Sweet Magnolias Season 4 Cast: Who's Who in Serenity, South Carolina? - Netflix Tudum

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Everyone’s connected in Serenity, South Carolina — that’s part of the fun of Sweet Magnolias, the drama about three best friends supporting each other through relationship, career and personal problems in their small Southern hometown. Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Helen (Heather Headley) and Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott), who call themselves the Sweet Magnolias, meet regularly over margaritas to talk through their latest problems. In Season 4, there are three new faces who appear as what showrunner Sheryl J. Anderson dubs “the grandmothers of Serenity.” Watching the three actors together on-screen was a highlight, she tells Tudum. “My heart leapt for joy every single time.” 

Before you jump back into the series for the latest episodes, now streaming on Netflix, here’s a refresher on who’s who in the cast in this soapy little city.

JoAnna Garcia Swisher, as Maddie Townsend, smiles wearing an orange and white blouse in Season 3 of ‘Sweet Magnolias.’

JoAnna Garcia Swisher

as Maddie Townsend
About the Character

We first meet mom-of-three Maddie after she’s separated from her high school sweetheart and husband, Bill (Chris Klein), and stepped back into the workforce. She’s still hurt from Bill’s cheating, but sparks fly between her and her oldest son’s ex-pro baseball coach, Cal (Justin Bruening). As Season 3 begins, Maddie and Cal’s relationship is in a crucial spot. “For Maddie, the dust feels like it’s settling a little bit after the divorce,” Swisher told Tudum in June.  

 

Maddie manages the spa she and her besties decide to open together, and parents her two teen boys and elementary-age daughter. Now that she’s more settled in her new role, she’s going to spend Season 3 “determining what that next chapter is really going to look like,” Swisher said. “I think the last couple of years have been putting back the pieces for her. She’s been met with this great love, and she’s got her sisterhood, and her children are somewhat back on track. Now it’s time to really figure out what the future holds for her and what that really looks like.”

Previously In

Best known for her breakout TV role as daughter Cheyenne in the long-running sitcom Reba, Garcia Swisher has been a staple on television since her days on Nickelodeon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark. Other recent TV highlights before joining the Sweet Magnolias cast include iconic Disney princess Ariel in Once Upon a Time and Betty Grissom in The Astronaut Wives Club.

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Heather Headley as Helen stands in her home with a slight smile in Season 3 of ‘Sweet Magnolias.’

Heather Headley

as Helen Decatur
About the Character

Career-minded Helen is an accomplished attorney — the top lawyer in Serenity, for what it’s worth. She's had romantic dalliances with longtime love Ryan (Michael Shenefelt) and Dana Sue’s star chef, Erik (Dion Johnstone), but Season 2 was an emotional one: Helen suffered a miscarriage and, in the cliffhanger finale, Ryan finally proposed. Without revealing too much, Headley says that Season 3 will see an important shift for Helen’s romantic life. “She’s just surrendered to the fact that, ‘I made the decision and this is what it is, and here it is.’ There is such an arc to her,” Headley teased in June. 

 

Another important fact about Helen: She’s also an incredible singer, but that’s probably because she’s played by a legendary Tony winner.

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The musical theater icon took home a Tony in 2000 for her role in Aida, and originated the role of Nala in The Lion King musical. She’s also brought down the (Broadway) house in Dreamgirls and The Color Purple. Most recently she played Clara Ward in the Aretha Franklin film Respect and Dr. Jamison in the series She’s Gotta Have It.

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Brooke Elliott as Dana Sue holds a cocktail in Season 3 of ‘Sweet Magnolias.’

Brooke Elliott

as Dana Sue Sullivan
About the Character

Chef Dana Sue owns her own namesake restaurant, Sullivan’s, where she hustles to maintain a successful establishment while also serving delicious food. She’s in business with her fellow Sweet Magnolias and has a teen daughter who helps her in the restaurant. At various times, sparks have flown between Dana Sue and her friendly farm supplier, Jeremy (Chase Anderson), her old fling and silent partner Micah (Marland Burke) and even her estranged husband, Ronnie (Brandon Quinn), who is back in the picture in a big way for Season 3.

 

“They’re still trying to figure out where this relationship is going to land," Elliott told Tudum. In a June interview, she revealed that Dana Sue and Ronnie are taking this season to reexamine their relationship — “to re-look at how they communicate, re-look at how they take care of themselves, how they take care of each other.”

Previously In

Elliott charmed TV audiences as lawyer Jane Bingham in the series Drop Dead Diva, and isn’t the only theater veteran in the cast. Like co-star Headley she’s had her own Broadway stints (in the shows Taboo and The Pirate Queen)

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Chris Klein as Bill Townsend smiles at a restaurant table in Season 3 of ‘Sweet Magnolias.’

Chris Klein

as Bill Townsend
About the Character

The cause of much drama in Serenity, Bill is one of the town’s leading doctors, as well as Maddie's ex-husband and the father of their three kids. The two split after Bill had an affair with his nurse at Serenity Family Physicians, Noreen (Jamie Lynn Spears), who became pregnant.  

Previously In

A staple of big-screen comedies in the late ’90s, Klein broke out alongside Reese Witherspoon in the dark comedy Election. He’s starred in films including the American Pie series, Just Friends and American Dreamz, and more recently in series including The Flash and Wilfred.

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Jamie Lynn Spears as Noreen holding a baby and smiling in Season 3 of ‘Sweet Magnolias.’

Jamie Lynn Spears

as Noreen Fitzgibbons
About the Character

The other woman in Bill’s affair is a nurse who, over the course of the first season, realizes she deserves better than Bill’s philandering ways and dumps him. She grows close with Maddie and Bill’s sensitive middle child, Kyle (Logan Allen), and slowly starts to earn Maddie’s trust. Her best friend in Serenity is Isaac (Chris Medlin), one of Dana Sue’s loyal employees.

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Jamie Lynn made her on-screen debut as a younger version of her older sister Britney’s character in the Shonda Rhimes–penned movie Crossroads before transitioning to television, including as part of the castr of the sketch comedy series All That and the titular lead of Nickelodeon comedy Zoey 101.

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Justin Bruening as Cal holds a towel in a kitchen in Season 3 of ‘Sweet Magnolias.’

Justin Bruening

as Cal Maddox
About the Character

In Season 1, former professional baseball player Cal arrived in town as the new coach at Serenity High School — and a new love interest for the newly single Maddie. 

Previously In

Soap opera veteran Bruening put in several years in All My Children, and has appeared in TV series as varied as the 2008 Knight Rider reboot, the young adult drama Switched at Birth (as well as Ringer, Good Behavior, Ravenswood, Hawaii Five-0 and many more).

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Carson Rowland as Ty smiles in his home in Season 3 of ‘Sweet Magnolias.’

Carson Rowland

as Tyler “Ty” Townsend
About the Character

Ty is the star pitcher on Serenity High School’s baseball team, and dreams of going pro like his mentor, Cal — or, at least, taking his talents to a top-tier college baseball program. A car accident at the end of Season 1 might have derailed those plans.

Previously In

Catch Rowland in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, episodes of the sitcom American Housewife and the Nickelodeon series I Am Frankie.

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Logan Allen as Kyle sits outside smiling in Season 3 of ‘Sweet Magnolias.’

Logan Allen

as Kyle Townsend
About the Character

The middle Townsend child is a sensitive soul who’s interested in acting. He’s a Serenity High School drama club star with a crush on Annie.

Previously In

After making his professional acting debut in the Nickelodeon series Talia in the Kitchen, Allen appeared in the independent film Bernie the Dolphin and its sequel, the horror series Creepshow, and several episodes of Stranger Things Season 4.

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Anneliese Judge as Annie stands wearing a pink dress and gold necklaces in Season 3 of ‘Sweet Magnolias.’

Anneliese Judge

as Annie Sullivan
About the Character

Dana Sue and Ronnie’s daughter, Annie spends her time helping her mom at Sullivan’s while pursuing her real hobby, photography, on the side. She’s friends with both Townsend brothers — and unaware that Kyle has a crush on her. 

Previously In

Newcomer Judge made her professional acting debut in Sweet Magnolias.

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Chris Medlin as Isaac stands in a chef coat with a concerned expression in Season 3 of Sweet Magnolias.

Chris Medlin

as Isaac Downey
About the Character

Isaac, who works at Sullivan’s, knows his birth mother is from Serenity and has come to the small town to find her — and he’ll hopefully learn about his birth father in the process.

Previously In

Medlin is an original Broadway cast member of Mean Girls the Musical and Diana, and he has a background in dance.

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Brandon Quinn as Ronnie stands in the Sullivan’s restaurant dining room in Season 3 of ‘Sweet Magnolias.’

Brandon Quinn

as Ronnie Sullivan
About the Character

Dana Sue’s estranged husband comes back to Serenity with the goal of reuniting with his longtime love and raising their daughter together.

Previously In

Children of the ’90s will recognize Quinn as Tommy from Big Wolf on Campus, and the actor has also appeared in series as varied as The O.C., Entourage, The Fosters, and Die Hart.

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Dion Johnstone as Erik stands at an outdoor court with a basketball in hand in Season 3 of ‘Sweet Magnolias.’

Dion Johnstone

as Erik Whitley
About the Character

Dana Sue’s ultra-talented sous chef is an integral part of Sullivan’s, both because of his culinary skills and the fact that he’s taken Isaac under his wing. He’s friendly with all of the Magnolias but takes things to the next level with Helen when sparks fly between them.

Previously In

The Canadian actor has dozens of holiday movies, TV series, and short films on his résumé, including the Apple TV+ kids’ show Jane and Peacock thriller Departure

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Jodi Benson as Iris Maddox in ‘Sweet Magnolias’.

Jodi Benson

as Iris Maddox
About the Character

Cal’s mother, Iris, comes to town to celebrate several important occasions with the family in Season 4.

Previously In

You’ve seen her in plenty of places, but most importantly, you’ve heard her as the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid.

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Judith Ivey as Bonnie Townsend in ‘Sweet Magnolias’ Season 4.

Judith Ivey

as Bonnie Townsend
About the Character

Bill’s mother, Bonnie, arrives for a stay in Serenity and immediately butts heads with Maddie (and pretty much everyone else she comes into contact with).

Previously In

Like some of her Sweet Magnolias co-stars, Ivey is a Tony winner with a long history in the theater. Notable film and TV credits include Designing Women, White Collar, and Women Talking.


JoAnna Garcia Swisher as Maddie Townsend, Caroline Lagerfelt as Paula Vreeland, and Jodi Benson as Iris Maddox in ‘Sweet Magnolias’ Season 4.

Caroline Lagerfelt

as Paula Vreeland
About the Character

Maddie’s artist mom has not only encouraged Maddie to pursue her dreams, she’s frequently spending time with her grandchildren to encourage their own creativity.

Previously In

Theater veteran Lagerfelt has appeared on stages around the world. On-screen, you’ve seen her in everything from Nash Bridges to Minority Report.

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