Actress Kimberly J. Brown recently returned to her hometown of Gaithersburg, spending part of the holiday weekend showing her husband, fellow actor and Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge co-star Daniel Kountz, the places that shaped her childhood.
Brown shared the visit with fans in a social media post on Thursday, writing, “We took a trip to my hometown over the holiday to see my family and show Daniel my old stomping grounds in MD. So much, including my first house and elementary school, looks the same, but a little different haha. What a blessing to be able to share childhood memories with your husband, eat MD crabs, and laugh with the people you love most.” The song that accompanied the post? “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” which was inspired by Clopper Road in Gaithersburg.
During their visit, the couple stopped by Rio in Gaithersburg and Brown also revisited her former elementary school, though she did not identify which school it was. The trip brought Brown back to the community where she spent her childhood before launching a successful acting career. In a 2016 interview, she reflected fondly on growing up in Montgomery County during the 1980s and early 1990s.
“There were certain areas near where I lived that were so serene. I love that whole country, green feel,” Brown said. “Our family ritual was going to duck ponds in the area and playing with the baby chicks.” She also recalled enjoying the freedom to play outside and noted that Washington has always been her favorite NFL team. She wore a Commanders shirt in the photos she shared on Thursday.
Brown began acting at a young age, appearing on Broadway in productions including Les Misérables and Show Boat before landing the role of Marah Lewis on Guiding Light. At just 13 years old, she was cast as Marnie Piper in Disney Channel’s Halloweentown, starring alongside Debbie Reynolds. The 1998 film became a Halloween favorite and led to multiple sequels, with Brown reprising her role in Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge and Halloweentown High.
Although she did not appear in the fourth installment, Return to Halloweentown, Brown has remained closely connected to the franchise through fan conventions and her Etsy shop, CraftilyCreative, which features Halloweentown-inspired merchandise.
Brown has also continued her acting career, joining the cast of General Hospital in 2021. She later married Daniel Kountz, who portrayed Kalabar’s son in Halloweentown II. More than 25 years after Halloweentown first premiered, Brown continues to embrace her Montgomery County roots, and this week’s visit gave fans another glimpse into the Gaithersburg childhood that helped shape one of Disney Channel’s most beloved stars.
