If you’ve ever fallen down a Hallmark Channel rabbit hole on a crisp Saturday afternoon, you’ve probably seen October Kiss. It’s one of those "comfort food" movies that premiered back in 2015 during the Fall Harvest lineup. Honestly, even though it’s been over a decade, fans still hunt for the cast of October Kiss because the chemistry felt surprisingly real for a movie about a nanny who believes she's a mermaid.
It’s basically The Sound of Music but with more pumpkins and less singing. You have Poppy, the flighty but lovable free spirit, and Ryan, the "I’m too busy for my kids because I have a tech app" widower. The movie works because the leads don't just sleepwalk through the script. They actually seem to like each other.
The Main Stars Who Carried the Movie
Most Hallmark movies live or die by the lead actress. In this case, Ashley Williams (Poppy Summerall) absolutely carried the show.
You probably recognize her as Victoria from How I Met Your Mother—you know, the baker who almost became the "Mother" but then didn't. In October Kiss, she plays a woman who can’t keep a job for more than a week. She’s taught yoga, tossed pizza dough, and failed at both. Williams has this specific brand of "manic pixie dream nanny" energy that makes the character less annoying than she probably should be.
Since 2015, Williams has basically become Hallmark royalty. But she’s not just in front of the camera. She’s been huge in the "Make Her Mark" initiative, helping female directors get their foot in the door at the network. She also had a weirdly great role in the A24 film A Most Violent Year and starred in The Jim Gaffigan Show.
Then there’s Sam Jaeger as Ryan Larson.
📖 Related: The A Wrinkle in Time Cast: Why This Massive Star Power Didn't Save the Movie
Jaeger is interesting because he doesn't do a ton of Hallmark. October Kiss is actually one of his rare appearances in the "Countdown to Christmas/Fall Harvest" world. At the time he filmed this, he was finishing up his run as Joel Graham on the NBC drama Parenthood.
If you’ve watched TV lately, you’ve definitely seen him. He’s been in The Handmaid’s Tale as Mark Tuello and played a pivotal role in the Netflix series Devil in Ohio. He’s got that "reliable dad" face that casting directors love. In October Kiss, he plays the workaholic father who thinks a "business meeting" is a good way to bond with his children.
The Kids and the "Other Woman"
Let’s talk about the kids, Zoe and Zach.
Hannah Cheramy, who played the daughter Zoe, was just starting out when she did this. She was great as the skeptical kid who eventually buys into Poppy's mermaid stories. Fast forward to 2026, and she’s a legitimate sci-fi star. She played Dylan in the Van Helsing series and has been a main cast member in the hit horror/thriller series From. Seeing her in a lighthearted Halloween movie now is kind of a trip if you're used to seeing her run from monsters.
Kiefer O'Reilly played the son, Zach. He was the one with the "fear of spiders" subplot that Poppy helped him conquer. Like his on-screen sister, O’Reilly has stayed very busy. He was in The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers and did voice work for The Howard Lovecraft series.
👉 See also: Cuba Gooding Jr OJ: Why the Performance Everyone Hated Was Actually Genius
And we can’t forget the "villain" (or at least the obstacle). Miranda Frigon played Abigail Morwell.
In the Hallmark universe, there’s always a "corporate" woman who is the wrong fit for the hero. Frigon is the queen of these roles. She’s also a regular in the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries. In October Kiss, she’s the one who wants to send the kids to a structured math camp while Poppy wants to take them trick-or-treating.
Things You Probably Didn't Notice
Even though it's set in Seattle, the movie was filmed around Langley, British Columbia. You can actually find the elementary school used in the exterior shots—it’s Gordon Greenwood Elementary.
Here’s a fun fact about the ages: in the movie, Poppy is supposed to be 28 and Ryan is 34. In real life, Ashley Williams was 36 and Sam Jaeger was 38. They both look great, so it’s not super obvious, but the "quarter-life crisis" Poppy is having feels a bit more like a "thirtysomething-life crisis" when you know the actual ages.
The movie was originally titled Temporarily Yours. It doesn't quite have the same ring to it, does it? October Kiss fits the vibe way better, especially with all the Pinterest-level Halloween decorations that the production designer clearly went into debt for.
✨ Don't miss: Greatest Rock and Roll Singers of All Time: Why the Legends Still Own the Mic
The Full Cast List Breakdown
If you're looking for a specific name you saw in the credits, here's the rundown of the supporting players:
- Laura Mitchell as Megan (Poppy’s more responsible sister).
- Crystal Balint as Jean.
- Kirsten Robek as the yoga student who was actually better at yoga than Poppy.
- Christina Jastrzembska as Mrs. Klemmer (the "witchy" neighbor who is actually nice).
- Connor Fielding and Owen Fielding as Steve and Rob (the nephews).
Why This Specific Cast Worked
Most people think Hallmark movies are interchangeable. Sorta. But the reason people keep coming back to the cast of October Kiss is that the actors didn't play it like a caricature.
Sam Jaeger plays Ryan with a genuine sense of grief and overwhelm rather than just being a "mean boss." When he and Ashley Williams dance to "Spooky" by The Classics IV, it actually feels like two people falling in love, not just two actors hitting their marks.
If you’re planning a rewatch or just discovering it for the first time on the Hallmark Movies Now app, pay attention to the banter. It was written by MacKenzie Austin, and it’s actually a bit sharper than your average TV movie.
Your Next Steps for Following the Cast
If you want to keep up with what these actors are doing now, here is what you should check out:
- Watch Ashley Williams in the Sister Swap movies on Hallmark; she produced those with her real-life sister, Kimberly Williams-Paisley.
- Catch Sam Jaeger in The Handmaid's Tale for a completely different (and much darker) performance.
- Check out Hannah Cheramy in the series From if you want to see how much the "little girl from October Kiss" has grown as a dramatic actress.
- Look for Miranda Frigon in the Aurora Teagarden series if you enjoy a good mystery.
The movie might be over ten years old, but the careers of the people involved are still going strong. Whether you're here for the nostalgia or just trying to figure out where you've seen "that one guy" before, there's no denying this cast had something special.