27 celebrities you forgot made TV Christmas movies

Molly Ringwald, Wishin' and Hopin' (2014)

The Brat Pack sweetheart, Molly Ringwald, fronts the Lifetime movie as a substitute teacher working in a Connecticut Catholic school in the 1960s. In this 2014 coming-of-age comedy, Chevy Chase lends his voice as the narrator, and Bat Out of Hell singer Meat Loaf serves as Monsignor Muldoon.

Billy Ray Cyrus, Christmas in Canaan (2009)

Miley Cyrus' dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, will touch your achy breaky heart with this Hallmark Channel film about race relations in Texas, based on Kenny Rogers and Donald Davenport's book by the same name.

Where to watch Christmas in Canaan: UP Faith & Family

Rhea Perlman, The Christmas Choir (2008)

Cheers actress Rhea Perlman gets holy, playing a straight-talking nun in this Hallmark Channel original movie based on the hardships experienced by Montreal's Accueil Bonneau Choir.

Mel B, The Twelve Trees of Christmas (2013)

Mel B a.k.a. Scary Spice helps this Lifetime original movie's Scrooge (Robin Dunne) beat out local residents in a Manhattan neighborhood's decorating contest when she lends her professional tree-trimming skills.

Henry Winkler, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (2008)

Henry Winkler — best known for playing the Fonz on Happy Days — stars as an uncle who visits his niece's (Baywatch's Brooke Burns) house for Christmas. He attempts to help the overworked mom find her holiday spirit in this Hallmark Channel original movie.

Where to watch The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Freevee

Mark-Paul Gosselaar, 12 Dates of Christmas (2011)

In the Freeform original movie, Mark-Paul Gosselaar stars as Miles, who goes on a blind date with Kate (Amy Smart), a woman reliving Christmas Eve night in a Groundhog Day-style time loop.

Where to watch 12 Dates of Christmas: Amazon Prime Video

Mike "The Miz" Mizanin, Christmas Bounty (2013)

The Real World participant–turned–WWE wrestler, the Miz, plays a bounty hunter whose ex-girlfriend (Francia Raisa) returns home to trade in bounty hunting for teaching elementary school students. Mizanin also produced the Freeform original movie.

Patrick Swayze, Christmas in Wonderland (2007)

In one of Patrick Swayze's final projects before he died in 2009, the Dirty Dancing (1987) star appears as the father of a brother-sister duo (Matthew Knight, Amy Schlagel) who get involved in a Home Alone-style kids vs. bad guys Christmastime showdown when they encounter counterfeit bills at the mall. (Note: Wonderland made its U.S. debut on Freeform, though it debuted theatrically in Canada.)

Neil Patrick Harris, The Christmas Blessing (2005)

Neil Patrick Harris relives his Doogie Howser, M.D. days as a doctor who gives up the practice after losing a patient. He then takes a holiday trip back to the town where he grew up. Rob Lowe and Blake Shelton, the latter of whom appears as himself, also appear in the CBS TV movie that serves as the second film in a trilogy based on NewSong's "The Christmas Shoes."

Tom Arnold, Chasing Christmas (2005)

In yet another Freeform adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Roseanne's Tom Arnold takes on the role of a modern-day Scrooge — a dad who's boycotted the Dec. 25 holiday since a falling out with his wife (Sarah-Jane Redmond).

Where to watch Chasing Christmas: Tubi

Shannen Doherty, Christmas Caper (2007)

90210's Shannen Doherty brings her devious ways from Beverly Hills to small-town Connecticut, where her character, a con artist, goes to lay low after a crime gone wrong puts her on the police's radar in this Freeform original.

Where to watch Christmas Caper: Plex

Bobby Cannavale, Recipe for a Perfect Christmas (2005)

Desperate to keep his failing restaurant open, Bobby Cannavale's Alex plays it straight and makes a deal with a local magazine critic (Carly Pope): Write a good review about the restaurant, and I'll take your annoying mom — played by The Good Fight's Christine Baranski — off your hands for the holidays.

Shiri Appleby, Kristin's Christmas Past (2013)

Shiri Appleby was used to playing a character who messes with people's lives on Lifetime's scripted series UnREAL, but before she played a ruthless reality show producer, the actress took on the role of Kristin Cartwright, who tampered with her own life by going back in time in the network's original movie.

David Hasselhoff, The Christmas Consultant (2012)

David Hasselhoff dons a different kind of suit for this Lifetime original movie role, in which he plays the titular consultant who helps a family in need survive the most wonderful time of the year.

Where to watch The Christmas Consultant: Disney+

Ashley Benson, Christmas Cupid (2010)

Pretty Little Liars actress Ashley Benson serves as a modern-day Jacob Marley, taking her former publicist (Christina Milian) through her past, present, and future boyfriends — one of whom is played by Chad Michael Murray — in this Freeform original.

Where to watch Christmas Cupid: Hulu

Kristin Davis, Three Days (2001)

Kristin Davis, the actress best known for playing Sex and the City's Charlotte York, took a break from the Big Apple to visit her husband from the dead in this Freeform original movie. Bonus: Tim Meadows, a.k.a. Principal Duvall from Mean Girls (2004), plays the angel who brings them together.

Stephen Colletti, All About Christmas Eve (2012)

The Laguna Beach heartthrob, Stephen Colletti, brings his player ways to this Lifetime original movie, in which he plays the lazy boyfriend of a busy New York City party planner (Haylie Duff).

Where to watch All About Christmas Eve: Peacock

Kristin Chenoweth, 12 Men of Christmas (2009)

After losing her fiancé and high-powered Manhattan PR job, Kristin Chenoweth's character heads to Montana, where she tries to raise money for the town's rescue station by putting together a calendar of local naked men. Veep star Anna Chlumsky also appears in the Lifetime movie based on Phillipa Ashley's Decent Exposure.

Where to watch 12 Men of Christmas: Amazon Prime Video (to buy)

Dean McDermott, A Christmas Visitor (2002)

His ex-wife Tori Spelling may have been a Christmas TV-movie mainstay (see: 2003's A Carol Christmas, 2012's The Mistle-Tones), but McDermott got in the mix too with this Hallmark Channel original about a family who stop celebrating Christmas after losing their youngest son to war 11 years ago.

Where to watch A Christmas Visitor: UP Faith & Family

Sarah Paulson, A Christmas Wedding (2006)

American Horror Story's Sarah Paulson is out on a cross-country journey in order to make it home for her Dec. 25 nuptials in this Lifetime original movie, also starring Eric Mabius.

Alan Thicke, Wish Upon a Christmas (2015)

Before he died in 2016, the Growing Pains leading man continued to play dad, this time to a businesswoman (Larisa Oleynik) who returns home in hopes of saving a family-run ornament company. Alan Thicke had a Christmas past, though, having appeared in 2014's A Cookie Cutter Christmas on the Hallmark Channel.

Where to watch Wish Upon a Christmas: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Mariah Carey, A Christmas Melody (2015)

The legendary R&B diva — who defrosts every holiday season to rule the charts with her timeless holiday anthem, "All I Want for Christmas Is You" — came to sleigh her directorial debut with this 2015 holiday movie. A Christmas Melody follows fashion-savvy divorceé Kristin (Lacey Chabert) as she's forced to close down her Manhattan boutique and relocate with her daughter (Fina Strazza) to her parents' home in Ohio — where she reunites with her former high school rival and PTA president, Melissa (Mariah Carey). —James Mercadante

Where to watch A Christmas Melody: Hallmark Movies Now

Patti LaBelle, A Family Christmas Gift (2019)

Patti LaBelle, the Godmother of Soul, uses her singing chops in this cozy Hallmark flick as Aunt Dora, who spends the holidays deepening her bond with her niece (Holly Robinson Peete) and takes the stage to perform at their fundraising Christmas concert. —J.M.

Where to watch A Family Christmas Gift: Hallmark Movies Now

Dolly Parton, Christmas at Dollywood (2019)

Who wouldn't want to spend their holiday with Dolly Parton at her titular theme park? Escaping the hustle and bustle of NYC, event planner Gail (Danica McKellar) returns to her Tennessee hometown where her sister, Maggie (Yan-Kay Crystal Lowe), asks her to organize Dollywood's 30th anniversary Christmas event. Though she has to navigate clashing work styles with the Director of Operations (Niall Matter), she also discovers love within the holiday chaos. —J.M.

Where to watch Christmas at Dollywood: Hallmark Movies Now

Kelly Rowland, Merry Liddle Christmas (2019)

Former Destiny's Child member Kelly Rowland takes the reigns in this Lifetime Original, portraying a type-A tech entrepreneur whose unruly family crashes her new home for the holidays — and that's just the beginning. Already with two sequels — Merry Liddle Christmas Wedding (2020) and Merry Little Christmas Baby (2021) — a fourth installment of the Liddle Christmas franchise is on the way. —J.M.

Where to watch Merry Liddle Christmas: Hulu

Jordin Sparks, A Christmas Treasure (2021)

American Idol season 6 winner Jordin Sparks takes on the role of Lou, who is gearing up to chase her writing dreams in New York, but finds herself repeatedly crossing paths with aspiring head chef Kyle (Michael Xavier) — sparking a connection that leaves them both contemplating their aspirations. —J.M.

Where to watch A Christmas Treasure: Amazon Prime Video (to rent)

Kelsey Grammer, The 12 Days of Christmas Eve (2022)

This Lifetime Original sees Cheers and Frasier star Kelsey Grammer step into the shoes of a Scrooge-like businessman, Brian Conway. After getting into a car accident on Christmas Eve, Santa (Mitch Poulos) grants Brian 12 chances to relive the day and mend the relationships in his life — including the one with his child, played by Grammer's real-life daughter, Spencer Grammer. —J.M.

Where to watch The 12 Days of Christmas Eve: Lifetime