Tonight, a huge fan favorite actor is showing up on The Rookie on ABC. Daniel Lissing (When Calls The Heart) will appear in the ninth episode of the second season, Breaking Point.
Lissing, who played Jack Thornton on the wildly successful Hallmark Channel series When Calls The Heart, will appear tonight as a character named Sterling Freeman.
The big news is that Lissing is not just coming on for one single episode.
Daniel Lissing on The Rookie
Sterling Freeman was described as a “handsome, 20-something TV actor, who stars on a hit cop show.” His first appearance will be on tonight’s episode, titled Breaking Point.
Here is the synopsis, according to ABC:
Officer Nolan’s trust is tested when he tries to help the previous owner of his home reconnect with his family. Meanwhile, Officer Harper has finally earned an overnight visit with her daughter that is put into jeopardy when her past undercover life resurfaces again.
Nothing about Lissing’s character is mentioned in that synopsis, so it is unclear how he will play into the show. The good news is that he will be included in a multi-episode arc, although the total number of episodes is also unknown.
Who is Daniel Lissing?
Fans of When Calls The Heart knows exactly who Daniel Lissing is. He portrayed Mountie Jack Thornton and was one of the main stars for the first five seasons of the Hallmark series.
His character married Elizabeth (Erin Karkow) but died offscreen in Season 5.
For those fans of The Rookie who don’t follow When Calls The Heart, Lissing moved on to a network show after leaving that Hallmark series when he took on the role of Ty in S.W.A.T.
He was a recurring castmember as the boyfriend of Chris (Lina Esco) on that CBS series.
The Rookie airs Sundays at 10/9c on ABC.