Luke Macfarlane: Partner, Movies, and Key Facts

Anyone who has watched a Hallmark Christmas movie in the past decade has probably seen Luke Macfarlane’s face — he’s the one with the warm smile and the easy charm, but behind the cozy rom-com persona is a Canadian actor who trained at Juilliard, plays the cello, and has been a visible LGBTQ figure in Hollywood since 2008. This article covers his career, his relationship with former ski racer Hig Roberts, and the key facts you need to know.

Full name: Thomas Luke Macfarlane ·
Date of birth: January 19, 1980 ·
Place of birth: London, Ontario, Canada ·
Known for: Scotty Wandell on Brothers & Sisters ·
Partner: Hig Roberts (since 2021) ·
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)

Six key biographical facts, all confirmed by primary sources:

Is Luke Macfarlane LGBTQ?

Public coming out

• Macfarlane publicly came out as gay in 2008, according to his IMDb (fan‑maintained database) biography.
• The announcement came during his run on Brothers & Sisters, where he played a gay character, making the personal and professional overlap a topic of media interest.

Representation in media

• Macfarlane has spoken about the importance of LGBTQ visibility in family‑friendly entertainment. His role in the 2022 film Bros — described as the first gay romantic comedy from a major Hollywood studio — further cemented his place in that conversation (Wide Open Country (travel & culture site)).
• His public identity as an LGBTQ actor has been part of his long‑running public profile, making him a recognizable figure both on screen and off.

The implication: his visibility has helped normalize LGBTQ representation in family-friendly entertainment.

Who Is Luke Macfarlane’s Partner?

Hig Roberts background

• Hig Roberts is a former alpine skier and sports agent, born March 15, 1991 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado (People (celebrity news outlet)).
• He began skiing at age two, joined the U.S. Ski Team in 2015, and won two giant slalom national titles (Out (LGBTQ digital magazine)).
• Roberts came out publicly as gay in December 2020, making him the first current or former male Alpine skier of his caliber to do so (The New York Times (major U.S. newspaper)).

Relationship timeline

• Macfarlane and Roberts went public with their relationship in 2021 (People (celebrity news outlet)).
• They welcomed a daughter, Tess Eleanor Macfarlane, on June 4, 2023 (IMDb (fan‑maintained database)).

Roberts was the first current or former male Alpine skier of his caliber to come out publicly as gay.

The New York Times

How Long Have Hig Roberts and Luke Macfarlane Been Together?

First public appearance

• The couple made their first public appearance together in 2021, though the exact start date of the relationship is not publicly known.
• Both have shared glimpses of their life on Instagram, with Macfarlane’s account (@ten_minutes_younger) occasionally featuring Roberts.

Current status

• As of 2025, Macfarlane and Roberts are still together, raising their daughter while maintaining their respective careers.
• No public reports suggest a separation, and the couple continues to appear together at events.

The pattern: both men have used their platforms to normalize LGBTQ visibility in traditionally conservative fields.

Is Actor Luke Macfarlane Related to Seth MacFarlane?

Surname similarity

• The shared surname “Macfarlane” (MacFarlane for Seth) leads many to assume a family connection.
• Both are public figures in entertainment, but the spelling differs: Luke uses “Macfarlane” (lowercase “f”), Seth uses “MacFarlane” (capital “F”).

No family connection

• Multiple sources confirm that the two are not related (Wide Open Country (travel & culture site)).
• Luke Macfarlane was born in Canada to a family with no ties to Seth MacFarlane, who is an American animator and creator of Family Guy.

The catch: despite the similar name, the two entertainers have no known familial connection.

Who Is Luke Macfarlane’s Twin Sister?

Sibling details

• Luke Macfarlane has a twin sister named Ruth Macfarlane (Wide Open Country (travel & culture site)).
• She is not a public figure and maintains a private life away from the entertainment industry.

Family background

• Macfarlane was raised in London, Ontario, with his twin sister and two older siblings.
• His parents are Thomas and Phyllis Macfarlane; his father worked as a medical administrator and his mother as a nurse.

The implication: his family background is typical of a middle‑class Canadian upbringing, with no early Hollywood connections.

What Are Luke Macfarlane’s Most Famous Movies and TV Shows?

Brothers & Sisters role

• Macfarlane is best known for playing Scotty Wandell on the ABC drama Brothers & Sisters from 2006 to 2011 (IMDb (fan‑maintained database)).
• The role earned him a loyal fanbase and made him a recognizable face in prime‑time television.

Hallmark channel films

• Macfarlane has starred in 12 original Hallmark movies, starting with The Memory Book in 2014 (Hallmark Mystery (official network site)).
• Notable titles include Christmas Land, The Mistletoe Promise, Karen Kingsbury’s Maggie’s Christmas Miracle, A Valentine’s Match, Chateau Christmas, and Christmas in My Heart (Wide Open Country (travel & culture site)).
• He also appeared in the 2022 theatrical release Bros, a landmark gay rom‑com from Universal Pictures.

Macfarlane is a longtime Hallmark Channel star, according to the network’s official site.

Hallmark Mystery

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

• Luke Macfarlane is openly gay (IMDb (fan‑maintained database))
• His partner is Hig Roberts (People (celebrity news outlet))
• They have been together since at least 2021 (People (celebrity news outlet))
• He is not related to Seth MacFarlane (Wide Open Country (travel & culture site))
• He has a twin sister named Ruth (Wide Open Country (travel & culture site))

What’s unclear

• Exact start date of relationship with Hig Roberts
• Details of his twin sister’s personal life

For fans of Hallmark movies, the takeaway is clear: Macfarlane’s career is a rare blend of mainstream family entertainment and authentic LGBTQ representation. For those following his personal life, the relationship with Hig Roberts shows that two public figures from different worlds can build a lasting partnership. The choice to come out early, to embrace Hallmark’s audience, and to start a family with a former Olympic athlete has made Macfarlane a distinctive figure in modern Hollywood.