Hallmark Wanted to Replace ‘Seniors’ with New Stars, Lawsuit Claims

A former Hallmark casting agent has filed an age discrimination lawsuit, alleging that network executive Lisa Hamilton Daly wanted to stop casting “older people” as Lacey Chabert and Holly RobinsonPeete in his films.

Penny Perrywho filed his request on Oct. 9 in Los Angeles Superior Court, claims that Hamilton Daly — executive vice president of programming at Hallmark — cited Chabert, 42, and Robinson Peete, 60, as examples of “old talent” who should be “replaced,” according to documents obtained by Variety on Wednesday, October 23rd.

In the lawsuit, Hamilton Daly is quoted as allegedly saying that Chabert is “getting older and we have to find someone like her to replace her as she ages.”

As for Robinson Peete, Hamilton reportedly said, “Nobody wants her because she’s too expensive and she’s getting too old. She can no longer play leading roles.”

Perry, 79, claims she was fired in April after working at Hallmark Channel for nine years, and that two months earlier she received a strong performance review.

But according to the veteran cast member, Hamilton Daly kept telling her she was “too slow” and trying to kick her out of the company while she looked to hire “new talent.”

“We need to bring in someone who knows more young talent,” Hamilton Daly said in the process. “Our protagonists are getting older.”

Us weekly has reached out to representatives from Hallmark, Chabert and Robinson Peete for comment.

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Perry’s casting credits include Cocoon, Ordinary people and The idiotas well as several Hallmark holiday films, most recently A Biltmore Christmas and Vacation Hotline.

Hamilton Daly joined Hallmark in 2021 after stints at Netflix and A+E Networks.

Perry claims that under the executive’s leadership, her office was moved to a different floor and she was excluded from meetings because one of her projects was taken over by a consultant working outside of Hallmark, for Variety. She alleges that Hallmark filled her position with a younger man after firing her.

The lawsuit comes as Hallmark prepares to launch its “Countdown to Christmas” Programming with 47 new original films across all platforms.

Chabert appears alongside Kristoffer Polaha in The Christmas missionwhich premieres on December 1st and follows the adventures of an archaeologist and her ex-husband who travel to Iceland in search of treasure. The actress is an executive producer of the film. She is also hosting a reality show, Celebrations with Lacey Chaberton Hallmark’s streaming service.

“These films mean a lot to me. I really am genuine when I say that,” Chabert exclusively said. Us in October 2021 from its longtime partnership with Hallmark. “It’s not just jobs, and I feel a responsibility to the audience to make the best film I can.”