A nurse practitioner from the big city (Los Angeles), Mel arrives in Virgin River looking for a fresh start after losing her husband and baby. She begins working at the local clinic (where she also puts her midwife skills to use), and sparks quickly fly between her and one of the pillars of the Virgin River community. “Jack and Mel, they have a big journey, a big roller coaster,” Breckenridge teased to Tudum on the Virgin River set in 2022. Now, the couple has officially tied the knot and is hoping to add a new member to the family.

Other than Virgin River, Breckenridge is best known for her roles in The Walking Dead and This Is Us, and is also an accomplished photographer who specializes in portraits and cityscapes. (You can check out her work on her website.) 

Gruff bar owner Jack is a Marine veteran who runs Virgin River’s popular watering hole — and serves as a friendly face, confidant, and handyman for his fellow residents, even if it means neglecting his own issues. While he’s in a situationship when Mel arrives, he quickly takes notice of the new woman in town. Going into the seventh season, Mel and Jack have finally tied the knot. “There’s always been an element of drama around these two. Even though it’s a very sweet love story, it’s never really been that easy,” Henderson told Tudum on set in 2022. But as time progresses, “I think their love deepens because they share more with one another.” 

New Zealand–born Henderson is best known stateside for his roles as Dr. Nathan Riggs in Grey’s Anatomy and porn producer Wayne in the 2022 horror hit X. (If you follow him on social media, you’re probably already also a big fan of his semi-regular cooking videos.)

The yin to Jack’s yang, Preacher is the talented chef at Jack’s Bar and a bright, positive force compared to his occasionally cranky best friend. Also a former Marine, he’s still on the hunt for true love. He embarked on a new relationship with Kaia in Season 5, which means “you’re seeing this whole new side to him, and he is taking time to focus on himself,” Lawrence told Tudum on set in 2022. Heading into Season 7, we’ll see if that new relationship can stand the test of time.

Lawrence is an English-Canadian actor known for stints in Battlestar Galactica and The Killing and, more recently, Riverdale.

While Jack’s an unofficial leader in Virgin River, Hope is its official one: mayor. And as mayor, she’ll do anything necessary to protect her city and its people regardless of what anyone thinks of her. She’s married to a fellow longtime Virgin River resident, Doc. After a car accident, she struggles with a traumatic brain injury, going “from somebody who is so capable to not being capable,” O’Toole told Tudum in 2022.

O’Toole has been a working actor since childhood and has appeared in everything from Superman III to Nash Bridges. (She’s no stranger to superhero content: In addition to appearing in the third Superman film, she played Martha Kent for eight seasons in Smallville; she also did a four-episode stint in The Punisher.)

Guess what Doc does? Go ahead, we’ll wait! That’s right, the town doctor goes by “Doc” (how quaint!) and serves as the medical provider for nearly everyone in and around Virgin River. While he isn’t initially keen on hiring Mel, he eventually warms up to her and comes to depend on her skills during crises. He and Hope have a long, fraught marriage. But the love remains between them. “One of the great things about Virgin River is there is a love story in every generation,” Matheson told Tudum on set in 2022. “They’re still active, they’re still passionate, and it’s very rare for a show to allow us to represent that.”

Longtime actor and occasional director Matheson has previously played a similar character — rural doctor Brick Breeland in Hart of Dixie — and is also known both for his iconic comedy (Animal House, Fletch) and drama (The West Wing) roles.

Another Marine buddy who served with Jack and Preacher, Brady has struggled to find his place in the world after returning from his tour of duty. In addition to being unlucky in love, he also sometimes finds himself working on the wrong side of the law. 

TV veteran Hollingsworth has done stints on shows including Code Black and the short-lived dramas The Beautiful Life and Cult. He also starred alongside Demi Moore and David Duchovny in the film The Joneses.

Jack’s sister is a whip-smart lawyer who, much like Mel, seeks solace in the remote town of Virgin River. And, much like Mel, she too finds love in the picturesque place — first with Brady, then with Mike. “Brie as a character is always looking for something real and something authentic,” showrunner Patrick Sean Smith tells Tudum, and that could have a major impact on her romantic life in Season 7.

Allen has appeared in shows including Grey’s Anatomy, kids’ series A.N.T. Farm and Scaredy Cats, and Vancouver-shot dramas Nancy Drew, The Good Doctor, and Bates Motel. 

Local cop Mike is another old friend of Jack’s with an eye on the local criminal element. He teams up with some fellow locals to try to take down the drug cartel threatening the area. While spending more time in Virgin River, he strikes up a romantic relationship with Brie. 

A familiar face on the small screen, Grazzini has appeared in series as varied as sitcom Kim’s Convenience and sci-fi soap Heroes Reborn. 

Troubled teen Lizzie moves in with her aunt in Virgin River in an attempt to get away from the temptations of Los Angeles. After a bit more rebellion, Lizzie falls in love with her new town — and with some of its inhabitants. In Season 7, she and Denny are about to welcome their first child together.

Dugdale has been acting professionally since she was a teenager and is best known for Lifetime movies including Death of a Cheerleader, The College Admissions Scandal, and The Bad Seed.

Doc didn’t know he had a grandson — or a son, even — until Denny came knocking on his door in an attempt to connect with his family as he copes with a deadly diagnosis. And, like so many other newcomers, he falls in love with a Virgin River resident. He and Lizzie are expecting their first child in Season 7.

Vancouver-born Bradbury began acting in local theater as a teen and has since transitioned to television. His credits include Altered Carbon, The Terror: Infamy, The Imperfects, Supernatural, and more.

Kaia is a tough firefighter who settles in to Virgin River as the new fire chief after sparks fly between her and Preacher.

A staple of genre television over the years, including in the critically acclaimed Battlestar Galactica reboot, McClure can be seen in Hemlock Grove, Motherland: Fort Salem, The Imperfects, and the Charmed reboot.

Jack’s ex was desperately in love with him — but he never felt the same and broke things off when Mel got to town. Charmaine, a hairdresser from nearby town Clear River, wasn’t too pleased. Although she and Jack have smoothed things over and she’s busy raising her twins without help from their dad, Calvin, Charmaine was mysteriously absent from Jack and Mel’s wedding at the end of Season 6.

You’ll recognize Hammersley from roles in series like Orphan Black, Saving Hope, Mr. D, and Sullivan’s Crossing.

Mel’s long-lost biological father, Everett, is a longtime Virgin River resident and former postal worker who has ongoing beef with Doc.

Nelson got his start in the soap Santa Barbara in the ’80s and is known for his stints in Baywatch, 24, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

When Mel worked abroad with Nurses Without Borders, she grew close with a doctor on the same assignment — Eli. Through flashback scenes, we’ll “get to know the man who was Mel Monroe’s first love,” says Smith.

While best known to some as Julian Baker on One Tree Hill, Nichols is a longtime TV star with stints on series such as The Walking Dead, Ray Donovan, Walker, and films including the recent remake of I Know What You Did Last Summer.

An ex-cop who was shot in the line of duty and now works for the state medical board as an investigator, Victoria comes to Virgin River to look into Doc’s practice. While there, she also runs into a friend with whom she wouldn’t mind catching up … or maybe even pursuing something more. “This character starts out really dry and by the book, but over the course of the season, as she’s questioning Doc’s ethics, she's really starting to see what’s special about him as a doctor, as well as the importance of the clinic to Virgin River,” says Smith.

Aside from a number of Hallmark holiday movies and several Canadian-filmed TV series like A Series of Unfortunate Events, CW viewers will recognize Canning as the dearly departed Aunt Jenna in The Vampire Diaries.

The tough and athletic Clay, who has experience working the rodeo circuit, helps Jack run the new farm. He grew up in foster care with his younger sister, whom he hasn’t seen since he was a teenager. He’s been looking for her ever since. “Clay is inspired by a character in the book series — very much a salt-of-the-earth type of guy, but of course has a secret past, as everyone does in Virgin River,” Smith teases. 

Kearsley is an independent filmmaker who has also appeared in Daybreak, Riverdale, and the 2017 Power Rangers movie.

In addition to being a nurse practitioner, Mel is also a trained midwife. One of her patients, Marley, was planning on placing her baby with an adoptive family in Virgin River until the family backs out — and she asks Mel and Jack to adopt the baby instead.

Canadian actor Drance can be seen in TV series including The Flash, The Hardy Boys, and Salvation.