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TL;DR: 

  • Jack Wagner has played Bill Avery on When Calls the Heart since 2014. 
  • Bill’s health has taken a turn for the worse in recent episodes, leaving some to wonder about the character’s future. 
  • Wagner will appear in the next several episodes of the Hallmark Channel series. 
Jack Wagner with his hand on Mike Hickam's (Ben Rosenbaum) shoulder in 'When Calls the Heart' Season 9
Ben Rosenbaum and Jack Wagner in ‘When Calls the Heart’ Season 9 | ©2022 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Eike Schroter

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Is the future of one of Hope Valley’s long-time residents in doubt? Jack Wagner has played Bill Avery on When Calls the Heart since the show’s first season. But some recent developments for the character suggest that he could be leaving the Hallmark Channel series. Here’s what we know.  

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for When Calls the Heart Season 9 Episode 8.]

Jack Wagner has played Bill Avery on ‘When Calls the Heart’ since 2014 

Wagner has been a When Calls the Heart fixture since the early days of the series. He made his first appearance in the season 1 episode “Rules of Engagement,” when he arrived in town to help investigate the mine disaster. He’s appeared in nearly every episode of the show since. 

Before joining the When Calls the Heart cast, Wagner played Frisco Jones on General Hospital, Dr. Peter Burns on Melrose Place, and Nick Marone on The Bold and The Beautiful. He’s also starred in The Wedding March movies on Hallmark.

Bill faces a health scare in ‘When Calls the Heart’ Season 9 

In When Calls the Heart Season 9, which is currently airing on Hallmark, Bill’s health has taken a turn for the worse. Dr. Carter (Andrea Brooks) fears he might have pneumonia, and both she and Molly (Johannah Newmarch) have been urging him to visit a doctor in Union City to get a chest X-ray. But so far, Bill has brushed off their concerns. But his refusal to take his health seriously is having consequences, and in the show’s April 24 episode, he was even coughing up blood.

With Bill’s health in question, fans might be wondering if the show is setting up the character’s exit. While we don’t know for sure what’s in store for Hope Valley’s judge and former mayor, we do know that he’ll be around in the near future, at least. 

The actor will appear in upcoming episodes of the show 

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A teaser for the May 1 episode of When Calls the Heart makes it clear that Bill is alive and (apparently) well. He’s working with Lucas (Chris McNally), Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) and others to set a trap for crooked businessman Wyman Walden (Wesley Salter). 

“It’s kind of like a mystery novel,” Lee (Kavan Smith) says. 

Bill will also appear in the May 8 and May 15 episodes of When Calls the Heart, according to episode descriptions released by Hallmark. However, the network hasn’t yet released details about the season 9 finale, which will air May 22, so we don’t know if he’ll be in that episode. 

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