Hallmark Vet Ryan Paevey Is 'Taking a Step Back from Acting' and Plans to Shift 'Focus' Closer to Family

• Hallmark star Ryan Paevey announced his plans to “step away from acting” in a statement on social media.
• The General Hospital The alum noted that he had “many years of smooth sailing, and I’m very happy to say that, but the waters were a lot rougher last year.”
• Paevey — who has starred in more than 15 Hallmark movies — now plans to focus on family and a new career with outdoor clothing company Fortunate Wanderer.

Hallmark vet Ryan Paevey is taking a “step back from acting.”

Paevey — who has starred in a number of Hallmark movies including Marrying Mr. Darcy, Christmas in the Plaza, Two tickets to heaven and A legendary holiday — announced in a statement on Instagram, first shared by Heavy, that he plans to focus on new career endeavors.

“So, first and foremost, I’m a little afraid that I have to make a statement like this at all,” he began. “I’m certainly used to a certain degree of gossip, but the last few weeks in particular have gotten out of hand with third-party speculation taking my words and stretching them to fit their narrative, or completely misrepresenting my words or misinterpreting their meaning.”

The 39-year-old actor shared that he’s always been “an open book and someone who speaks his mind honestly and directly, and it’s unfortunate that we live in a world where it’s very easy to twist someone’s words on social media.”

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He noted that he “often isn’t aware it’s even happening until someone on my team texts me in a panic,” apparently referring to online cheaters, which prompted him to deactivate his X (formerly known as Twitter) account.

The General Hospital alum — who played Nathan West from 2013 to 2018 on the ABC soap — said: “Like I said before, I’ve stepped away from acting, something I’ve felt I had to do for a while now, and the decision has shown absolutely necessary in the past few weeks.”

Ryan Paevey in the movie “Christmas on the Plaza”. Eric Zachanowich/Crown Media Get ready to trade your colors! Hallmark’s Christmas in July He’s back with 2 new original movies

Paevey then opened up about the personal and financial toll his acting career has taken on him, saying: “The industry has not felt like a place for me for a long time, and my mental health has been affected by it. She took me to a bit of a dark place, made me a version of myself that I don’t really like. I vented some of my anger and frustration publicly and for that I apologize.”

“I’ve had many years of smooth sailing and I’m very happy to say that, but the waters have been a lot rougher in the last year or so,” he continued. “I know I’m not unique in this; it seems that almost EVERYONE, in Hollywood or not, is going through hard times to some degree. My bank accounts were hacked, money embezzled, investments stolen…things that, although difficult, can be recovered. But after all that, my mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. I left Los Angeles to be closer to her and feel the need to devote more of my time, energy and resources closer to home.”

Despite the tough times, Paevey shared that it’s not “all bad news” as he has “so much to be thankful for” throughout his career.

“I am grateful to this industry as a whole,” he wrote. “I am grateful General Hospital for giving a green actor a chance and tolerating his learning curve, to Hallmark for changing my life and taking me to my favorite places on Earth, to my managers for seeing something in a resume-less grunt and helping me design a whole new trajectory and life for him, and to all of YOU who helped raise this craftsman and bartender and take him on a decade-long adventure that he could not have imagined. I have so much to be grateful for and not a day goes by that I don’t think about that thought.”

From left: Ryan Paevey, Kirsten Storms, Jackie Zeman appear on “General Hospital.”

Paul Hebert/American Broadcasting Corporation/Getty

“All this to say, I am simply moving the focus closer; family,” he concluded. “I found another fulfilling creative endeavor in [outdoor apparel company] Happy Wanderer, and plans to expand it, start with more adventures and share those adventures in hopes that we all stay connected, and I’ll share more about that when I have a clearer picture of how to do that. I know this was a lot, but I wanted you all to hear it straight from me. Thank you so much for sharing this journey with me and we hope there is more to come for all of us.”

PEOPLE has reached out to Hallmark for comment.

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From left: Ryan Paevey and Jen Lilley in “Harvest Love.”

Kailey Schwerman / Hallmark Television / Courtesy: Everett

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Paevey — who has starred in more than 15 Hallmark movies — first revealed he was taking a break from acting in a series of social media posts on April 9.

“Unfortunately, no word on a movie… I might take 2024 off from filming, unless the project is with friends,” Paevey wrote in a tweet on the since-deleted X account, according to TV Insider. “The last 8 months of living in this industry has left a pretty bitter taste in my mouth and I need some time away from a world full of fake friends and empty promises. I am tired…”

“I had a great race,” he continued. “I like my simple life in my shop, helping my little brother and surfing often. I have a lot to be thankful for, I’ll figure out a way to stay afloat without acting income… who knows, maybe a movie will come along. Insurance would be nice, haha.”

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