Meet Shaun Johnston, the Heart of Heartland: A Q&A with Grandpa Jack

Yo, Heartland heads! Get ready for a rootin' tootin' adventure into the world of Shaun Johnston, the actor who plays our favorite Grandpa Jack, on CBC's smash hit, Heartland. Now in its 18th season (can you believe it?), Heartland's got us all hooked, and a big part of that is thanks to Shaun's portrayal of the gruff-but-lovable patriarch of the Bartlett-Fleming clan, which is a major part of what keeps us comin' back for more.

So, grab a cup of joe and settle in as we pick Shaun's brain about life on and off the Heartland set. And don't forget to mark your calendars - the new season kicks off on October 2nd, 2016, at 7 PM (7:30 for you Newfoundlanders out there)!

1. Let's talk about that gut-wrenching episode where Grandpa Jack said goodbye to Paint. How'd that go down behind the scenes?

Boy, oh boy, that was a toughie. Shaun confessed, "When I read that episode on paper, I knew it was gonna be a real emotional rollercoaster." He usually preps like crazy, scribbling notes all over the place. But for this one? He went in raw. "I knew I was gonna be so connected to that particular story, that I just shot it," he said. "It was hard on everybody."

2. Any standout episodes from recent seasons?

Without missing a beat, Shaun replied, "That one." Looks like saying goodbye to Paint left quite the impression on our cowboy!

3. If you could hop in a time machine and give yourself from a decade ago some advice, what would it be?

Shaun chuckled and said, "Don't worry between seasons, 'cause you're gonna get renewed!" Turns out, our man's been sweating bullets every year, hoping for that sweet, sweet renewal notice. "I always worried between seasons, 'cause I love the show so much," he admitted. "I'm always going, 'I hope we get renewed, I hope we get renewed.' That'd be my advice, don't beat yourself up about it."

4. When you're not wrangling horses on set, what keeps you busy?

"I play hockey, I play a ton of hockey," Shaun grinned. "And I play as much guitar as I can. I'm no hot guitar player, but I play well enough to make myself happy." Sounds like a pretty sweet way to unwind if you ask me!

5. After a decade of playing Grandpa Jack, what's the biggest lesson you've learned?

With a twinkle in his eye, Shaun replied, "I've learned that I'm gonna grow old gracefully." Here's hoping we all age as well as Grandpa Jack!

6. When Heartland eventually rides off into the sunset, what's next for Shaun Johnston?

"That's a good question," he mused. "I'd like to watch a lot of TV and play more hockey." Sounds like a well-deserved break to me!

7. Got any other projects cooking?

Shaun's been keeping busy! He popped up in a sci-fi series called Wynonna Earp, playing a mysterious character named Juan Carlos. "And the reason why my character's name is Juan Carlos is because I look so Latino," he joked. He's also hitting the stage in January 2017 at Shadow Theatre in Edmonton. Break a leg, Shaun!

8. Spill the beans - is that silver fox look all natural, or is there some Hollywood magic involved?

Shaun let us in on a little secret: "The ink comes out of my mustache every day and the wig comes off." Movie magic, folks!

9. Word on the street is you were once a runway model and a banker. What's the story there?

Hold onto your hats, 'cause this is a wild ride! Shaun spilled the beans about his younger days, fresh out of business school and ready to take on the world. He packed up his trusty '73 Cutlass Supreme and hit the road for Toronto, dreaming of Madison Avenue glory. But life's funny sometimes. Instead of diving into advertising, he found himself strutting his stuff on the catwalk! "I was 6'3" at the time, I fit right off the rack – I could wear Hugo Boss, right off the rack," he recalled. Before he knew it, he was raking in $60 an hour for fashion shows - big bucks back then! And the banking gig? That was a pit stop between year one and two of his business degree. Talk about a jack of all trades!

10. You've done your fair share of theatre and TV. How do they stack up?

Shaun's got some strong opinions on this one! He reckons TV's actually riskier than theatre. "In film and television, you do have the luxury of multiple takes; if it ultimately ends up being not too good, it's recorded forever," he explained. But on stage? "You don't make mistakes when you are well rehearsed," he said confidently. His all-time favorite role? Eddie in "Fool for Love" by Sam Shepard. Sounds like it was a real barn-burner!

11. You recently held a concert at an Alberta ranch. How'd that feel?

Shaun was over the moon about this one! "The audience was so supportive before we even sat down that I felt they really wanted me to have fun more than anything," he gushed. Despite some initial jitters, he found his groove pretty quick. "I was pretty nervous about it when I sat down on stage – but that vanished within the first 60 seconds of the show and it was just a romp after that."

Well, folks, there you have it - a peek behind the curtain at the man who brings Grandpa Jack to life. From runway model to beloved TV grandpa, Shaun Johnston's had quite the journey. Next time you're watching Heartland, give a little tip of the hat to Shaun and all the heart he pours into his performance.

And hey, if you're hankering for more Heartland gossip, why not check out our chats with Michelle Morgan (Lou Fleming), Graham Wardle (Ty Borden), Cindy Busby (Ashley Stanton), and Alisha Newton (Georgie)? Happy trails, Heartland fans!