PHOTOS: Hallmark’s ‘The Most Wonderful Time of Year’ Cast Then & Now

Hallmark fans never tire of the 2008 holiday film “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Nearly two decades after the Michael Scott film’s premiere, and it’s still an annual hit.

The film follows retired New York police officer Ralph, played by Henry Winkler, as he visits his niece Jennifer (Brooke Burns) in Naperville, Illinois, for the holidays. The single mother to young son Brian was largely raised by her beloved uncle.

After a difficult travel day, Ralph offers a fellow traveler a place to stay for the night. While the two initially butting heads, Jennifer and Morgan (played by Warren Christie), Ralph is certain that the two belong together. The sneaky uncle continues to play matchmaker despite Jennifer accepting a proposal from her wealthy businessman beau.

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Brooke Burns as Jennifer ‘Jen’ Cullen

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Brooke Burns got her start in the late 1990s in “Baywatch” and “Baywatch: Hawaii” as the character Jessie Owens. Following her run on the beach, Burns landed a hosting gig on the NBC competition series “Dog Eat Dog.”

The show ran from June 2002 to August 2003. She continued to work after the series wrapped, appearing in “North Shore,” “Pepper Dennis,” and the new “Melrose Place.” She later returned to game show hosting in 2016 on “The Chase,” for which she was nominated for an Emmy, followed by “Master Minds.”

Burns is married to film director Gavin O’Connor. The couple shares one daughter, born in 2017. She is also mother to a daughter who was born in June 2000, whom she shares with ex-husband Julian McMahon.

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Henry Winkler as Uncle Ralph

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Henry Winkler was already a household name before landing the role of Uncle Ralph. Winkler is best known for his iconic role as Arthur “Fonzie” Fonzarelli on the 1970s sitcom “Happy Days”.

Since “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” Winkler has starred in films such as “The French Dispatch”, and “Black Adam”, and “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” He’s also returned to the small screen with roles in “Arrested Development,” “Parks and Recreation,” and “1600 Penn.”

Winkler has 14 Emmy nominations under his belt, with three wins, as well as seven Golden Globe noms and two wins.

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Warren Christie as Morgan Derby

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Warren Christie is a Canadian actor who rose to fame as the lead role on the short-lived ABC drama “October Road.” He has also had roles in shows such as “Happy Town,” “Alphas,” and “The Resident.”

Christie began production earlier this year for Netflix’s upcoming “Little House on the Prairie” reboot, in which he will play Civil War veteran John Edwards.

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