MARK Consuelos is thrilled that his new role on Lifetime’s “1-800 Missing” takes him only as far as Toronto – meaning he’s only a 55-minute plane ride from wife Kelly Ripa and their three children.

“I was looking to do something that would keep me close to home and Toronto is the next best thing to New York,” Consuelos told The Post.

“Kelly was kicking me out of the house and saying, ‘Get out of here, go work,’ ” said Consuelos, who met his wife when they co-starred on “All My Children.”

“She’s really supportive and all the decisions we make, we make as a family,” he said. “Doing a series in Vancouver or L.A. was completely out of the question – this way, I can be home within an hour and be around my family as much as I can.”

Consuelos and Ripa – who stars in ABC’s “Hope & Faith” and co-hosts “Live with Regis & Kelly” – have three children: Michael, Lola and Joaquin.

“For me to be this close is great because I miss my family tremendously,” he said. “For the past six months I haven’t been working as much and one of my buddies said to me, ‘Take advantage of every single moment with your family.’

“It was tough leaving that first day for this job,” he said. “As soon as I wrap the episode I’m en route to the airport. It’s like driving up from Philly.”

In “1-800 Missing,” returning for its second season in July, Consuelos plays “free-thinking” FBI agent Antonio Cortez, a former colleague of Nicole’s (Vivica A. Fox).

“He’s a forensics expert who has answers to everything and is constantly pushing the envelope,” Consuelos said. “He’s really cool and smart.”

“1-800 Missing” also stars Caterina Scorsone and Justin Louis.

Consuelos is also co-starring in the upcoming Miramax movie “The Great Raid,” which filmed a year-and-a-half ago in Australia.