A Foolproof Guide to the ‘Sweet Magnolias’ Cast (Including What Else They’ve Starred in)

• Appears in: Seasons 1-4
• Previously starred in: Freaks and Geeks, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Once Upon a Time

As Maddie Townsend in Sweet Magnolias, JoAnna García Swisher serves as one of the main protagonists, a mom looking for a fresh start after her husband (played by Chris Klein) leaves her for another woman. Off screen, however, you may recognize her from a number of roles. García Swisher’s earliest acting credits include Vicki Appleby on Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000), Sam on Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1994–1996) and Hallie on Party of Five (1998). In addition to recurring roles on Once Upon a Time (2013–2018) and The Mindy Project (2014), the actress also starred as Cheyenne Hart on Reba (2001–2007).

The 45-year-old actress is currently married to former pro baseball player Nick Swisher, and they have two daughters, Emerson and Sailor. Believe it or not, they were background actors in one episode in season two.

Swisher told me in a previous interview, "That was a really fun day. Heather [Headley] brought her kids there too, and so it was really fun to just have them with me at work. And then my youngest also did an episode of Santa Clauses, which was really fun. She wants to be an actress, so we're just taking really tiny baby steps."

• Appears in: Seasons 1-4
• Previously starred in: She’s Gotta Have It, Chicago Med

On the show, Heather Headley plays Helen Decatur, aka the friend—and lawyer—you always want to have in your corner (and Maddie is lucky she does). Prior to Sweet Magnolias, she appeared in She’s Gotta Have It (2017–2019) and Chicago Med (2018–2021), but the actress also boasts an impressive Broadway resume. She earned a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her work in Aida, and her other theater credits include The Bodyguard, The Color Purple and The Lion King. Additionally, she won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album for her album, Audience of One.

Headley has been happily married to investment advisor Brian Musso since 2003, and they share three children.

While chatting about her Sweet Magnolia co-stars, Headley said, "I have a girl crush on JoAnna. She is a sweet, feisty, fierce woman who, if you get in some trouble, you want that doll in your corner." Meanwhile, she describes Brooke as the mother figure. She said, "Even though she has no kids, even though she isn't married, Brooke will come in with all the information. Brooke will know everything."

• Appears in: Seasons 1-4
• Previously starred in: Furst Born, Crazy Wonderful, Drop Dead Diva

Brooke Elliott portrays Dana Sue Sullivan, a chef and entrepreneur who is the owner of a restaurant called Sullivan's. She is also the best friend of Helen and Maddie. Although Elliott has appeared in several TV movies—like Furst Born and Crazy Wonderful—she’s widely recognized for playing Jane Bingum in Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva (2009–2014). The actress and singer starred in Broadway productions of Taboo and The Pirate Queen, and she was in the original cast of the first national tour of Wicked.

Her starring role in Boy George's musical, Taboo, turned out to be one of the biggest breaks of her career, and it was all thanks to Rosie O'Donnell. She told CTV News, "Rosie plucked me from the ensemble and gave me the lead role, which was really great and such old-school producing."

While speaking with TV Fanatic about her behind-the-scenes bond with Headley and Swisher, she said, "They're such incredible women, and I am so lucky to get to work with them. I think some of that is aligned in the stars to have that kind of chemistry that I'm told people see, and I feel when we're shooting the scenes, so I think we just got lucky."

• Appears in: Seasons 1-4
• Previously starred in: All My Children, One Life to Live, Grey’s Anatomy

On Sweet Magnolias, Justin Bruening takes on the role of Cal Maddox, a former baseball player that is dating Maddie and coaching Ty's baseball team. Bruening got his start as a fashion model and landed his first modeling gig at Abercrombie & Fitch, after being discovered by a talent scout at McDonald's. Bruening then ventured into acting after he was noticed by All My Children casting director Judy Wilson. He originally auditioned for the role of JR Chandler, but producers decided he was a better fit for James "Jamie" Martin.

Soon, Bruening became a soap opera star in All My Children (2003–2007, 2011) and One Life to Live (2004–2005). He has also appeared in Ringer (2011–2012), Switched at Birth (2012–2013), Hawaii Five-0 (2013), Ravenswood (2013–2014) and Grey’s Anatomy (2013, 2018).

In 2005, Bruening married his All My Children co-star, Alexa Havins, and together they have three children.

• Appears in: Seasons 1-4
• Previously starred in: Welcome to the Captain, American Pie, The Flash

Chris Klein is the "villain" Bill Townsend, the man who rubs everybody the wrong way through his adulterous ways and abrupt manner. Sweet Magnolias aside, Klein is known for starring as Chris "Oz" Ostreicher in the American Pie franchise. Other TV credits include Election (1999), Welcome to the Captain (2008), Wilfred (2011–2014) and The Flash (2018–2019).

In 2015, Klein married travel agent Laina Rose Thyfault, and they share two children: their son, Frederick (born July 2016) and their daughter, Isla Rose (born May 2018).

• Appears in: Seasons 1-4
• Previously starred in: Zoey 101, Dancing with the Stars, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here.

Jamie Lynn Spears stars as Noreen Fitzgibbons in Sweet Magnolias—a young mother who became pregnant after having an affair with Maddie Townsend's estranged husband Bill. Some fans might recognize Spears as Britney Spears’s little sister, but she made a name for herself by starring as the titular character, Zoey Brooks, in Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101. More recently, she appeared in reality shows like Dancing with the Stars, Special Forces: World's Toughest Test and I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here.

In 2007, Spears welcomed her first child with her then-boyfriend, Casey Aldridge, and in 2014, she tied the knot with businessman Jamie Watson. She gave birth to her second daughter in 2018.

While speaking with Entertainment Tonight about playing Noreen on Sweet Magnolias, Spears said, "I fell in love with the character. I felt like I've been her in many ways, and I just had compassion for the character. I love the people who were working on it and they took a chance on me, so it really was just a big blessing."

• Appears in: Seasons 1-4
• Previously starred in: Stranger Things, Talia in the Kitchen, Creepshow

Logan Allen is Kyle Townsend is Sweet Magnolias, the sweet, slightly nerdy young man with a relationship history has captivated viewers. You might recognize him as Jake from Stranger Things or as Kevin from Bernie the Dolphin. But long before he landed these big roles, he made guest appearances on shows like Nickelodeon's Talia in the Kitchen and Creepshow. Per his IMDB biography, the Florida native plans to add director and sports commentator to his resume.

During an interview with Pop Culturalist, he opened up about wanting to share more scenes with the rest of the cast. He said, "I want to work with as much of the cast as I can. I feel like I haven’t had many scenes with Dana Sue who’s played by Brooke Elliott. She’s amazing and super, super talented. I really want to work with her more because she’s so funny."

He added, "I want to work more with Heather Headley, who plays Helen. Her character is my favorite. I love her so much. She has this cockiness and confidence about her [and] I love that. She does such a good job as Helen."

• Appears in: Seasons 1-4
• Previously starred in: American Housewife, Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, Ghost Tape

Carson Rowland portrays Kyle's older brother, Tyler Townsend, who marries Annie (more on her in a minute). In addition In addition to Sweet Magnolias, Rowland also starred in American Housewife (2020), Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin (2022) and Ghost Tape (2020). He's been married to Maris Kenny since 2021, and they have a daughter named Eden.

While chatting with Us Weekly about Ty and Annie's shifting dynamic in season three, he said, “The writers, they love this slow burn. And I think what they’re doing is turning the furnace on so gradually to get people’s excitement up, like they did for the car crash in season one, where it’s got all of this anticipation. I love how the season ends with this subtle hint towards the relationship. And it’s a massive cliffhanger of the season."

• Appears in: Seasons 1-4
• Previously starred in: Where’s Rose

Anneliese Judge stars as Annie Sullivan, whose dramatic relationship with Kyle has been a topic of conversation amongst lovers of the show. Sweet Magnolias served as Judge’s big break. In fact, she has only one previous acting credit—an independent film, titled Where’s Rose.

While her romantic relationship garners a ton of buzz on the show, the character's relationship with her mother is another biggie. Judge told HollywoodLife, "Annie and her mom, Dana Sue, definitely have a really strong relationship, but we also see a lot of anger from Annie. Her parents have been separated for about 18 months and while she lives with her mom, she misses her dad a lot and we see a lot of anger and bitterness towards her mom. It fluctuates. As Annie goes through her own struggles, we see the relationship between she and her mom ebb and flow. It’s really something the audience will be able to connect to."

• Appears in: Seasons 1-4
• Previously starred in: Ties That Blind, Sea Wolf, Departure

Dion Johnstone is Erik Whitley, a chef at Sullivan's that is in an up-and-down relationship with Helen Decatur. Aside from Sweet Magnolias, Johnstone has had a lengthy career across film and television with credits that include the likes of Ties That Blind, Sea Wolf, Departure and more. Johnstone got his official start in the industry with a one-episode guest appearance on the early 2000s television series So Weird, which in-turn spawned bit-part roles in Hope Island, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show and Josie and the Pussycats amongst other credits.

In a 2023 interview with TV fanatic with co-star Heather Headley, the actor discussed the events of season three, which included the infamous breakup of the pair's characters. "I definitely think there’s potential for a reunion," said Johnstone adding: "But there’s a journey to be taken before that could happen. One of the big things for Erik, and indeed when he got the news, he reacted so strongly that he never stopped to ask, but why? Why do you need to think about it? So, there’s a missing component to this change in Helen’s feelings and what she needs to consider that he doesn’t know. That’s set him on a confusing journey, figuring out why it didn’t work. Why would she go back to someone who, from my understanding, fundamentally couldn’t work?"

I guess we'll have to see if these questions get answered in season four.

• Appears in: Seasons 1-4
• Previously starred in: Zola, Grace Point, Dear America: A Film by Generation Z

Despite only being 21, rising actress Drum already has a lengthy resume with appearances the 2020 comedy-crime movie Zola, 2023's Grace Point and the 2019 short film film Dear America: A Film by Generation Z. (In Sweet Magnolias, Drum plays the role of CeCe Matney, a teenager with a crush on Ty and has a difficult home life.)

In 2022, Drum spoke with Yitzi Weinter of Authority Magazine, sharing some of her journey to success. "I’ve had so many mishaps since the start of my career. Things like missed flights, cars running out of gas, and false covid test results right before I was supposed to work. Luckily, these incidents all worked out in the end, but I learned that stuff happens and you just have to go with it," she shared.

Drum also spoke of her Sweet Magnolias experiences up to that point saying, "I have been fortunate to have worked with so many talented directors, actors and crew members. During Season two of filming Sweet Magnolias, one of the episodes was directed by Mykelti Williamson. He’s been in many iconic films (like Forrest Gump), so it was definitely a little intimidating at first. It was such a cool experience to be directed by an actor so knowledgeable in the craft. In just a short time working with him, he gave great acting notes that I can now bring into other characters that I play."