Hallmark’s “Christmas Under Wraps” has remained a fan-favorite film since its debut in 2014, warming hearts year after year with its unforgettable performances and abundance of Christmas cheer.
Now, with the holiday season upon us, we revisit the stars of the beloved Hallmark classic, seeing where they are today and celebrating how their journeys have unfolded since that very first trip to the fictional, snowy town of Garland, Alaska.
Candace Cameron Bure Then & Now
GettyCandace Cameron Bure played Dr. Lauren Brunell, the lead in “Christmas Under Wraps.”
GettyBure is an award-winning actress and producer, New York Times Best-Selling Author, wife, and mother of three, according to Hallmark’s cast bio.
Since 2014, she has starred in other Hallmark holiday films as well as Great American Family (GAF) films. She had a popular role in “Fuller House,” and a run in the “Aurora Teagarden Mysteries,” with recent projects including “Unsung Hero” in 2024 and GAF movies in 2025 like “Timeless Tidings of Joy” in 2025 and “Another Sweet Christmas.”
David O’Donnell Then & Now
David O’Donnell played Andy Holliday, Lauren’s love interest in the film.
GettySince 2014, O’Donnell has kept himself busy appearing in other television movies like “A Christmas in Vermont” in 2016 and “A Cozy Christmas Inn” in 2022. This film is actually a sequel to “Christmas Under Wraps.” It features the same fictional Alaskan town, the same love interest with O’Donnell returning as Andy Holliday, the same townspeople, but the film stars a different lead. In place of Bure, Jodie Sweetin stars opposite O’Donnell.
He has also been in other television shows, such as “Stitchers” in 2017, a guest role in “The Rookie” in 2018 as Simon Sawyer, plus projects like the podcast “Fever Dreams: A Pulp Collection.”
Brian Doyle-Murray Then & Now
GettyBrian Doyle-Murray played Frank Holliday, Andy’s father in the film.
See a more recent interview with Doyle-Murray from his 2024 film “The Christmas Letter” where he played Tony.
Doyle-Murray is an actor, writer, comedian and voice artist best known for his roles in “Groundhog Day,” “Caddyshack” and “Wayne’s World.” He can also be heard as the Flying Dutchman in “SpongeBob Squarepants,” as well as on “Family Guy,” “King of the Hill, “Motorcity,” “The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack” and the “Ghostbusters” video game.
Since “Christmas Under Wraps” in 2014, Doyle-Murray continued acting in television shows and video games, reprising his role as the Flying Dutchman in “Kamp Koral” in 2021 to 2022 and in “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake” in 2023. He also reprised his character Frank Holliday in “A Cozy Christmas Inn” in 2022.
Doyle-Murray was also a recurring character on “The Middle” until 2017, “Veep” from 2016 to 2017, and Lodge 49 from 2018 to 2019. He was also in one episode of “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” in 2016.
Robert Pine Then & Now
GettyRobert Pine played Henry Brunell, Lauren’s father in the film.
GettyAfter his role in “Christmas Under Wraps,” Pine has been in numerous hit television shows. He played Buddy in “Finding Carter” in 2014 to 2015, he was in an episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” in 2016, as well as “The Middle,” that same year. He was also in “Veep” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” in 2017, and “Magnum P.I.” and “9-1-1: Lone Star” in 2022.
In 2023, he was in “Pool Man” which was written and directed by his son, Chris Pine, who was also in the starring role.
Inside ‘Christmas Under Wraps’
The official Hallmark page for the film reads, “Dr. Lauren Brunell (Bure) has her whole life planned out. As a third year surgery resident, she is counting on being accepted into a prestigious hospital fellowship to follow in the footsteps of her supportive father, Henry (Pine). But when those plans quickly fall apart, and Lauren is put on the wait list, she must take the only other opening available: a head doctor position in the small, remote town of Garland, Alaska. Convincing herself it is only temporary, Lauren moves to Garland where she is immediately charmed by Andy (O’Donnell), a handsome local who soon starts to show her the importance of living in the moment and enjoying her unexpected adventure. As Lauren excels as Garland’s trusted doctor, she warms up to the friendly town. But Andy’s father, Frank (Doyle-Murray), is hiding something from her in his top-secret shipping warehouse. Just as Lauren decides to get to the bottom of her suspicions, she receives news that will force her to make a life-changing decision, while knowing for certain that the Christmas season will never be the same.”
The film was written by Jennifer Notas Shapiro based on a story by Jeffrey Schenck, Peter Sullivan, George Erschbamer, Jeffrey Barmash, and Barbara Fixx, with Sullivan also directing.
According to Variety, the 2014 made-for-TV movie “has the distinction of being the most watched Hallmark Christmas special ever, landing almost 6 million viewers on its debut airing.”
I, for one, have no interest in seeing anything about “Candy,” who eschews Christian values while claiming to uphold them.