Craig Geoghan Wins Hallmark’s ‘Finding Mr. Christmas’ and Lands Lead in New Holiday Movie

Lake Ronkonkoma native and Sachem North High School graduate Craig Geoghan has won season 2 of Hallmark Channel’s acting competition "Finding Mr. Christmas", securing a lead role in the new holiday movie "A Make or Break Holiday". The competition series, hosted by actor Jonathan Bennett and comedian Melissa Peterman, follows 10 aspiring actors as they complete performance challenges for a chance to become Hallmark’s next holiday leading man.

In the finale, three remaining contestants performed opposite Hallmark stars Erin Krakow and Kristoffer Polaha in a period-set challenge, before Geoghan was announced as the winner and awarded a contract to star in "A Make or Break Holiday", which premieres during the network’s Countdown to Christmas event.

Geoghan, 33, grew up in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York, and graduated from Sachem North High School, where he first became involved in theater. Before his reality TV breakthrough, he built a resume in regional theater and independent projects, experiences he says prepared him for the intensive performance challenges on "Finding Mr. Christmas".

Speaking about the moment his name was called, Geoghan described an immediate sense of relief followed by an emotional rush. He told Entertainment Weekly that his first reaction was to exhale deeply, reflecting the pressure he felt throughout the competition and the significance of the opportunity to lead a Hallmark movie.

Host Jonathan Bennett, known for his work in "Mean Girls" and for his advocacy and visibility as a gay man in entertainment, framed the decision in terms of growth and character. Bennett told the finalists that the winner was someone who had taken feedback seriously, adapted to each scene, and consistently brought authenticity and kindness to set, both on and off camera.

As part of his prize, Geoghan will star in "A Make or Break Holiday", a new Hallmark film centered on a couple on the verge of separation who must navigate the emotional stakes of hosting both sides of their family for the holidays. During an interview about the movie, Geoghan explained that his character, Reed, and another character, Kim, begin to suspect that something is wrong and gently work to bring the couple back together.

The film will air as part of Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas lineup, a long-running seasonal programming block featuring original holiday movies and inclusive storytelling. In recent years, Hallmark Media has publicly committed to increasing LGBTQ+ representation in its movies, including romantic leads, supporting characters, and family storylines that reflect a range of identities and experiences.

"Finding Mr. Christmas" is hosted by Jonathan Bennett, who has spoken openly about his life with his husband, television host Jaymes Vaughan, and about the importance of LGBTQ+ inclusion in Hallmark programming. Bennett previously starred in "The Holiday Sitter", which Hallmark promoted as its first Christmas romantic comedy centered on a gay couple, marking a visible shift in the network’s representation of LGBTQ+ relationships.

Advocacy organization GLAAD has noted that Hallmark’s holiday films in recent seasons have included more LGBTQ+ characters and storylines, while also urging continued growth in the variety and depth of roles portrayed by LGBTQ+ performers. This broader context shapes how audiences may view Geoghan’s win and his casting in "A Make or Break Holiday": as part of an industry-wide move toward more inclusive holiday storytelling that aims to reflect the diversity of real families and relationships.

For LGBTQ+ viewers, the combination of Bennett’s visible leadership on "Finding Mr. Christmas", the evolving representation in Hallmark’s holiday slate, and the platform now given to Geoghan as a new lead may signal ongoing opportunities for more expansive narratives—on-screen and behind the scenes—that affirm people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.