John Reardon Returning to 'Hudson & Rex' After Cancer Battle, Surprise Exit
Hudson and Rex are set to reunite in Hudson & Rex season 9.
John Reardon, who played Detective Charlie Hudson in the first seven seasons of the Canadian crime procedural, is slated to return to the show following his surprise exit last year. Season 9 will begin filming in St. John's, Newfoundland, in June.
"Hudson and Rex is truly a special series that has built an incredibly loyal and passionate audience around the globe," Reardon said in a statement. "I'm excited to bring the next chapter to our fans. I'm looking forward to working with the cast, crew, creative team, production, and network partners as we move ahead, and I'm grateful to the fans for their continued support."
Christina Jennings, Chairman and CEO of the show's production company, Shaftesbury, added, "John is a talented actor and we're incredibly pleased to have him return as Detective Charlie Hudson. We know that fans missed him and so did we. We look forward to getting back to work and bringing fans an exciting new season."
Reardon, 50, last appeared on Hudson & Rex in season 7. After filming several episodes in 2024, the actor was diagnosed with tonsil cancer and stepped away for treatment. He later revealed that he would not be returning in season 8 - but claimed that it was not his decision.
"I didn't leave Hudson & Rex," Reardon wrote via Instagram in September 2025. "After taking a couple months to go through cancer treatment, I was given a clean bill of health and cleared and ready to return to work. But the team chose to go in a different direction."
Luke Roberts took Reardon's place on the show as Mark Hudson, who has no relation to Charlie, to work with Rex, the show's titular canine.
Mayko Nguyen (Dr. Sarah Truong), Kevin Hanchard (Superintendent Joseph Donovan), Justin Kelly (Tech Analyst Jesse Mills) and Roberts (Detective Mark Hudson) are also slated to return in season 9, which will be 12 episodes long.
"When viewers last saw Charlie Hudson, he was heading to South America in search of his missing brother, Jack," the season's synopsis reads. "Next season will see Charlie shocking everyone with his return to St. John's with one final task to accomplish before putting the Belize nightmare behind him. Charlie's return creates a complicated dilemma for loyal Rex and sets off a chain reaction inside the St. John's Police Department."
Reardon's return comes after Diesel vom Burgimwald, the dog who played crime-solving K9 Rex, tragically died of cancer during season 7. The dog's nephews, Dillon and Dante, and other relatives have taken over his role.
Hudson & Rex season 9 is set to premiere on CityTV in Canada this fall. Season 8 premieres in the U.S. on Thursday, June 11, on UP Faith & Family.
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This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 11:26 AM.