When Calls The Heart's Erin Krakow Starred In A Military Drama Before Her Hallmark Fame

Erin Krakow has been starring as teacher Elizabeth Thatcher in the Hallmark show "When Calls the Heart" since 2014, but before she took on that role, she cut her teeth in the Lifetime series "Army Wives," one of her first TV gigs. Premiering in 2007, "Army Wives" follows a group of military spouses as they navigate life's various trials. Inspired by Tanya Biank's book "Under the Sabers: The Unwritten Code of Army Wives," the show was a hit for Lifetime, running for seven seasons to become the network's longest-running series.

Krakow played Specialist Tanya Gabriel, who appeared in 18 episodes between seasons four and six. While she wasn't an original cast member, her story arc was full of the heart-wrenching drama that made the show popular. "I loved getting to play that character, it was a real honor to play an army medic," Krakow told Sidewalks Entertainment. "Just putting on that uniform and stepping into those boots, it was a pretty unique experience." She also revealed that she's still close with Catherine Bell, who starred as Denise Sherwood, along with some other cast members.

Despite being canceled after seven seasons in 2013, "Army Wives" has remained popular not only with its original fans, but also with new viewers, who continue to fall in love with its complex storylines over a decade later. For those who'd like to reminisce or check it out for the first time, the series is now streaming on Hulu and Disney+. If you're a longtime fan still holding onto the hope that "Army Wives" might make a comeback, don't hold your breath: According to Sally Pressman, who played Roxy LeBlanc (the wife of second lieutenant Trevor LeBlanc), she and series creator Katherine Fugate approached ABC execs about rebooting the series, but they didn't get far.

"We came up with what the show might look like today," Pressman said in a June 2026 Instagram video. "We had a meeting with I think one or two executives at ABC Studios. Well, they said no. I really believed in it and I wanted to do it, not just for me getting to play one of the best roles of my life more, but for you guys, because of my connection to you all, and hearing how much you love the show." Pressman explained that, because ABC produced and owns the rights to the show, it's hard to do a reboot without them. Despite this setback, "Army Wives" fans seem determined to see more of their favorite characters: That same month, a fan launched a petition hoping to convince ABC to revive the series.