Jonathan Keltz: Meet the Hunky Star of Hallmark’s Latest Christmas Confection
The former 'Reign' actor is taking Hallmark by storm!
Hallmark movies have no shortage of handsome men and Jonathan Keltz, with his blue eyes and finely chiseled features, is one of our new favorites. While Keltz is still fairly fresh in the Hallmark swoon-worthy leading man rotation, he’s quickly become one to watch, and his profile will only rise now that his newest movie, Christmas by Design, is part of the Hallmark Countdown to Christmas 2023 lineup.
In anticipation of Christmas by Design, airing Friday, October 27 at 8 p.m. EST/7 p.m CT. we decided to get to know this dreamboat and his movies and TV shows a little bit better. You’re sure to love him just as much as we do!
(Also, click through to read about our other favorite Hallmark heartthrobs, ranked)
Jonathan Keltz’s roles before Hallmark
Now 35, Jonathan Keltz has been acting since he was a teenager. He first decided he wanted to be an actor at just 10 years old, and began working at 16. His earliest TV roles included a four-episode run in the popular teen series Degrassi: The Next Generation in 2004.
Appearances in shows like Queer as Folk, Cold Case and The Cleaner followed, and he got his big break when he was cast as Jake Steinberg, a Hollywood assistant, in the final three seasons of the bro-favorite comedy Entourage.
In the early days of his career, Keltz also had small parts in movies like Breach and American Pie Presents: Beta House. In 2011, the same year Entourage ended, he co-starred in Prom, a Disney teen rom-com, as the main character’s crush. He also acted in the rowdy college comedy 21 & Over.
Beginning in 2013, Keltz’s profile continued to rise when he played Leith Bayard, a castle kitchen staff member who has a passionate romance with the lady-in-waiting, in Reign, the juicy 16th -century TV drama on the CW network. Throughout the show’s four-year run, his charming, devoted character went from lowly domestic worker to soldier to royal bodyguard.
Jonathan Keltz becomes a Hallmark star
With his good looks and romantic Reign role, it was no surprise when Keltz began to get cast in Hallmark movies following the show’s end in 2017. Here’s a rundown of his Hallmark credits so far — we’ll be rewatching them all ourselves.
Once Upon a Prince (2018)
Jonathan Keltz made his Hallmark debut with Once Upon a Prince. He played Nathaniel, a dashing royal visiting the US. Nathaniel has a chance meeting with Susanna (Megan Park) and soon enough sparks fly, but there’s just one catch — this American girl doesn’t know her suitor is actually heir to a throne!
Falling for Look Lodge (2020)
There’s nothing better than a cozy fall romance! Set at a scenic getaway during peak foliage season, Falling for Look Lodge stars Clark Backo as Lily, an ambitious employee of the titular lodge. Lily is eager for a promotion, and the arrival of a wedding party gives her an ideal opportunity to flex her hospitality skills. Keltz plays Noah, the bride’s estranged brother, who is hoping to reconnect with his family. In the process of getting everything in order for his sister’s big day, Noah and Lily develop feelings for one another.
Fit for a Prince (2021)
With his polished good looks, Jonathan Keltz seems to get cast as a prince an awful lot, and we’re certainly not going to complain about it! Fit for a Prince, billed as “A high fashion fairy tale,” stars Keltz as Prince Ronan, a royal who’s attending a charity ball and needs something to wear. He soon meets Cindy (Natalie Hall), a fashion designer working behind the scenes for a celebrity designer and hoping for her breakout moment. Ronan notices Cindy’s talent — and her beauty — but will all work out at the gala?
Christmas by Design (2023)
Christmas starts early on the Hallmark channel, and Keltz is making his much-anticipated Hallmark holiday debut in Christmas by Design. Charlotte (Rebecca Dalton), an overworked New York fashion designer, finds herself returning to her hometown for Christmas for the first time in years, and meets Spencer (Keltz), a mechanic. Spencer gives Charlotte creative inspiration and the two strike up a bond that just might last well past the holiday season.
Jonathan Keltz’s personal life
It may surprise you to learn that Keltz isn’t actually British, given the fact that he had a British accent in Reign and in two of his Hallmark movies, Once Upon a Prince and Fit for a Prince. He’s actually from New York City and grew up in Toronto!
If you’re wondering about Keltz’s love life, given that he’s so good at playing a swoon-worthy romantic lead, you’re not alone! He’s engaged to actress Laysla de Oliveira, star of the thriller series Special Ops: Lioness. Keltz and de Oliveira previously acted together in the 2018 movie Acquainted. Keltz’s Instagram is filled with sweet pictures of him and de Oliveira together, and the couple has an adorable dog, Lua (and yes, Lua even has her own Instagram account!).
Keltz is charming both on and off the screen, and we can’t wait to see what he does next, whether it’s another Hallmark movie, a TV show or new collaboration with de Oliveira. No matter what, the suave star is sure to keep stealing hearts, whether he plays a posh prince or a small-town sweetheart.
Read more about our favorite Hallmark hunks here!
William Moseley: The ‘Chronicles of Narnia’ King Is the Newest Hallmark Hunk!
Will Kemp: From Ballet Dancer to Hallmark Hunk, Get To Know The British Dreamboat
Chris McNally From ‘When Calls the Heart’ Is Earning His Hallmark Stripes
Tyler Hynes Movies: 16 of His Best Hallmark Romances Guaranteed to Steal Your Heart
Stephen Huszar Movies: The Hallmark Star’s 10 Best Romances, Ranked
