Lori Loughlin'S Hollywood Comeback: Rejoining 'When Calls The Heart' Post-Scandal

Lori Loughlin Returns to Hope Valley

Lori Loughlin is stepping back into the limelight and returning to Hope Valley. Known for her iconic role as Aunt Becky on "Full House," the actress, now 61, is making a comeback as Abigail Stanton in the Hallmark Channel's hit series "When Calls the Heart." This news comes after her stint in prison connected to the notorious college admissions scandal.

Loughlin is set to appear in six out of twelve episodes of Season 14, slated to begin production next year and grace our screens in 2027. Hallmark confirmed the exciting return on December 2. "Since the series' debut in 2014, the character of Abigail Stanton was a fan favorite and beloved by the Hearties," shared Michelle Vicary, Hallmark Media's head of programming.

"At its core, the Hallmark brand is about hope, positivity, and connection, which is also the central theme of 'When Calls the Heart.' We felt that Season 14 was the right time to continue Abigail's story with her return to this beloved series." – Michelle Vicary

From Scandal to Screen

In 2019, Hallmark cut ties with Loughlin after she was charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud amid the college admissions scandal. Loughlin, along with her then-husband, Mossimo Giannulli, admitted to dishing out $500,000 to secure their daughters' spots at the University of Southern California. After serving two months behind bars, Loughlin was released in December 2020.

Loughlin's journey back to acting saw her reprising Abigail in "When Hope Calls," a spin-off series, in 2021. Her return marked her initial step back into the acting world post-scandal. She even made waves with a playful, self-referential cameo on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" in 2024, where she poked fun at her past alongside Larry David.

A New Chapter Begins

Her personal life mirrors her on-screen drama. Loughlin and Giannulli recently called it quits after 27 years of marriage, amidst her return to the spotlight. Her former "Full House" co-star John Stamos came to her defense, pointing fingers at Giannulli on the "Good Guys" podcast, suggesting Loughlin was unfairly caught in the scandal's storm.

Other celebrities entangled in the college admissions scandal, like "Desperate Housewives" star Felicity Huffman, have also resumed their careers, proving that Hollywood loves a comeback story. As Loughlin returns to "When Calls the Heart," fans eagerly await Abigail Stanton's next chapter, embodying the hope and resilience that Hallmark cherishes.