‘WCTH’ Stars Mourn Death Of Beloved Hallmark Director Neill Fearnley
WCTH stars and crew, as well as Hearties are mourning the loss of beloved Hallmark director Neill Fearnely. He was the longtime director of When Calls The Heart. Therefore, there were some very emotional bonds.
Here are all the details as well as some of the tributes to the beloved director.
Hallmark Announces Death Of Director Neill Fearnley
Late on Tuesday, the official Hallmark Instagram shared news that WCTH director Neill Fearnley died. They wrote, “Hearties, it’s with profound heavy hearts today that we bid farewell to When Calls The Heart director Neill Fearnley, who passed away on July 13 after a long fight with ALS. Neill was vital to making When Calls The Heart the beloved show it is today, and he will be sorely missed by the entire Heartie community and everyone who had the honor of knowing him. ❤️”
According to IMDb, Neill Fearnley was born on April 21, 1953, in Liverpool, England. That would make him 71 at the time of his death. Fearnley directed a cornucopia of Hallmark movies and series including eight episodes of Garage Sale Mysteries, eight episodes of Cedar Cove, the Jill Wagner movie Autumn Dreams, and 47 episodes of When Calls The Heart.
He was there from the beginning, and his final directorial work was the WCTH Season 10 episode, “The Heart Of The Problem.” He was a huge part of the success of the Hallmark series. Therefore, it is not surprising that the stars who memorialized him shared some special details about his character.
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Erin Krakow And Other Stars Pay Emotional Tribute To WCTH Director Neill Fearnley
WCTH star Erin Krakow wrote a special tribute to WCTH director Neill Fearnley. “Neill loved directing. He loved being on set. And he loved @wcth_tv. He cared so deeply for all of us. He was always so protective of Elizabeth – and of the girl playing her. In fact his very first text message to me encouraged me to not wear a corset for a stunt scene. There he was, quietly looking out for me.”
- She continued, “Neill helped mold WCTH from the beginning. I’m so thankful for the 11 beautiful seasons we had together. And I’m grateful to be back in Hope Valley where we’ll all continue to feel his presence – in the characters he helped us create, the sets he brought to life, and the crew who carry his memory through their artistry. I wish we had more time together. It doesn’t feel right that he’s gone. But Neill’s memory will remain in my heart. And I’ll are twice as big in his honor.”
- Ben Rosenbaum wrote his own post. “Remembering Neill, taken too soon and sorely missed. This 👁️🎥👁️ photo was taken by @erinkrakow from her POV as we filmed the first scene I ever did on @wcth_tv in S1. He was my first director on the show and I will always be grateful for the supportive way he welcomed me into Hope Valley: with a spirit of fun and great care for the work. #Hearties”
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More Hallmark Stars Share Stories About Working With Neill Fearnley
- Andrea Brooks also shared a selfie with Neill Fearnley on Instagram. She wrote, “Thank you for the many years of collaboration and guidance. We’ll miss you, Neill. Rest in peace. 🕊️🤍”
- Hyland Goodrich’s mom commented, “Neill was kind and personable. He had immense patience and a great sense of humour, and it was a treat to work with him. He made Hyland feel instantly comfortable on set and seemed to delight in working with children, sharing stories of his own childhood and effortlessly relating to Hyland’s curious mind and boyhood antis. Ret well, Neill. Sending love, light and comfort to your family and friends during this difficult time. ✨🎬❤️🙏”
- Cecilia Deacon wrote, “A man of such kindness and warm humour. Deepest condolences to his loved ones and community. 💜”
- Loretta Walsh wrote, “Such a wonderful man – a heartbreaking loss for so many of us. To work with him and get to know him for over a decade on wcth has been an incredible gift. What a gem of a human! Neill, you are already deeply missed ❤️”
- Holly Robinson Peete wrote, “He directed me in 21 Jump Street. He was just starting out. That makes me so sad 💔💔💔💔”
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Kevin McGarry Shared WCTH Cast’s Tribute Video
Late on Tuesday, WCTH star Kevin McGarry posted a tribute from the cast. They have just all arrived to the Jamestown Film Set start filming When Calls The Heart Season 12. On Instagram, Kevin wrote, “Neill ❤️” He shared a video of a memorial with WCTH cast and crew.
- Longtime Hallmark actress Karen Kruper wrote, “OMGoodness Kevin. I didn’t know Neill had passed and didn’t know he had ALS. I first met him in 1989 when The Beachcombers was winding down. We were producing documentaries and were thrilled that someone who was such a storyteller might be available to work with us. Alas he was snapped up but I never stopped watching his work unfold and stay so close to so many people I knew. I’m so truly sorry as you must all be as well. Thank you for posting this. ❤️”
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Hearties, do you have any favorite episodes of WCTH that Neill directed? Please share your favorites in the comments.
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