While actor John Reardon battled tonsil cancer in late 2024, he couldn’t wait to be well enough again to spend quality time with his family, including his wife and fellow Hallmark star Meghan Ory, and to get back to work on his popular TV series, “Hudson and Rex.”
A few weeks after announcing he’d completed treatment, he excitedly announced in early February that his doctors had given him the go-ahead to return to work. He was eager to get back to the set — until he was informed the show had moved on without him, he said.
Reardon said nothing publicly about the situation until September 24, 2025, when he issued a lengthy statement on social media that left many fans shocked. In it, he shared, “I’ve been quiet for a while — partly because it was hard to find the words, and partly because I didn’t want anyone else speaking for me.”
He then wrote, “The truth is: I didn’t leave Hudson & Rex. After taking a couple months to go through cancer treatment, I was given a clean bill of health and cleared and ready to return to work. But the team chose to go in a different direction. Although this is not how I had hoped the 7 year journey would end – I’m very appreciative of the opportunity to play a part in building something special.”
John Reardon Shares Gratitude After 7 Years Starring on ‘Hudson & Rex’
Reardon had played Detective Charlie Hudson on the Canadian-based series since 2019, until he had to miss part of filming season seven due to his cancer diagnosis, according to the Winnipeg Free Press. The show airs on CityTV in Canada and is available to watch in the U.S. on UPtv and Roku.
The production company behind the series, Shaftesbury, told the outlet in a statement that the two parties “could not find a workable pathway forward for his return to ‘Hudson & Rex.'” An actor named Luke Roberts was hired to play a new detective named Mark Hudson.
Reardon shared his gratitude for the city where he shot the series, his fans, and his co-stars, including the pup who played Rex, a German Shepherd named Diesel who died in February, just as Reardon was gearing up to return to work.
“I’d like to thank the people of St. John’s who embraced me and my family,” Reardon wrote. “My daughter was born on the island and I’m proud to call her a Newfoundlander 🍀 I’d like to thank my friend Paul Pope who I miss dearly, the cast and crew that felt like family and of course my partner – Diesel – you truly had swagger buddy.”
“But above all I want to thank the fans,” Reardon continued. “I’m blown away by the thousands of messages I’ve received from you over the past year. You’ve shared stories of the hard times you’ve gone through, sent kindness and compassion and shared with me how important the show has been to you. This is worth more than gold. I will hold it close always. Thank you for welcoming me into your homes it has been a privilege.”
Reardon concluded, “I’m healthy. I’m working. And I’m proud of what comes next. I hope you’ll join me on the adventure :)”
Fans & Famous Friends Upset Over Show Letting John Reardon Go
GettyReardon, who’s starred in multiple Hallmark movies over the last decade, from 2014’s “The Christmas Secret” with Bethany Joy Lenz to 2024’s “Believe in Christmas” co-starring his wife, received an outpouring of love from frustrated fans and friends.
Hallmark’s Emilie Ullerup, who co-starred with Ory on “Chesapeake Shores,” offered her support by writing, “You know how I feel about this. I am so proud of you for sharing this openly. In a business that does not always value what it should. Nothing changes until we dare to speak up. Here’s to you. And to your health dear friend. 😘”
“When Calls The Heart” star Pascale Hutton wrote, “Love you John. ❤️”
Many fans said they don’t plan to watch the new season without Reardon, including one who wrote, “Won’t be watching without you, John. So very glad you’re healthy and will be watching anything new you’re in!”
Another upset fan commented, “I’m so very sorry to hear this because it’s a terrible injustice to you, to the show as well as the fans like me that has been with you from the beginning and now are cheated out on the end!! There is no Hudson & Rex without you! Thank you for the time and talent you and Diesel brought to the show! Love your work on your house. Much love to you and your beautiful family ❤️❤️❤️”
Without Charlie the show has lost it’s sparkle.
The group doesn’t have the same chemistry anymore.
The people responsible for replacing him can and should bring him back.
Totally agree. I’m done with the show without him.
It would have been nice for the others (Nguyen, Hanchard and Kelly) to speak up and show support.
Charlie and Rex had something so special. I haven’t seen any major change in the “direction of the show” that warranted removing John and I truly believe they should bring him back!!! Rex and Mark just don’t have the same chemistry.
I am a huge fan of the show and I’m just now finding out that John Reardon will no longer be on the show. I am shocked! Not only did we lose Diesel which broke my heart now we’re losing John. The show will not be the same and I don’t think I’ll continue to watch. The show did an injustice to John by letting him go and I can’t support that. How can you do this to a man who was fighting for his life. To me that sounds like John was never appreciated or important enough to the show in the first place to just dismiss him the way they did. I really hope they will reconsider the new path they have taken and bring John back.
Well said. 👍moving on….
I totally agree. They should have stood by John and supported him through his struggles. I don’t think I’ll continue watching. Where is the loyalty?
I’m so heartbroken that they have replaced John on the show. My family got hooked on the show a few months ago when we found it on UpTV. We are at the end of season 7 and just found out tonight that Diesel died, so I googled the show and found out that John was let go. The last few episodes just haven’t been the same without him. I wish they would reconsider and bring him back. I just don’t know if we want to continue watching without him.
Our family are German Shepherd lovers and Hudson and Rex has been so healing when we lost our Guiding Eyes Brood Clarice in Dec 2023. We feel like she is back with us when we watch the show, but it is John Reardon who makes the show really special with his clear love of his partner. The story line seemed tailored to bringing John back as Charlie once he was cleared from cancer treatment. Reconsider please!! Best show I have watched since The Expanse (and I was loving seeing so many great Canadian actors throughout H&R over the seasons that also had a role in The Expanse). Make your fans happy (you are nothing without them) and bring back John.
We totally agree with the rest of these fans. He’s the best actor on this show. It hasn’t been near as good without him. They need to rethink things and bring John back.
As someone who went through cancer treatment in 2024, it is disgusting how a workplace can get let a long standing cast member go after going through what is one of the worst times of their live. It’s hard enough getting through treatment but then to lose your job after the lowest point in your life is the worst. It is disgraceful how John has been treated and I just dont understand how the storyline makes sense without him. To me the end of S7 was stilted especially with who they brought on to replace him. BRING BACK JOHN REARDON. I bet the show won’t last without him.
Shame on Shaftesbury, the production company behind the series, that decided, while John was fighting cancer, to fire him! A Canadian show, with a Canadian star, treated in such a callous and disrespectful way! They deserve to have their “new” show flounder due to the same a loss of loyalty from fans, that they showed him. I feel sorry for his fellow actors because it feels like the show will fail now. I watched 10 minutes and flipped the channel. Without John Reardon and Diesel, it seemed very lackluster and dull!
Texas is a season behind on H&R but I won’t be watching any more episodes knowing how dirty the company did John Reardon. What the heck?! Why not just have him return from looking for his brother?
I whole heartedly agree with John’s other fans. It’s sad enough that Diesel passed away but to then not bring John back is a low blow to John & his fans. I will not be watching as season eight begins. The show should really reconsider bringing him back before there are no fans left to watch the show. It was a great show at one time. Good bless you John & good luck with t h future endeavors!
My family and friends were over the moon with your show, we loved REX and Charlie and the way the story line was going with Sarah, was excited to see their future developed, and then you fired him…such a blow, so our family and friends all say if they don’t bring Charlie back, then we won’t be back either.
I totally with all the comments about letting John go. Hudson and Rex has been a brilliant show, have watched it from the beginning. While Diesel is no longer with us, John is and should be brought back. I agree with many others, I will no longer be watching as without “Charlie” it is not the same show. Though replacement “Rex” is great and sometimes hard to spot differences, it’s so sad about Diesel (RIP). Started watching S.7 but gradually lost interest when heard John not coming back. Show is not the same. S8 not going to be on my list of programmes.
How disappointing without John as “Charlie” albeit without the very talented “Rex”. Rest in peace lovely doggie who made the episodes along with “Charlie” so wonderful to watch. Not bringing John back after battling cancer and being healthy to return to work is absolutely awful.
Loved to watch the show. Made sure that I was home when the show came on. Since the detective left, We will no longer watch the show. It was finished when they fire the lead actor.
This is such an injustice. I am a loyal fan of the show due to John and Diesel (Rex). I too will no longer watch the show. The episode that aired on Thursday, March 19th, which said that John was shot in Costa Rica, and his body was not found, will be the last one I watch. You should be ashamed of yourselves for letting John go, especially after he was fighting cancer. You are all missing a sensitivity chip in your heart!!!!! My family are all huge German Shepard fans (I have owned 5) and this is such a gut punch to all of us.