Hallmark Christmas movie star John Reardon shares tonsil cancer diagnosis

Hallmark Channel actor John Reardon revealed in a Christmas Eve Instagram post that he was diagnosed with tonsil cancer.

"Last night was my first night out after my recovery from tonsil cancer," the 49-year-old began in a caption alongside two photos, including one in which the actor appears to be getting treated in a hospital. "Has been a long road between these two pictures and the difference is from the love and support I received from my people in my life," he said.

Reardon went on to thank his "amazing partner," his wife actress Meghan Ory, "for taking on our whole world to help me get better." Reardon and Ory costar in Hallmark's Believe in Christmas, which premiered last month.

In the post, the Canadian actor also thanked his "brave kids," his dad "who took me for a walk everyday even when it was hard for me to get out of bed," his mom "who made me soups and ginger honey tea and green juices so I could get calories into my body," his siblings "who helped with the kids and the challenges of life when I couldn’t," and his in-laws "who brought food and cookies and talked through challenges."

He added his gratitude to others "who sent food or love and support or messages and kind words" and "all the amazing doctors, nurses, technicians, hospital workers, psychologists you are all my heroes and I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

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Reardon previously starred in Hallmark Channel's The Christmas Secret and I’ll Be Home for Christmas, and had roles in the movies White Chicks, Scary Movie 4 and Tron: Legacy. He also leads Canadian police procedural Hudson & Rex, playing a detective partnered with a German Shepherd. The Citytv show, based on Austrian-Italian drama Inspector Rex, is expected to return for a seventh season next year.

Reardon concluded his post by stating, "Kindness is an under appreciated quality in people. We should never under value it. Celebrate it and distribute it as much as possible. It is free and life changing. Happy Holidays."

Representatives for Reardon did not immediately respond to a request for additional information.

See Reardon's full Instagram post above.