There can NEVER be enough dreamy leading men on the Hallmark network, and thanks to his first Hallmark movie (Switched For Christmas) a couple of years ago with Christmas Queen Candace Cameron Bure, Mark is indisputably becoming one of our new favorites! I had the opportunity to interview him before his new Christmas movie last year, and because of his new Hallmark movie that is headed our way tonight (August 2nd), it is my supreme honor to share our most recent interview with my readers today!

Mark Deklin Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

What did you enjoy most about your time on Christmas In Evergreen 2 last season? If they were to invite you back for the third installment of this movie, what would be your hopes for your character?

with Jill

Going to work every day with that cast, and with that crew — that was my favorite part.  A terrific group of people, all around.  If I were to return for the next installment, I’d love to have something fun to sink my teeth into, maybe some sort of mystery to solve.  One hopes and assumes that Kevin and Lisa are living happily ever after, so maybe it would be fun to actually see the wedding, or the preparation for it…maybe there’s some drama with the planning, maybe a big snowstorm that threatens to prevent it from happening, I don’t know.  But as far as the boy-meets-girl, blossoming-romance element, I think Jill and I already covered that last Christmas, so I’m not sure how much more we can mine there.  Unless Kevin and Lisa are having marital problems — and I hardly think that our audience wants to see that.  Sure, it can make for juicy drama, but it’s not exactly a happy ending.  And we need a happy ending.

Since that time, you have guest-starred on Grace and Frankie, Blindspot, Younger, and The Code (Yes, I saw you on that one!). Please share any special moments or memories from any of these shows.

From Grace and Frankie

I had a great time on all of these shows, for various reasons.

On Grace and Frankie, the big thrill was (of course) getting to work with that quartet of icons, Martin, Sam, Lilly and Jane — all of whom are lovely, and all of whom are consummate pros.  It was such a joyful and egoless set to work on.

On The Code, I also had a wonderful and fun cast to work with (for such a serious show, that is a very funny group of people), and I always enjoy playing courtroom drama, especially courtroom drama of the intense, in-your-face, “you-can’t-handle-the-truth” variety that we got to dive into with that show.

With Miriam

On Blindspot, it was fun to play another type of jerk altogether; whereas the jerk I played in The Code was very intense and angry and defensive, the jerk I played in Blindspot was laid-back, easy-going and absolutely enjoying the ride of stringing everyone along.  He loved the game of cat and mouse and was completely amused by it all.  A very free-flying kind of role to play with, and I got to walk on that set and just take over the whole space, like a dog marking his territory (which would have been extremely obnoxious for “me” to do, but it was perfectly appropriate for my character).

And then on Younger, I got to work with yet another wonderful cast, but the real thrill was being reunited with my former-fake-tv-wife Miriam Shor.  It’s been a few years since we’ve hung out, and it was so great to see her again.  Our daughters used to be playmates back in the day, and now we’ve both added another kid to our respective broods, so it was a joy to swap family photos and catch up.

Hallmark viewers will soon be seeing you in Love and Sunshine with Danica McKellar. Please tell us about your role and how he fits into the overall story of the film.

Mark Deklin Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

In this film, I play Master Sgt. Jake Terry, whose dog, Sunshine, has been retired from service and sent home from Afghanistan to a farm in Washington, where she’s being fostered until my tour is over by a newly-single landscape designer (Danica).  We begin to form a friendship over our shared love for Sunshine, and from that bond sparks begin to fly…but how long will Jake be home before he’s called back overseas?

Danica McKellar, Mark Deklin Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

Before working with Danica on this film, what interactions had you had with her in the past (if any)? Were you aware of her math books in addition to her acting career? 

I knew who Danica was, both as Winnie Cooper and as the author of several math books, but no, we’d never met (except maybe briefly, in passing, at a Hallmark event a few years ago).

Mark Deklin, Danica McKellar Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

But as soon as I was offered this role, she sent me a lovely DM on Twitter saying that she was so happy to be working with me, that she and her husband are huge Grace and Frankie fans and that they loved me on that show, etc. — which was really sweet, and just started us off on what has become a really great friendship.  We continually crack each other up, and she “forced” me to finally join Instagram, for which she has been my sensei ever since.

And about a week or two after we wrapped filming, she mailed me a couple of her math books for my kids, which was really sweet and thoughtful and generous of her…in other words, very Danica.

Please share any behind-the-scenes moments from filming this movie. Why do you believe Hallmark fans will love this movie?

Danica McKellar, Mark Deklin Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

We had so many.  We laughed A LOT.  One of our favorite things to do, because we’re both big nerds, was to play grammar games and invent new words — our director Ellie and our producer Joey were also in on it, and together with the crew, we were constantly trying to crack each other up between takes.  Which gave the two of us a very comfortable rapport with one another, and I think that comes through in our character’s romantic chemistry, which is one of the main things the fans will love.  Plus a kind, honorable military man and a lovable golden retriever…what’s not to love?

Seth Friesen, Mark Deklin Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

You continue to be an actor who makes it a point to respond to your fans whenever you can on social media. (Thank you!) Why do you believe this is such an important thing for you to do?

I’m very careful about setting boundaries, and I’m very protective of my family’s privacy — but having said that, I also believe very firmly that if someone bothers to pay you a compliment or to reach out to you in some way, the very least you can do is be gracious in response.

Mark Deklin Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

My parents always taught me to accept compliments gratefully as well as graciously, and as I’ve chatted on social media I’ve “met” some really wonderful fans who have, over time, become my Twitter friends (and now Instagram friends).  The truth of the matter is that, yes, there are some real creeps out there in Internet-Land, and so one does have to be careful — but there are also plenty of truly sweet, kind, wonderful, interested (and interesting) people out there, and I enjoy interacting with them very much.

What is one (or two) characters (or character-types) that you would like to play but have not had the opportunity to do so as of yet?

I actually have a dream project that I want to do one of these days — I want to direct a production of George Bernard Shaw’s Man & Superman, in which I would play John Tanner.  But I want to take the Third Act (the dream sequence, sometimes referred to as Don Juan in Hell) out of the larger, full-scale production, which will streamline that considerably…and then simultaneously do a separate, bare-bones, spoken-word production of Don Juan in Hell, in which I would play Don Juan (who is really John Tanner’s alter-ego).  Because Shaw’s language is so rich, and his ideas are so dense and chewy, there’s a weight and a focus and a space for breath around them that they deserve to be given.

Other than that — on a very different note — if they ever do a remake of Willow, I want to play Madmartigan.

Danica McKellar, Mark Deklin Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

What is the most rewarding part about being a working actor in today’s industry? What is the most challenging part?

Mark Deklin, Danica McKellar Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

To be quite honest, I cannot think of a better way to celebrate a summer night than with a heartwarming Hallmark movie. Moreover, if the movie stars one of the exceptional Hallmark leading ladies (Danica), features an enchanting dog, has a military theme, and features Mark Deklin as well…let’s just say this is a delectable treat that can only be conceived in Hallmark Heaven! From the moment I saw Danica, Hallmark, and the dog, I was smitten. But never underestimate the charisma, persona, and talent that Mark brings to any movie or show. He has never disappointed me in anything in which I’ve been honored to witness his on-screen prowess. I mean, I adored him even before I knew his name (I was a massive fan of GCB!). Indeed, he is everything a leading man should be on and off the screen. His charming nature, his robust good looks, his winning smile, his dynamic talent, his pragmatic persona…all of these attributes and more render him the ideal Hallmark suitor for many a Hallmark leading lady. I am immensely pleased that Hallmark and the fans have maintained our love affair with this incredibly talented artist, and I am certainly looking forward to this and more of his offerings in the near and distant future.

Please make every effort possible to tune into the Hallmark Channel tonight (August 2nd) for the premiere of Mark’s new movie Love And Sunshine. (Our Canadian friends will have to wait to watch it next week–August 10th–on the W Network.) While we await what it purported to be one of the most irresistible offerings of the Hallmark Summer Nights films, I invite everyone to check out Mark’s links below and even consider following him via social media if you are so inclined. (Thanks to Danica, he is on Instagram, so don’t forget that one!) God bless Hallmark for bringing this exceptional human being to the network, and here’s to years of romantic comedies… and maybe even a mystery or drama or two (or ten) in the near and distant future. In short, we fans are exuberant that Mark seems to have garnered such a special place in the Hallmark universe, and we anticipate harmonious, thrilling entertainment for decades to come!

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Bess Armstrong, Mark Deklin Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

Jessie Fraser, Vera Ann Fredrickson, Seth Friesen, Mark Deklin, Bess Armstrong Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

Danica McKellar, Mark Deklin Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

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