The curtain has risen on Virgin River Season 6, bringing with it the heartwarming romance and gripping drama we’ve all been waiting for. But what if we told you the real-life journeys of the actors behind these beloved characters are just as fascinating, if not more so? From career-altering decisions that almost weren’t, to serendipitous reunions and even little-known connections that once stirred Hollywood gossip, this is an intimate dive into the hearts and lives of the Virgin River stars when the cameras stop rolling.

Tim Matheson as Dr. Vernon Mullins – This 76-year-old Hollywood legend has truly done it all: acting, directing, producing. Most of us know him best as the charming, smooth-talking Eric Stratton from the classic comedy Animal House. Let’s not forget his serious side, either; he perfectly nailed the role of Vice President John Hoynes in The West Wing, which earned him not one, but two Emmy nominations. And if you were a Heart of Dixie fan, you probably remember him as the quirky Dr. Brick Breeland. But here’s a fun fact about Virgin River: Tim almost turned down the role of Doc Mullins. “I thought it was a little too familiar,” he confessed. While typecasting often works, he’d too often heard, “Oh, we’ve seen him play that before; we want something fresh.” Eventually, Netflix must have made him an offer he couldn’t refuse, and following Virgin River‘s massive success, Matheson found a new life in his career. “I’d been Dr. Brick Breeland in Heart of Dixie for 4 years, but within 2 years people were shouting out ‘Doc Mullins!’ at the grocery store or while I was out for a jog.” But there’s more: Tim has been busy off-screen too, even writing a book called Damn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Trenches, filled with stories about all the people he’s worked with. As for his private life, Tim has been married three times: first to actress Jennifer Leak, then to Megan Murphy (with whom he shares three children), and now to Elizabeth Marighetto. The couple will celebrate their seventh wedding anniversary next March.

Speaking of romance, his on-screen wife, Annette O’Toole as Hope, has a real-life story that’s just as heartwarming. We can’t get enough of Doc and Hope’s love story, but guess what? The actors behind these characters are just as captivating in real life. “We’ve known each other over 40 years. I’d always seen him in the movies, and I thought he was fantastic.” These two even starred together in projects like What Really Happened to the Class of ’65 and The Best Legs in the Eighth Grade. But then life happened, and they lost touch—until Netflix stepped in. They randomly bumped into each other at the airport while heading to film Virgin River. “I came up to him and I said, ‘Oh my God, it’s so wonderful that we’re going to do this together!'” With nearly six decades on screen, Annette’s career remains nothing short of remarkable, starring in iconic films like Superman III, Cat People, and 48 Hours. Yet, her personal favorite is the 1987 romantic comedy Cross My Heart with Martin Short. And let’s not forget her time in the DC Universe as Martha Kent on Smallville. Her real-life love story is just as binge-worthy as her acting gigs. Annette first met actor Michael McKean in the 1970s. Fast forward to 1998, they reconnected on the set of Final Justice, and their first date was pure magic. “It came out of the blue, and it was so strong and… I would have married him that day.” They tied the knot in 1999 and have been inseparable ever since. The couple even works together: Michael guest-starred on Smallville, and they play Topanga’s parents on Boy Meets World. But if that’s not cute enough, the pair also write music together; their song “A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow” from A Mighty Wind even earned them an Oscar nomination in 2004. Together, they’ve raised four children from their previous marriages.

Now, let’s dive into the lives of the rest of the beloved cast. Colin Lawrence as Preacher, the sweet chef with a heart of gold, has definitely won us over. The 54-year-old actor was absolutely thrilled when Virgin River got the green light for Season 6. Before Virgin River, you might have spotted Colin popping up in a lot of TV shows. He played Hamish ‘Skulls’ McCall in the Battlestar Galactica reboot, appeared in iZombie, and even swung by Riverdale. But his personal life is just as swoon-worthy as his on-screen charm. Lawrence has been happily married to actress Lucia Walters since 1999. And here’s a fun twist: Lucia actually joined him on Virgin River! She plays Julia, the martial arts instructor who becomes Preacher’s love interest in Season 4. Together, the couple has two adorable daughters, Sienna and Bianca.

Who’s next? Sarah Dugdale as Lizzie. From a rebellious teen to a budding town leader, her transformation is one of Sarah’s favorite things about playing the character. “I love how she’s written and that we find out little bits about her throughout the series. I’ve never had the opportunity to stay with a character this long before, so it’s been really beautiful to build on her with each episode.” And now that we know Lizzie is pregnant, things are about to get even more intense. We’re on the edge of our seats, eager to see how her story with Denny plays out. Virgin River is Sarah’s first big gig, but she’s already left her mark with roles in In the Shadow of the Moon and Death of a Cheerleader. At 29, she’s just getting started, so keep an eye out. As for her real-life romance, Sarah is happily dating actor Richard Harmon, famously known as John Murphy from The 100. The couple keeps the details of their relationship pretty private, so we don’t know exactly how they met or how long they’ve been together. But judging by their adorable Instagram pics, one thing’s clear: they’re totally smitten.

Moving on to Benjamin Hollingsworth as Brady. This guy has had a wild journey on Virgin River. “He’s in the middle of a redemption arc, and so it’s really fun for me to kind of peel back each layer as we go and show the audience a little bit more of like who Brady really is.” Benjamin’s breakout role came when he starred alongside Demi Moore, David Duchovny, and Amber Heard in the acclaimed film The Joneses. You might also know him from Cold Pursuit or the medical drama Code Black. And this year, he’s spreading holiday cheer in the Hallmark movie Christmas with the Sings. Now let’s dig into the juicy stuff. The 40-year-old actor was once rumored to be linked to actress Nina Dobrev; they were even roommates back in the day. And then there was that 2011 tabloid scandal involving Demi Moore. Rumors swirled that the actress had been unfaithful to Ashton Kutcher with Ben, but both parties denied the affair. Most assumed it was just a baseless smear campaign against Moore. Today, Benjamin is living his best life as a family man. He’s been happily married to lingerie designer Nila Myers for 12 years, and together they’re raising their three adorable kids.

Finally, let’s talk about the show’s beloved lead couple. Alexandra Breckenridge as Mel. It seems the actress was destined for the spotlight after all; her uncle is none other than NCIS star Michael Weatherly! She caught the acting bug at 13, along with a passion for photography and singing, setting her on a creative path. Over the years, Alexandra has graced our screens in hit series like American Horror Story, The Walking Dead, and This Is Us. But her role as Mel in Virgin River has truly solidified her place in our hearts. Off-screen, Breckenridge is a woman of many talents. At 42, she’s an avid photographer with work showcased in Los Angeles galleries. She’s also the co-host of the I Like You Very Much podcast alongside fellow Virgin River star Zibby Allen. Together, they interview cast members and creators, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the show. And if that’s not enough, Alexandra is also a skilled cook; her social media is filled with delicious recipe videos, plus sweet snaps of her beautiful family. She’s been happily married to guitarist Casey Hooper since 2015, and they’re proud parents to a son and a daughter.

And what about her on-screen fiancé, Martin Henderson as Jack? The Kiwi star has been passionate about acting since his teenage years in New Zealand. He’s best known for his role as Stuart Neilson in the soap opera Shortland Street. Internationally, he’s gained fame for his memorable performance as Noah Clay in the horror film The Ring and for his role in Grey’s Anatomy as Dr. Nathan Riggs. And did you spot him in Britney Spears’ iconic “Toxic” music video? Yep! Martin has fond memories of that collaboration: “She is the nicest, sweetest, most genuine, just down-to-earth good old Southern girl.” Henderson’s career continues to flourish; he’s set to star in the action drama Alphas, showcasing his ever-growing versatility. As for his personal life, Martin keeps things private. He’s never been married and doesn’t have kids. But the actor and his Virgin River co-star Benjamin Hollingsworth seem to have a surprising connection: they’ve both been linked to Demi Moore! Back in 2012, Martin was rumored to have dated the actress after her split from Ashton Kutcher, although he never confirmed it. The 50-year-old also had a relationship with model Aisha Mendes in 2020, and they even quarantined together in a New Zealand hotel. However, since Martin stays tight-lipped about his love life, we don’t know if he’s dating anyone now. What we do know is that the star loves to travel and enjoys sailing.