Halloweentown is a cult classic of the spooky season, becoming a perennial must-see for viewers of all ages. The Disney franchise promotes themes of family and acceptance, which have resonated with audiences – and, supposedly, the films’ stars, too. Decades after the series wrapped, Kimberley J. Brown, who portrayed Marnie Piper in three of the four movies, reflects on working on set with the late Debbie Reynolds, expressing how their on-screen chemistry went far beyond their work.
Halloweentown franchise
The Halloweentown film franchise, produced by Disney Channel, has become a beloved staple of Halloween entertainment since the release of the first film in 1998. It stars Kimberley J. Brown as Marnie Piper, a young girl who discovers her magical heritage, and the iconic Debbie Reynolds as her grandmother, Aggie, who’s a powerful witch.
The franchise is made up of four movies: Halloweentown, Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge (2001), Halloweentown High (2004) and Return to Halloweentown (2006). Brown appeared in the first three features, with Sara Paxton replacing her in the final instalment.
Over the years, Halloweentown has maintained its popularity, particularly as a nostalgic favorite for Millennials who grew up watching the series on Disney Channel. Its charming mix of humor, family themes and lighthearted scares make it a perennial classic for the Halloween season.
Fans continue to celebrate the series with annual viewings, and the town of St. Helens, Oregon, where parts of the first film were filmed, hosts an annual Halloweentown festival, cementing its status as a spooky season essential.
Kimberly J. Brown says Debbie Reynolds was like a grandma to her
In an interview with PEOPLE, Kimberly J. Brown explained that her off-screen relationship with Debbie Reynolds looked a lot like it did in the films.
“Our relationship, Kimberly and Debbie’s relationship, ended up very much mirroring Marnie and Aggie’s over the years,” she shared. “I grew up with her, and we became very good friends outside of working too. I went and saw her variety show in Vegas and Hollywood, and we would have dinner. She was very much like a real grandma to me.”
In her real life, Reynolds was a grandma. She was mother to two children, Carrie and Todd Fisher, with the former going on to become a Hollywood legend in her own right following her portrayal as Princess Leia in the Star Wars franchise. Reynolds became a grandmother after Carrie gave birth to Billie Lourd in 1992, and it seems her experience as a grandmother in real life helped form her relationship with Brown during filming.
Working with the Hollywood legend exceeded expectations
While Kimberly J. Brown was pretty young during production, Debbie Reynolds’ status as a Hollywood icon was not lost on her. Prior to working together, Brown wasn’t sure what to expect working from such a big name. However, their collaborations went beyond her expectations.
“You never know when you hear you’re going to work with a legend of that status, you don’t know what you’re walking into, but she could not have been nicer and funnier and just wanting to lift up everybody around her as much as she could,” she revealed, going on to add, “I was intrinsically trying to soak in as much of her wisdom as I could as a teenager, because what an honor to even get to share a scene with her. What an incredible, incredible woman. It was such a privilege to get to know her.”
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Debbie Reynolds passed away in December 2016, at the age of 84. Her death came just one day after her daughter’s.