Gary Yates
Director · WriterActive 2011–2022
View on IMDb
View on TMDBCareer at a glance
20Hallmark films
9 at Christmas
Audience rating6.4 / 10
across 20 rated films
Weirdness4.2 / 10
Mostly standard issue
Best reviewed
Most recent
Gary Yates works behind the camera, and the network keeps handing him its December calendar. Across 23 films directed, written, or produced between 2011 and 2022, almost half are Christmas titles, and 13 land squarely in winter. The setting rarely strays far from a small town where everyone turns up for the tree lighting. He plays it straight rather than chasing anything high-concept, which is exactly the register this kind of movie wants. His best-reviewed picture is On the 12th Date of Christmas from 2020 at 7.2, with Christmas by Starlight close behind at 7.1 from the same year, and Tis the Season to be Merry a step back at 6.8. If you have ever settled in for a snowy December night and let the small town do its work, odds are good Gary Yates helped build it.
Follow & about Gary
- From
- Montreal
Gary Yates is a Canadian film director, producer, and screenwriter. His films include Seven Times Lucky, High Life, Niagara Motel and Taken in Broad Daylight. The latter, released in 2009, starred Sara Canning as Anne Sluti, James Van Der Beek, LeVar Burton, and was based on true events. The film was described as "another woman-In-peril TV movie".
Gary’s signature
Across 20 films, Gary usually leans into Christmas, frequently plays an executive and is usually set in small towns.
- Christmas9 films
- small towns9 films
- an executive4 films
- mistaken identity4 films
- second-chance romance6 films
13 hours
13 hours of Hallmark Christmas movies, and counting.
Adds up across 9 festive titles.
Known for
A Bride for Christmas6.6
Director · 2012
Weirdness 2/10
Certified weird
A Dream of Christmas6.7
Director, Writer · 2016
Weirdness 8/10
On the 12th Date of Christmas7.2
Director · 2020
Weirdness 2/10
Christmas by Starlight7.1
Director · 2020
Weirdness 5/10
Merry & Bright6.4
Director · 2019
Weirdness 5/10
One Winter Weekend6.6
Director · 2018
Weirdness 4/10
On-screen partners
Frequent co-star
Gary’s most frequent on-screen partner is Paul Essiembre, with 7 films together.
Recurring roles
Gary is a recurring face in One Winter.
- One Winter2 films
Where Gary fits in
The corners of the Hallmark universe Gary keeps turning up in. Each one is a full ranked guide.
All 20 movies
Newest first2020s
6 films- 2022
Twas the Night Before ChristmasDirector, Writer · Christmas6.7Weird 7/10 - 2021
One Perfect WeddingDirector · Resort/Vacation6.1Weird 3/10 - 2021
Tis the Season to be MerryDirector · Christmas6.8Weird 3/10 - 2020Christmas by StarlightDirector · Christmas7.1Weird 5/10
- 2020On the 12th Date of ChristmasDirector · Christmas7.2Weird 2/10
- 2020
Sweet AutumnDirector · Small Town6.4Weird 4/10
2010s
14 films- 2019
Easter Under WrapsDirector, Writer · Easter6.4Weird 4/10 - 2019Merry & BrightDirector · Christmas6.4Weird 5/10
- 2019
My One & OnlyDirector · Rural/Farm6.5Weird 5/10 - 2019
One Winter ProposalDirector · New Year's6.6Weird 3/10 - 2019
Our Christmas Love SongDirector · Christmas6.3Weird 4/10 - 2018One Winter WeekendDirector · New Year's6.6Weird 4/10
- 2018
Pearl in ParadiseDirector · International6.7Weird 5/10 - 2018
Under the Autumn MoonDirector · Rural/Farm6.5Weird 4/10 - 2016A Dream of ChristmasDirector, Writer · Christmas6.7Weird 8/10
- 2016
Wedding BellsDirector · Small Town6.3Weird 3/10 - 2014
When Sparks FlyDirector · July 4th5.0Weird 2/10 - 2012A Bride for ChristmasDirector · Christmas6.6Weird 2/10
- 2012
The Christmas HeartDirector · Christmas6.0Weird 7/10 - 2011
Lucky ChristmasDirector · Christmas5.5Weird 4/10
Gary’s standouts
In pictures
A quick look at Gary’s Hallmark run — headshot and the posters fans know best.
- Gary Yates
Gary’s creative circle
Go-to cast
- Paul Essiembre7 films
- Andrew W. Walker4 films
- Cherissa Richards4 films
- Dewshane Williams3 films
- Jack Turner3 films
Who Gary works with
The cast and crew Gary keeps ending up on set with — the regular faces you’ll recognise from one film to the next. Bigger circle, more films together.
Movies by year
Ratings profile
Average 6.4 across 20 rated movies — each dot is one film.
People also ask
- How many Hallmark movies has Gary Yates been in?
- We have 20 Hallmark movies on file for Gary Yates, spanning 2011–2022.
- What kind of Hallmark movies is Gary Yates known for?
- Gary is best known for Christmas movies and romances set in small towns, often with mistaken identity.
- What is Gary Yates's highest-rated Hallmark movie?
- On the 12th Date of Christmas (2020) is Gary's best-reviewed Hallmark film, with a 7.2/10 audience rating.
- What is Gary Yates's most popular Hallmark movie?
- A Bride for Christmas (2012) has more audience votes than any other Gary Yates Hallmark film, so it's the one most people have actually seen.
- Who does Gary Yates usually star with?
- Gary has shared 7 films with Paul Essiembre, their most frequent Hallmark co-star.
- Is Gary Yates still making Hallmark movies?
- The newest Gary Hallmark credit we have is from 2022; nothing later has turned up yet.
- How many Hallmark Christmas movies has Gary Yates made?
- Gary Yates turns up in 9 Hallmark Christmas movies.
- What was Gary Yates's first Hallmark movie?
- The earliest Gary Hallmark title we have is Lucky Christmas (2011).
- Where is Gary Yates from?
- Gary is from Montreal.
- What does Gary Yates do in Hallmark movies?
- Gary Yates works on Hallmark films as director and writer.
Data & sources
Gary’s filmography, credits and ratings are compiled from IMDb, TMDB and Wikipedia, then checked and tidied by the Talking Hallmark team. Last updated August 2026.
Catalogue curated by Alanna of Talking Hallmark. About the project
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