TheHalloweentownCast: Where Are They Now?

Mar. 15, 2025

Left to right: Joey Zimmerman, Emily Roeske, Debbie Reynolds and Kimberly J. Brown in ‘Halloweentown’.Photo:Singer White/Ventura Valley Film/Kobal/Shutterstock

Singer White/Ventura Valley Film/Kobal/Shutterstock

It’s been more than 25 years sinceHalloweentownfirst aired.

White’s wife, Sheri Singer — also an executive producer on the film — recalled the moment toE! Newsin October 2017: “He came in one day to me and said, ’I don’t know where to go with this, but my daughter said to me, ‘Dad, where do all the creatures from Halloween go the rest of the year when it’s not October 31?’ And that’s how it was born.”

Halloweentownin its original form was developed in 1994 with “a little bit more adult appeal,” and after the success ofUnder Wraps(1997),Disney scooped upHalloweentown,and it was redeveloped for kids.

Debbie Reynoldswas the first actor to be cast, taking on the role of Aggie Cromwell. The rest of the parts were filled over time:Kimberly J. Brownas Marnie Piper, Aggie’s granddaughter; Judith Hoag as Marnie’s mother, Gwen Cromwell Piper; Joey Zimmerman as Marnie’s brother Dylan Piper; and Emily Roeske as Marnie’s sister Sophie Piper.

Brown spoke to PEOPLE in October 2022 about the legacy of theHalloweentownfranchise. “It’s just crazy to think aboutthe impact that it has hadon culture as a whole. It’s a Disney film, and yet they’re so revered and beloved,” she said.

So, what has the cast been up to in the two decades since the legendary film premiered? From continued success in Hollywood to new career paths, here’s where the cast ofHalloweentownis now.

01of 07

Debbie Reynolds as Aggie Cromwell

Debbie Reynolds in ‘Halloweentown’ in 1998. ; Debbie Reynolds at the 21st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2015.Singer White/Ventura Valley Film/Kobal/Shutterstock

Debbie Reynolds was born Mary Frances Reynolds in El Paso, Texas, on April 1, 1932.

In the late 1930s, Reynolds and her family moved to California. When she was a teenager, Reynolds entered — and won —the Miss Burbank pageant. Growing up, her career goal was to become a gym teacher, but at 16, she landed a movie contract with Warner Bros. after a scout discovered her at the pageant.

Two years after she won Miss Burbank, Reynolds starred inThree Little Words(1950),which earned her a Golden Globe nomination for most promising newcomer. She was just 17 when she was cast oppositeGene KellyinSingin' in the Rain(1952),which turned her into a household name.

Reynolds had a storied career in Hollywood for many decades. In addition to herGolden Globenomination in 1951, she received several more forBundle of Joy(1956),The Unsinkable Molly Brown(1964),The Debbie Reynolds Show(1969–1970)andMother(1996). She also was nominated for an Academy Award forThe Unsinkable Molly Brownand received theJean Hersholt Humanitarian Awardat the Academy Awards in February 2016.

One of Reynolds’ most beloved roles was that of Aggie Cromwell in theHalloweentownfranchise. As the family matriarch and a resident of Halloweentown, Aggie guided her grandchildren through their journey of developing and honing their magic.

Reynolds was married three times. She wed Eddie Fisher in 1955, and the couple had two children:Carrie Fisherand Todd Fisher. They divorced in 1959 after Reynolds learned that Eddie had beenhaving an affairwith her close friendElizabeth Taylor. Reynolds was married to businessman Harry Karl from 1960 to 1973 and real estate developer Richard Hamlett from 1984 to 1996.

Reynolds diedon Dec. 28, 2016, at age 84 afterhaving a strokeand her official cause of death was intracerebral hemorrhage. Her death came justone day after her daughterCarrie died.

“My mother and my sister are together now,” her son Todd toldthe Associated Press. “She said, ‘I want to be with Carrie.’ And then she was gone.”

02of 07Kimberly J. Brown as Marnie PiperKimberly J. Brown in ‘Halloweentown’ in 1998. ; Kimberly J. Brown at the Center Theatre Group’s Opening Of “A Soldier’s Play” in 2023.Singer White/Ventura Valley Film/Kobal/Shutterstock ; Unique Nicole/GettyKimberly J. Brown was born on Nov. 16, 1984, in Gaithersburg, Md.Brown began acting when she was 5 years old. In her early career, she appeared on Broadway, including inFour Baboons Adoring the Sun,Les MisérablesandShowboat.One of her early television roles was Marah Lewis on the soap operaGuiding Lightfrom 1993 to 1998, earning her a Daytime Emmy nomination when she was 11. Her feature film credits includeBe Cool(2005) andBringing Down the House(2003), and she lent her voice toA Bug’s Life(1998) andLittle Polar Bear(2001).Brown may be best known for her role as Marnie Piper in the first threeHalloweentownmovies. The lasting legacy ofHalloweentownover the decades is not lost on Brown, who told PEOPLE in October 2022, “It is such a gift to bring joy to people and to have this relationship with people over the movies and share the magic over the years.“In addition to her fond memories ofHalloweentownand her costars, Brown also met her husband, Daniel Kountz, working onHalloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge.More than two decades after the movie came out, Brown and Kountzgot married. While the couple were not romantically linked on set, they reconnected in 2016. Brown first sparked dating rumors when she posted aphoto of the couple kissingonInstagram.Brown is an alum of the Upright Citizens Brigade and Second City Improv Conservatory. SinceHalloweentown,she has stayed busy in her career; she’s portrayed characters inGeneral Hospital, the Hallmark filmCrossword Mysteries(2019)and the AMC seriesLow Winter Sun.

02of 07

Kimberly J. Brown as Marnie Piper

Kimberly J. Brown in ‘Halloweentown’ in 1998. ; Kimberly J. Brown at the Center Theatre Group’s Opening Of “A Soldier’s Play” in 2023.Singer White/Ventura Valley Film/Kobal/Shutterstock ; Unique Nicole/Getty

Singer White/Ventura Valley Film/Kobal/Shutterstock ; Unique Nicole/Getty

Kimberly J. Brown was born on Nov. 16, 1984, in Gaithersburg, Md.

Brown began acting when she was 5 years old. In her early career, she appeared on Broadway, including inFour Baboons Adoring the Sun,Les MisérablesandShowboat.One of her early television roles was Marah Lewis on the soap operaGuiding Lightfrom 1993 to 1998, earning her a Daytime Emmy nomination when she was 11. Her feature film credits includeBe Cool(2005) andBringing Down the House(2003), and she lent her voice toA Bug’s Life(1998) andLittle Polar Bear(2001).

Brown may be best known for her role as Marnie Piper in the first threeHalloweentownmovies. The lasting legacy ofHalloweentownover the decades is not lost on Brown, who told PEOPLE in October 2022, “It is such a gift to bring joy to people and to have this relationship with people over the movies and share the magic over the years.”

In addition to her fond memories ofHalloweentownand her costars, Brown also met her husband, Daniel Kountz, working onHalloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge.More than two decades after the movie came out, Brown and Kountzgot married. While the couple were not romantically linked on set, they reconnected in 2016. Brown first sparked dating rumors when she posted aphoto of the couple kissingonInstagram.

Brown is an alum of the Upright Citizens Brigade and Second City Improv Conservatory. SinceHalloweentown,she has stayed busy in her career; she’s portrayed characters inGeneral Hospital, the Hallmark filmCrossword Mysteries(2019)and the AMC seriesLow Winter Sun.

03of 07

Judith Hoag as Gwen Cromwell Piper

Judith Hoag was born on June 29, 1963, in Newburyport, Mass.

Hoag, Reynolds and Zimmerman appeared in all fourHalloweentownmovies. She reflected on the franchise at Classic Rewind Weekend. “I did the movie because Debbie Reynolds was doing the movie and I was such a fan,” Hoag said. “At the time, nobody really knew what the Disney Channel was. I loved the idea of playing a witch and being in a witch family, but I really wanted to work with her.”

AfterHalloweentown, she appeared on HBO’sBig Loveand was a series regular in the first two seasons of CMT’sNashville. In recent years, she had a recurring role in the Syfy seriesThe Magiciansand starred in the filmsFinding You(2021) andRoll with It(2023).

Hoag was previously married to actor Vince Grant, with whom she shares a son and a daughter. She married Philip Stone on Feb. 13, 2021, according to herInstagram. Hoag is also stepmother to his two sons, Philip and Logan.

04of 07

Joey Zimmerman as Dylan Piper

J. Paul Zimmerman in ‘Halloweentown II’ in 2001. ; J. Paul Zimmerman at The Celebrity Connected Emmy Awards Gifting Suite in 2014.Disney / AJ Pics / Alamy ; JMA/STAR MAX/IPx/AP

Disney / AJ Pics / Alamy ; JMA/STAR MAX/IPx/AP

Joey Zimmerman was born on June 10, 1986, in Albuquerque, N.M.

Zimmerman is the child of artists: His father, Henry Zimmerman, was an actor, while his mother, Kat Zimmerman, was a musician. In November 2022, he toldJake’s Happy Nostalgia Show!that his family moved to California for his father’s career when he was 3 years old. He would join his dad at auditions until he got his own agent and booked his first job — a commercial for McDonald’s.

“Suddenly, this role comes along that I hadn’t thought of myself in before,” he said. “It was this new and interesting thing and almost frustrating, like, ‘Oh, I love Halloween and scary stuff, but I have got to pretend I don’t.’ ”

05of 07Emily Roeske as Sophie PiperEmily Roeske in ‘Halloweentown’ in 1998. ; Emily Roeske in 2023 .AJ Pics / Alamy ; Emily Roeske InstagramEmily Roeske was born in Milwaukee on July 15, 1991.Roeske started acting as a child after following in her sibling’s steps. Her parents owned a martial arts studio, and her brother, James Paul Roeske II, began competing in and winning several tournaments across the U.S., she shared onInstagram. As a result, he appeared on several talk shows, includingThe Tonight Show. Talent agents scouted Roeske’s brother at the legendary late-night talk show and convinced her family to move out to California.“He got an agent, started going on auditions and booking roles, and then he was in the movie3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain,” Roeske recalled in a differentInstagram clip, adding, “I was on the set of that movie with him; the director gave me a small part. … I decided to get an agent and started acting and booking jobs as well.”Outside of her part in3 Ninjasand an appearance on an episode ofER, Roeske is best known for playing Sophie Piper in the first threeHalloweentownmovies. She retired from acting afterHalloweentown High— until March 2021, when she announced her return to acting onInstagram.Today, she lives in Arizona with her boyfriend, Jacob Arellano, whom she’s been dating since January 2020. Roeske and Arellano have embracedtheir blended family: Roeske is the mother of two daughters — Evie and Mavis — from a previous relationship. She also has two “bonus sons,” twins Lincoln and Logan, who are Arellano’s children from a previous relationship. The couple are currently expecting their first child together, according toInstagram.Though she temporarily stepped away from acting after her role as Sophie, Roeske has visited St. Helens, Oregon, whereHalloweentownwas filmed, on several occasions. She’s also appeared at fan festivals alongside former costars Brown, Kountz, Zimmerman and Phillip Van Dyke.

05of 07

Emily Roeske as Sophie Piper

Emily Roeske in ‘Halloweentown’ in 1998. ; Emily Roeske in 2023 .AJ Pics / Alamy ; Emily Roeske Instagram

AJ Pics / Alamy ; Emily Roeske Instagram

Emily Roeske was born in Milwaukee on July 15, 1991.

Roeske started acting as a child after following in her sibling’s steps. Her parents owned a martial arts studio, and her brother, James Paul Roeske II, began competing in and winning several tournaments across the U.S., she shared onInstagram. As a result, he appeared on several talk shows, includingThe Tonight Show. Talent agents scouted Roeske’s brother at the legendary late-night talk show and convinced her family to move out to California.

“He got an agent, started going on auditions and booking roles, and then he was in the movie3 Ninjas: High Noon at Mega Mountain,” Roeske recalled in a differentInstagram clip, adding, “I was on the set of that movie with him; the director gave me a small part. … I decided to get an agent and started acting and booking jobs as well.”

Outside of her part in3 Ninjasand an appearance on an episode ofER, Roeske is best known for playing Sophie Piper in the first threeHalloweentownmovies. She retired from acting afterHalloweentown High— until March 2021, when she announced her return to acting onInstagram.

Today, she lives in Arizona with her boyfriend, Jacob Arellano, whom she’s been dating since January 2020. Roeske and Arellano have embracedtheir blended family: Roeske is the mother of two daughters — Evie and Mavis — from a previous relationship. She also has two “bonus sons,” twins Lincoln and Logan, who are Arellano’s children from a previous relationship. The couple are currently expecting their first child together, according toInstagram.

Though she temporarily stepped away from acting after her role as Sophie, Roeske has visited St. Helens, Oregon, whereHalloweentownwas filmed, on several occasions. She’s also appeared at fan festivals alongside former costars Brown, Kountz, Zimmerman and Phillip Van Dyke.

06of 07

Robin Thomas as Kalabar

Robin Thomas in ‘Halloweentown’ in 1998. ; Robin Thomas during 2016 Tribeca Film Festival.Cinematic / Alamy  ; John Lamparski/WireImage

Cinematic / Alamy  ; John Lamparski/WireImage

Robin Thomas played Kalabar, Halloweentown’s mayor and the film’s antagonist.

According to the agencyMN2S, Thomas studied drama at Carnegie Mellon University before transferring to the art department to study sculpture. He then moved to New York, where he worked in the art space and construction.

Halloweentownproducer Singer toldE! Newsthat Kalabar was among the most challenging characters to cast. Still, Thomas ultimately was the right fit for the Disney villain, as he had previously worked with Steve White onAmityville Dollhouse(1996).Among the actors Singer had worked with over the years, she said he was “in the top five of doing his homework.”

“There was a lot of discussion about how do we do this,” she added. “As the mayor, he was more charming and likable, so that the audience would get used to him not being that scary so when he was, he really was.”

Thomas was previously married to Gina Wishnick. He is also the father of two children.

07of 07

Phillip Van Dyke as Luke

Phillip Van Dyke in ‘Halloweentown’ in 1998.Just Singer Entertainment / Alamy

Just Singer Entertainment / Alamy

Phillip Van Dyke was born in San Francisco on June 13, 1984.

Van Dyke was a child actor who played a wide variety of roles from 1993 up until 2003, when he retired from Hollywood. He’s best known for his roles as Ellis Solomon inThe Home Court, as Noah Beznick inNoah Knows Bestand as the voice behind Arnold Shortman onHey Arnold!during the show’s second and third seasons.

He appears in bothHalloweentownandHalloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revengeas Luke, a goblin who lives in Halloweentown and does Kalabar’s bidding in exchange for the warlock making him look like a human.

In October 2020, Van Dyke spoke toE! Newsand reflected on the continued impact of theHalloweentownfilm franchise. “When you realize that [the films] had such an impact on people and that they’re still fans and they’re still watching these films every single year, it is pretty incredible,” he said. “It’s something that I try not to take for granted.

When asked if he would return for a fifthHalloweentownfilm, Van Dyke said, “If the rest of the cast came back and wanted to do that, I would be up for it.”

source: people.com