I honestly don’t remember when I first discovered the incredibly talented Peter Benson, but I have no doubt that the Hallmark network was my introduction to his work. Some time ago, he and I shared an interview that detailed much of his work, but since that time, he has been one busy guy in the world of film and television. Recently, he and I had the pleasure of an updated chat in anticipation of Love Under the Rainbow (which premiered March 9th on the Hallmark Channel) and at least three new Aurora Teagarden mystery films which will air later on this year. While many Hallmark fans have already seen and thoroughly reveled in his most recent offering for the network, I invite you to relish the wonder and joy that is Peter in our most recent conversation!

Photo by kyle4reel

RH: Peter, it’s great to chat with you again. I’m so glad it worked out.

PB: At last we get to chat! I know it’s been a bit crazy. Thank you, Ruth, for being so flexible. I apologize for all our reschedules, but the weather has just been crazy here. And that means we have to keep rescheduling our shoots for the most recent Aurora Teagarden we just completed.

You know, I understand. We’ve had our share of crazy weather too. So we just saw you on The Chronicle Mysteries the other night. 

Oh, yes, how did you like it?

Chronicle Mysteries: The Wrong Man

I was very glad you weren’t the murderer. 

I was too!

At different times throughout that movie, my mom and I both wondered if you might really be the murderer after all. We always watch these mystery films together and try to figure out “who dunnit.” But we decided it was a setup, and I got down to two people I thought it could be, and one of them was right. 

Oh, that’s impressive.

I tell you, these movies are quite involved. You really have to pay attention. 

Absolutely. It was one of the things where I really liked how they have two different storylines that eventually get connected. I thought the way in which those parallel storylines met up was just really great writing. And you know, it was even funny for me when I got the part. When you audition, you don’t get the whole script. The first question I asked was, “Did I do it?” And that all went into how I was playing my character because I was trying to be sincere. But they can also use that to trick you and end up finding out that this guy really is the killer. Apparently, Mike was a good guy. I think the ending might have been a bit confusing ’cause the real killer was still saying we had an affair. But my understanding from the writer and the producers was that was not true. Mike and his wife had problems in their marriage, but he did not have an affair. And that’s how I played it. It was a really great story and cast.

Benjamin Ayres (And Dave Collette) Credit: ©2019 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Dean Buscher

I agree. I know I talked with Dave {Collette} about the movies before they premiered. Ben{jamin Ayres} and I have been trying to set up an interview, but he’s been so busy. 

Oh, yeah, he’s been back and forth between LA and Toronto a lot in the past few weeks. He’s been hard to get a hold of and very busy.

I know that he said how important and special Chronicle Mysteries was to him. And Dave said practically the same thing. Working with Dave and then having you in one of the episodes meant a lot to Ben, I know. I understand you have a wonderful connection both on and off screen. 

Honestly, the three of us had to all stop and realize just how cool this was. We all got to know each other when we would read scripts in my basement and try to put on plays in the local small theater and do a few short films. Basically, when nobody wanted to see us do anything, we were just trying to put our stuff out there and support each other. Then to be on this show all these years later–Ben, Dave, and me–to be in this movie together seemed like a special kind of moment. We had a great time. I don’t even remember acting, to be honest with you. I just remember having fun together. Ben and Dave had already done the first one, and they had become really good friends with Alison {Sweeney}. They let me into their group. And to be honest, we just listened to podcasts and just spent all that time together. It was a really cool, awesome experience.

Now, I knew Chronicle Mysteries was gonna be good, but I can say that it was even better than I expected. 

Well, that’s great. I know they’ve been working hard on them. And I think word on the street is they’re going to do some more.

The Good Doctor

Yes, I’ve chatted with the writer, Melissa Salmons, and they are already working on the next ones. Last I heard, she was finishing up episode four. 

That’s just great! What I have seen from the series is fantastic.

I also just saw you recently on an episode of The Good Doctor. 

Oh, yeah! That was such a fun one to do for a couple of reasons. First of all, Freddie Highmore directed it. You know, he looks about fourteen, and he’s so unassuming and so kind, but man, is he smart, capable, and in control. He knew exactly what he was doing, and he really captained the ship. That was really a fortunate experience to get to see him in action and to work with him.

And then the woman who played my wife is an actress named Robin Lively, who’s been in a lot of things over the years, and she was just great. It was a really intense storyline.

The Good Doctor

That it was!

For someone who has two little kids at home, to have to picture making decisions like that and seeing a baby in jeopardy…you didn’t have to work too hard to get emotional.

I know what you mean. My mom and I watched the episode together, and we both talked about how hard that decision would be and what would be the right thing to do. It’s a decision you don’t ever want to make. And yet there you go. You can end up being placed in that position and having to make a decision you never wanted to make. I don’t even know what the morally right thing to do would be in that case.

That was such a brilliant part about the writing. They actually have medical people there whom they consult about everything and advise the cast and crew. For me, since my character’s wife was choosing to do the surgery at all costs, and my character was worried about doing the surgery…the medical advisers told us that if the surgery went wrong, she would literally starve to death over a period of time, and it would be a slow and painful and horrible way to die. Which sounds like torture to do to a newborn child. It was a great dilemma for this couple to be placed in. And like you said, I don’t even know what the right call would be. My instinct would always be to fight for the kid.

Yeah, I think me too. But you understood both perspectives. 

When they talked me through what she would actually feel if it went the other way, it was horrible. But what a treat as an actor to get to play a role that has those kinds of life and death stakes. Real moral dilemmas.

With Kirsten Hansen

The really interesting thing is that a movie you made a year ago finally premiered on Hallmark! Love Under the Rainbow. I was so excited to see this one pop up on the website! I know we all waited a very long time for it.

No happier than I! I think you were one of the first to post about it, or at least I saw your post first.

I was probably one of the first. 

So we made this movie quite a long time ago. It’s the cutest movie, and a great script from Kirsten Hansen.

That’s another reason I’ve been waiting for it because she told me about it when I interviewed her last. I know it just took a while for the deal to go through with this movie as far as purchasing it. And because it would only work for spring, we had to wait. 

Love Under the Rainbow

I’m glad everyone can finally see it. I read that interview you did with Kirsten. I just love her. She’s such an awesome person, and she’s so charming. When I read it, it truly became one of my favorites. It’s cute and you root for the leads the whole way. The dialogue is great. But I had forgotten that when we started shooting, we weren’t sure that it was going to be a Hallmark movie, but they were pretty sure Hallmark was going to buy it. And we’re so glad they did! The director, Tony Dean Smith, is someone I met in film school like twenty years ago. He’s another super talented guy. I really hope that everyone loves it when they finally see it. David {Haydn-Jones} is so great. And Jodie Sweetin is so great. I had kind of an isolated experience because I played David’s best friend. Or, I should say, David’s character moves into the town, and I decide we’re gonna be best friends. He’s a little bit not sure. But I’m like, “No, really my character needs a buddy.” I grab onto him. My character is married with kids, and I want him to be married ’cause he’s not married. I keep trying to hook him up with girls, and I’m not good at it. All of my scenes are primarily just with him and not with everybody else. So I am excited to see how all the rest of it comes together.

So you’re not playing the other guy! You’re not going to try to take the girl away from David or anything. 

I don’t steal anyone’s girl. I’m not a suspect. I’m just a really nice guy.

Love Under the Rainbow

I’m so glad about that. I say let’s keep you in those kinds of roles and keep you away from the not so nice ones.

Well, somebody has to play those roles, and if they ask me to, I will do it. But it was nice to play a guy who just really wants another guy to be happy and has no hidden agenda. And you know, when someone sends you a script and asks if it’s a good script, that can be a really hard question. There’s no mathematical formula to look at and go, “Yeah, this is a good script.” Instead, it’s really a gut reaction. This script just flowed so well. The characters spoke in a really funny and charming way that was believable. I read it in like thirty minutes, maybe a little longer. And it’s really going to be exciting to see it because I don’t know if I even remember it all.

I also realized that I recorded a movie of yours and only recently had the opportunity to watch it. Killer Body AKA The Wrong Patient. 

Killer Body

Oh, yeah, that one has been out a little while now.

Yes, I talked with Lindsay Maxwell about that one. And I know you have a pretty significant role in this movie.

Yes, I got to play the lead guy in that one, which was fun. Actually, the name change threw us all a bit.

I know! I almost missed it, then I saw someone tweet out about the name change. 

Yeah, I’m not sure why they changed the name, but Lindsay is great in the film. Sunny Mabrey is in it too. She played my wife and was really fun to work with. That was a twelve-day shoot. It was really fast and furious. Usually, we do movies of the week in fifteen days, but that one was really quick. It was fun. My guy is pretty straightforward, but he’s got some physical and emotional things that are going against him at the beginning. And crazy stuff happens to our family with the introduction of this new patient for my wife. And it was again fun to be the lead, straight man without having to do anything horrible.

Aurora Teagarden 11

And I believe you just completed filming an Aurora Teagarden film, right?

Yes, we recently finished filming Aurora Teagarden 11. And in a couple of weeks, we start filming Aurora Teagarden 12.

Isn’t there one that was already filmed that hasn’t aired yet?

Yes, we shot Aurora Teagarden 10 back in November.

That’s what I thought! I had interviewed Ellie Harvie around the time you guys were shooting that one.

Yes, Ellie was in that one, this one we just filmed, and she’s got a really fun role coming up in number 12. And according to everything I’ve heard, they’re planning to air all three films in September.

Yes, that’s what I understand as well. I know that’s subject to change, but that was the announcement last month from Hallmark. They prefer showing three or four mystery films from the same series together like a mini-series when they can, and it seems to work well for them. They started that a couple of years ago with Garage Sale Mysteries in the month of August, and I think they are going to continue to expand that with their other mystery series.

That makes sense to me. And I will say that there is the chance we will shoot even one more Aurora Teagarden.

Oh, that would be amazing! Now, I understand Miranda {Frigon} is back.

With Miranda and Candace

Yes, Miranda is back. She was back in number 10, and she’s in 11 and will be in 12 too. We actually block shot 8 and 9, which means we were shooting both movies at the same time. That happened to be during the time when she was just about to have her baby, so she had to miss both of them. In the scripts, we made it that Lynn was also pregnant and was away on maternity leave. But now she’s back and hasn’t missed a beat. Lynn and Arthur are at it again. And as I might have mentioned last time we chatted, Miranda has been my friend for like twenty years, and we tend to act like an old married couple anyway. {laughs} When we fall back in, it’s just like no time has passed.

I am certainly looking forward to her return. Many people have missed her, including me. I think it will be fun to have her back because you two playing off each other works really well. 

Yes, I agree. We’ve also gotten to know Jim Head who does a lot of the story ideas and is an executive producer and does some writing as well. Miranda and I know our routine. Also, I don’t want to give away too much, but there are a couple of new characters coming in.

I seem to remember Tammy Gillis was in one of the episodes, if I remember right.

Yes, she did pop in for one of the episodes, that’s right. There are also a couple new people in the murder mystery club. But the core group is all back. Miranda, Lexa,{Doig}, Marilu {Henner}, Candace {Cameron-Bure…

Aurora Teagarden

And of course, Niall {Matter} is still a part of it. 

Yes, it’s great to have Niall. He and I have been friends for a long time. He brings a great energy to it. It just feels like an old ensemble every time we get back together.

I think Niall was a great addition to the cast. Poor Aurora has had a couple of romances that didn’t quite work out the way she had hoped. 

If you really look at what’s gone on for her, she has had a lot of trouble with romance. A lot of people getting murdered all around her. But I think she’s finally got a nice thing going with Nick. I think they were very smart about how they brought Niall in. They are taking things slow. The fans love him. We all think he’s fantastic. I know a lot of the fans were sad to see Martin {Yannick Bisson} go, but I think what they did really well on the writing was instead of just giving her a new love interest right away, her and Nick have been getting to know each other. They’re not forcing anything too quickly, and I think people are going to like where their storyline goes. And I can tell you that Candace and Niall have a really great chemistry together. And I think it’s great that things are going slow between their characters.

And Niall is so loved by the Hallmark fans that I think he was a very wise choice. 

Aurora Teagarden

I agree. I think it was a much smarter play they did than bringing in a totally new guy who would have to prove himself to the fans and replace Martin. Niall has been a buddy of mine for almost twenty years now, and yet we’d never worked together. Literally, from day one, it was like having an old friend on set. And now he knows everybody so well. You can really tell certain things. Sometimes a cast is forcing a chemistry, and other times, it’s seamless. With our cast, most of us don’t even want to go home at the end of the day ’cause we’re having so much fun hanging out. I really wish people could see the moments right between when they’re getting ready to say “action.” It’s like this: Laugh, laugh, laugh, laugh, laugh, laugh, and then they say “action,” and everybody puts on their straight face and gets through their lines. Then when they yell “cut,” it’s right back to everyone laughing. It’s really right up to the “a” in action when everyone is joking around, and I’m thinking, “Are we going to pull together on this one?” But somehow…I would say we always do, but that’s not one hundred percent true. We sometimes roll over and keep the laughing going, but for the most part, we’re able to be professional together.

So do you have anything else besides these Hallmark films coming up?

Well, nothing else coming up. But I just pitched a show to Hallmark that I wrote with my wife.

Oh, that’s good! I hope that happens for you. I know you’d love for it to happen, and I’m right there with you. 

Peter and his wife, Julia

I appreciate that. I think things are looking good, but I don’t have any official news yet. I will keep everyone posted if I hear anything. In addition to this one that we pitched, while I haven’t had a lot of spare time lately…Hallmark has been such a good company to work for. At Christmastime, we generally just watch Christmas movies all the time. It’s a really fun time in our careers to work with Hallmark. I’m trying to come up with several different script ideas and pitch them a couple things in the future. There are so many people we know in Vancouver that are working on these things, so every time, it seems like a reunion of friends and family. So if we can create some of those ourselves to work on, that would be kind of the dream.

I agree with you on that. It’s always cool to look at the cast list from my end and see all these great people I know who are working together on a fabulous production. It’s always fun to see people reunited in these films or even different pairings for a change. Now in addition to Hallmark, I notice you are a guest star in a Canadian series called The Murders, is that correct?

Yes, I did one episode as a guest star on that show. It’s a really cool show. Kristin Lehman directed the episode I was in. If you don’t know who she is, she was the lead actor on a show called Motive. I had worked wither her in an episode of Motive, but she’s directing a lot right now. She was also in the first season of Altered Carbon. She’s really an intelligent actress and an awesome director. This show is an edgy, Vancouver-based show. Even the lead, Jessica Lucas, who has done all kinds of shows, I discovered was a North-Van girl and went to the same school that my kids go to. I didn’t know her before, but I thought she was an LA actress. It’s a good project, and I think people are gonna like it. That one’s definitely on the darker edge of things.

I expected that. I’ve seen it pop up, but it’s one that will only be airing in Canada at this point, so I have to wait to watch it. 

You know, it’s kind of funny…while I’m sorry that you have to wait, but it’s almost refreshing to hear because in Canada, most of the Hallmark things and Lifetime things are way later here. Sometimes we have to wait six months or more to see them. So it’s refreshing to hear that you have to wait for some things too.

Yeah, I don’t mind waiting too much except when my friends are saying, “Oh, you have to see this!” And they have to wait to hear my reaction about the show because I can’t see it!

I want to reiterate that the fans are awesome. I love the Hallmark fans in general. They get on Twitter and Instagram and people just love these shows which feels great. It’s always something when I’ll get a tweet about an Aurora Teagarden, and I had no idea it was going to be showing on that night. I always have to ask which one they’re watching because we’ve made so many that I don’t always remember. That’s usually when I go to Candace’s feed, and then I can usually figure out which one it is. I like to find out where they are in the movie so I don’t give away the ending. And my mom is always calling asking, “When is it gonna be on here?” And I never have the answer!

You mentioned how you watch everything with your mom. My mom wants to watch everything I’m in, but whenever I watch something that I’ve been in with her, all she does is turn to me. She sits in front of me, and every time someone comes up on screen, she turns to me and is like, “Who’s that?” I have to tell her their name. She’ll wait and then turn back and say, “Is he nice?” And I’m like, “Yeah, mom he is. But, Mom, you’re missing my scene! I’m only in a few scenes in the show.” It’s important to her to know that his name is Mike or whatever and that he’s nice. I try to get her to watch it first so that we can talk after.

{laughs} Oh, Peter, I can relate. My mom often wants to know who someone is when she recognizes them. And so I am the one to look it up and let her know where she’s seen so-and-so, etc. My dad will do that sometimes too. Well, I want to say I adored Love Under the Rainbow, and I hope everyone will check it out when they can. 

I am so glad you liked it, Ruth. And I hope that the Canadian fans will be able to see it soon as well as the international fans. Thanks to everyone for all their support, and I hope everyone tunes in for Aurora Teagarden this fall and anything else that might come up before then!

Seriously, Peter is such a delight in a variety of ways. I know that actors lead incessantly busy lives, and I never expect all my friends and fans to keep up with even the vast majority of my interviews. (I mean, I can barely keep up myself!) However, there is nothing sweeter for a writer to hear than, “I remember that interview. I really enjoyed reading it.” The number of times Peter mentioned that during our conversation was quite flattering, I must admit. I spend so much time supporting all these amazing people, and when that support is reciprocated, it is unmistakably validating.

Moreover, Peter is authentic in every sense of the word. The persona that you witness on the screen is who he is in real life. (Okay, he’s not a murderer or a psychopath, but I’m sure you comprehend my meaning.) Family, friends, relationships, and simply having the opportunity to tell stimulating, heartfelt stories are a driving passion for him. Furthermore, the fact that he can portray any kind of character is a testament to his innate abilities in addition to his unswerving dedication to the craft. 

If you have not seen Love Under the Rainbow, I hope that you are able to check it out soon on the Hallmark Channel. (Fingers crossed it makes it beyond the U.S. soon). Also, be sure to check out Killer Body, Aurora Teagarden, and The Murders, if you are so inclined and able to watch and enjoy in your corner of the world. In addition to all this, please visit all his links below and consider following him where applicable (he truly does try to respond to the fans whenever possible). Since the preponderance of those who have aligned with the Hallmark network cherish family and dynamic, sincere tales, it is evident that Peter is one whose benevolence and persona is the ideal fit with the network. He and his wife, Julia Benson, have been attempting to bring projects to Hallmark for quite some time, and there is no doubt in my mind that it would be the perfect vehicle for the network. (I am praying the door will open for them sooner rather than later.) I appreciate Peter’s remarkable support, his genuine pragmatism, his incredible comedic timing, and his impeccable dramatic portrayals. It boggles my mind to conceive of what the future may hold for Peter and his uncanny ideas, and I hope that the entire Hallmark family will join me in encouraging and promoting this clever, generous, gifted human being.

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