, who would like to join me in this decidedly worthy endeavor!
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