‘Halloweentown’s’ Daniel Kountz Initially Had No Feelings for Kimberly J. Brown – ryan

• Actor Daniel Kountz revealed that he did not have feelings for his now-wife and Halloweentown II costar, Kimberly J. Brown, when they initially met
• The actor, 46, shared that their six-year age gap was just too much when they initially filmed the Disney Channel film, recalling that they were merely “good friends”
• Daniel says the pair reconnected years later when Kimberly, now 40, reached out to him via Facebook to discuss collaborating on some creative projects

Daniel Kountz says he did not have “romantic” feelings for his Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge costar and now-wife, Kimberly J. Brown, when they first met.

The pair answered fan questions while appearing on a recent panel at 90s Con at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn. At one point during the Q&A, which was hosted by PEOPLE’S Dory Jackson, a fan asked Daniel if he had a crush on Kimberly when they initially filmed the 2001 Disney Channel hit.

“I mean that would be funny, but no, we were consummate professionals,” Daniel 46, said. “We were, you know, we were colleagues working together and became friends, truth be told.”

He continued: “I am six years older than her, so I was 22 when I did (Halloweentown II) and she was 16 (…). We were, we were good friends, like, working together and (…) had a good time, but no, nothing, like, nothing headed romantic (…) We didn’t reconnect ‘till about nine years ago or so.”

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Daniel then shared that Kimberly ultimately reached out to him on Facebook years later to discuss a potential collaboration.

“It was like, hey, I’ve seen you post some stuff. I was just gonna reach out and say hi. I’m gonna start filming some funny little comedy sketches, and I was just wondering if you wanna be a part of it,” Kimberly, now 40, recalled.

“And I was like, yeah, cool, OK, well, let’s, let’s grab some dinner beforehand to catch up,” Daniel added.

In a May 2024 interview with PEOPLE, Daniel admitted that he was “smitten” as soon as he saw Kimberly again.

“We met up at a bar, and I was waiting there for a little Kimberly J. Brown to come in, and in walks a beautiful, well-put-together full-grown woman. I was like, ‘Oh, well, hello there. I believe we’ve both grown up a little bit,’ ” he recalled. “Then that was pretty much it for me.”

In the same interview, Kimberly told PEOPLE that a connection between them developed “naturally and gradually.”

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“The more conversations and catching up and the more we got to talking and everything, there was such an ease to it and everything. I remember thinking in the back of my head, ‘Oh, what’s happening here? There’s something happening here,’ ” she said.

The couple ultimately got engaged on June 26, 2022 at Griffith Observatory in L.A.

“We went up literally right in front of the observatory where we had hung out on our first official date. He proposed right in the same spot, and it was really just the perfect evening,” Kimberly said.

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They officially tied the knot in California on April 19, 2024 surrounded by 92 friends and loved ones — including actress Lacey Chabert, who served as a bridesmaid.

Speaking about their connection, Daniel told PEOPLE that he loves Kimberly’s “determination.” He added: “When she has an idea, she acts on it and does it and takes care of it. She’s like a force of nature.”

For her part, Kimberly says she fell in love with Daniel’s heart and caring nature. “He always holds space for me, no matter what. That kind of unconditional love and caring still astounds me,” she said.