Beloved Virgin River star Martin Henderson has shared details of a recent health scare that left both him and fans shaken — but grateful. During a candid Instagram Q&A with co-star Alexandra Breckenridge, the New Zealand actor revealed he faced a “serious” medical issue in October that forced him to step back from work commitments, including a fan autograph session.

“It’s good to still be here,” Martin said, his voice laced with both relief and quiet reflection. “What a couple of months. It was scary. I’m just so relieved that I have really, really good doctors and surgeons — everything went well for now.”

The actor, who plays fan-favorite Jack Sheridan, had to cancel a much-anticipated Streamily event last fall, originally leaving fans in the dark about the reason. At the time, Alexandra had described the circumstances as “very unforeseen.” Now, Martin is beginning to open up — gently, honestly, and with immense gratitude.

“I apologize, people. It was my fault we couldn’t do it back in October — I had a little health issue,” Martin shared, later correcting himself, “It was due to unforeseen circumstances beyond my control that were serious and needed attending to.”

Though he didn’t go into specific details, Henderson acknowledged he is still processing what happened and may share more in the future. Alexandra, visibly emotional, chimed in with a simple but powerful thumbs-up, telling fans, “I’m so happy that everything is [okay].”

The timing of the scare, just around his birthday, made the situation even more sobering. Fans flooded the comments with love and support. One wrote, “You’re looking so good, Martin! Take care of yourself — you are precious cargo!”

Back to Virgin River – And Back to Fans

Despite the health setback, Martin is returning to what he does best. He and Alexandra confirmed that filming for Season 6 will kick off in Vancouver in early 2026 — likely in February — and the postponed Streamily signing event will be rescheduled to coincide.

“There will be more,” Martin teased when asked about the show’s future. “How many more remains to be seen.”

Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith echoed that sentiment earlier this year: “As long as these characters are living, there are always going to be stories to tell.”

A Reminder of What Matters Most

Martin’s quiet vulnerability reminded fans that even the most steadfast characters on-screen are not immune to life’s curveballs. It was a rare, human moment that underscored not just his resilience, but the strong bond Virgin River stars share with their devoted fanbase.

As the town of Virgin River prepares for more twists and turns, one thing is clear: Martin Henderson’s return is not just welcome — it’s deeply appreciated.

“I’ll probably talk about it more at some point,” Martin said. “I’m sort of processing the whole thing myself.”

And fans, no doubt, will be waiting — with open arms.