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School Spirits, which returned to Paramount+ on January 28, welcomed back a class of Split River high students and those in their peripheries, including some exciting new faces. While the story of Maddie Nears (Peyton List) is far from over, School Spirits season 3 is shifting gears with the way its chosen to tell its story, changing the focus in a refreshing way.
While there are still many a stone left unturned for the living and the dead of Split River, the mysterious circumstances surrounding the town’s high school have begun rippling out into different pieces of the town overall. With these new locations coming into play, like the local hospital, the School Spirits story has found itself moving in new directions and discovering new characters.
Throughout the first two seasons of School Spirits, viewers got the chance to get to know Maddie as she communicated with her living friends and found her place among the dead. While there are changes at play for School Spirits season 3 that bring new dynamics to the forefront, the show’s core cast remains largely unchanged, and a few new additions blend nicely into the ensemble.
Peyton List As Maddie Nears
Date Of Birth: April 6, 1998
* Active Since: 2002
Actor: Peyton List was born in Florida and broke big in her role as Emma Ross on the Disney Channel original series Jessie, as well as its spinoff, Bunk’d. Known as a child actor long before her time on School Spirits, List has worked consistently since her early childhood. Finding success with Disney, List was able to establish her skills before her time on the Paramount+ hit.
Character: In School Spirits, List plays the main role of Maddie Nears. The central protagonist, Maddie has to deal with the mysterious circumstances surrounding her unexplained death during the first season of the series, then the fallout of understanding that she’s not actually dead during the second. Trapped in the afterlife at Split River High School, Maddie’s the driving force behind the show’s main mystery.
Kristian Ventura As Simon Elroy
Date Of Birth: October 20, 1999
* Active Since: 2017
Actor: Kristian Ventura, an American actor, broke big with his role in School Spirits, where he plays Simon Elroy. While Ventura appeared in guest spots prior to his time on School Spirits, his work on the Paramount+ series is what has pushed him into the spotlight. Prior to his current role, Ventura appeared on shows like Chicago P.D. and Reboot, and studied acting at USC.
Character: In School Spirits, Ventura plays the key role of Simon Elroy, Maddie’s best friend and one of the only people who can communicate with her after she crosses into the afterlife. School Spirits season 3 sees Simon in an entirely new situation as he navigates his new normal as a part of the afterlife himself.
Milo Manheim As Wally Clark
Date Of Birth: March 6, 2001
* Active Since: 2009
Actor: Milo Manheim was born in Venice, California and first broke big in the Disney Channel original movie franchise Zombies, where he played Zed. Manheim, son of actress Camryn Manheim, has appeared in various Disney projects throughout his career and also found notoriety after competing on Dancing With The Stars season 27, where he and his partner Witney Carson came in second place.
Character: In School Spirits, Manheim plays ghost Wally Clark, who died during a school football game in the 80s at Split River High. First becoming a friend of Maddie, Wally eventually moves into the territory of becoming a love interest as School Spirits continues on. His upbeat personality and loyalty often cut through the dark mystery that consistently runs through School Spirits, grounding Maddie’s search for answers.
Spencer MacPherson As Xavier Baxter
Date Of Birth: June 12, 1997
* Active Since: 2014
Actor: Spencer MacPherson was born in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and broke big playing Hunter Hollingsworth on Degrassi: The Next Generation and Degrassi: Next Class. After his work on the Canadian institution came to an end, MacPherson appeared on The CW series Reign as King Charles, and as Scout West on the Canadian drama Northern Rescue before landing his role on School Spirits.
Character: In School Spirits, MacPherson plays the role of Xavier Baxter, Maddie’s boyfriend at the time of her disappearance. While Xavier and Maddie’s relationship doesn’t stay romantic, Xavier remains a part of the School Spirits ensemble. Ultimately, despite a lack of trust between Xavier and the larger core group, his character becomes integral to solving the mystery behind Maddie’s mysterious disappearance.
Kiara Pichardo As Nicole Herrera
Date Of Birth: December 17, 1997
* Active Since: 2015
Actor: Kiara Pichardo, a Dominican-American actress, broke big in her role as Nicole Herrera on School Spirits. Prior to her time on the Paramount+ series, Pichardo appeared in the Oscar-winning film CODA, as well as the Netflix series The Society, where he played Madison. Pichardo also has an abundance of experience on stage, taking on theatrical roles as she’s gained more experience as a performer.
Character: In School Spirits, Pichardo plays the role of Nicole Herrera, one of Maddie’s close friends who works with Simon to uncover the mystery behind Maddie’s death and disappearance. While Nicole often takes a backseat to those in the afterlife and other pieces of the School Spirits puzzle, her grounded support is key for the characters, making her an essential piece of the ensemble.
Sarah Yarkin As Rhonda Rosen
Date Of Birth: May 28, 1993
* Active Since: 2011
Actor: Sarah Yarkin was born in Alameda, California and broke big playing Peg on the YouTube Premium series Foursome. Others may recognize Yarkin for her supporting role in Happy Death Day 2U, or her starring role in the 2022 version of Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Yarkin’s role in School Spirits has been one of the most significant of her young career.
Character: In School Spirits, Yarkin plays cynical, edgy spirit Rhonda Rosen. Known for her darker nature, Rhonda quickly reveals to Maddie that she was murdered by a trusted adult at Split River high, which adds a layer of depth to the show’s consistent exploration of trauma. Eventually becoming a major piece of the puzzle in exploring Maddie’s mysterious death, Rhonda grows to become a key player on the series.
Nick Pugliese As Charley
Date Of Birth: August 5, 1996
* Active Since: 2017
Actor: Nick Pugliese was born in Berkeley, California, and broke big with his role of Charley on School Spirits. While Pugliese worked on other projects prior to the Paramount+ series, School Spirits is the first project that has brought him mainstream notoriety. Pugliese previously appeared in an episode of 13 Reasons Why, as well as in the 2020 coming of age film Dramarama.
Character: In School Spirits, Pugliese plays Charley, one of Maddie’s closest friends in the afterlife. A spirit who died due to his nut allergy, Charley is an integral piece of the show’s puzzle, bringing the different timelines of the series’ mosaic to life. Charley’s perspective on the ghost community provides an entry point for both Maddie and the viewers, making him a key part of the story.
Rainbow Wedell As Claire Zomer
Date Of Birth: April 10, 2001
* Active Since: 2011
Actor: Rainbow Wedell was born in Australia and broke big for her role as Claire Zomer in School Spirits. While Wedell has been in other projects like The Bureau Of Magical Things and The Wilds, her time on School Spirits has been the most fruitful of her career thus far. Her past projects have proven that Wedell has what it takes to be in the sci-fi space.
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Character: In School Spirits, Wedell plays Claire Zomer, a complicated piece of Maddie’s past and a part of figuring out what’s to come in the future. It’s revealed within the first episodes of the series that Claire and Maddie’s boyfriend, Xavier, were having an affair, which complicates her final moments in the land of the living throughout the first season.
Josh Zuckerman As Mr. Martin
Date Of Birth: April 1, 1985
* Active Since: 1985
Actor: Josh Zuckerman was born in Los Angeles, California and broke big with his role in 2008’s Sex Drive, as well as his time as Mark Cullin on the ABC Family series Kyle XY. Zuckerman is likely familiar to viewers for his roles on Desperate Housewives and 90210, which he appeared on in the 2000s and 2010s, and the lead role of Nate Marlowe in Significant Mother.
Character: In School Spirits, Zuckerman plays Mr. Martin, which became an increasingly larger role as the series has continued on. Beginning as a spirit guiding others through their transition into the afterlife, Mr. Martin’s role becomes complicated throughout School Spirits season 2, when Maddie’s story begins to become clear. Mr. Martin’s role isn’t entirely villainous, but does lean less-than-innocent.
Jess Gabor As Janet Hamilton
Date Of Birth: October 23, 1996
* Active Since: 2014
Actor: Jess Gabor was born in Los Angeles, California and broke big with her role as Kelly Keefe in the late seasons of Shameless. Gabor, who may be familiar to viewers because of her recent appearances in films like Christy, has also appeared in guest spots on Grey’s Anatomy and Law & Order: SVU.
Character: In School Spirits, Gabor plays Janet Hamilton, a spirit who possesses Maddie’s human body and kickstarts the entire mystery of the series. Janet’s possession forces the plot, pushing Maddie to confront both her past and future as she expands the supernatural scope of the universe.
School Spirits Season 3 Supporting Cast & Characters
School Spirits also includes an array of guest and recurring characters, as well as some new faces in its third season. School Spirits season 3 will feature Maria Dizzia as Sandra Nears, Ian Tracey as Baxter, Miles Elliot as Yuri, Ci Hang Ma as Quinn, Jennifer Tilly as Dr. Deborah Hunter-Price, Ari Dalbert as Kyle, and Erika Swayze as Livia.
