Temple Made for the Holidays: Alumni in Festive Movies & TV
Owls are helping bring holiday magic to screens everywhere, starring in and creating some of the season’s most beloved Christmas and winter-themed TV shows and movies.
By Matt Michaels
Owls are natural storytellers, and the ones featured here are no exception. Just in time for the holiday season, we’ve gathered a list of Temple alumni who have made their mark in Christmas and winter-themed entertainment, from cozy TV specials to festive films.
From heartwarming romances to family comedies and everything in between, these creative Owls are bringing seasonal cheer to screens big and small. Whether you’re in the mood for something merry, magical, or full of holiday spirit, this list has you covered. Explore our lineup of holiday-making Owls below.
Kalen Allen,
TFM ’18
Kalen starred in the 2024 Netflix original film, Meet Me Next Christmas, as Jordy. He also starred in the national tour of Elf: The Musical in 2024.
Quinta Brunson,
HON ’24
Quinta starred in the 2024 Netflix special, A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter. She also has starred in numerous Christmas-themed episodes of Abbott Elementary.
Shaniece Cole,
KLN ’13
Shaniece starred in the 2024 original television film, Once Upon a Christmas Wish, as Leigh Golden.
Dion Dawkins,
CLA ’17
Dion, current Buffalo Bills offensive lineman, stars in the 2025 Hallmark original film, Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story.
Colman Domingo,
Former Owl
Colman will star in the upcoming biopic of singer Nat King Cole, known for his holiday tunes like "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)".
Lateefah Holder,
KLN ’10
Lateefah has starred in two holiday vehicles: a TV mini-series, A Very Queer Holiday in 2020 as Layla, and in the Netflix original film, I Believe in Santa in 2022, as Sharon.
Mekki Leeper,
Former Owl
Mekki was the director of a 2012 short film, Christmas in Summer, and also currently stars in NBC's St. Denis Medical, which has a Christmas-themed episode (Season 1, Episode 6) from 2024, titled "Ho-Ho-Hollo".
Kunal Nayyar,
TFM ’06
Kunal stars in the 2025 original holiday film, Christmas Karma. He also starred in multiple Christmas-themed episodes of The Big Bang Theory and the 2021 animated special, Trolls Holiday in Harmony.
Danielle Pinnock,
TFM ’10
Danielle starred in the 2023 Amazon Prime original film, Candy Cane Lane, as Kit. She also stars in CBS's hit comedy, Ghosts, which has aired multiple Christmas-themed episodes.
Michael Rady,
TFM ’04
Michael has starred in numerous Hallmark holiday films over the years, like 2016's Christmas in Homestead, 2017's A Joyous Christmas, 2018's Christmas at Pemberley Manor, 2020's The Christmas Bow and most recently, 2023's Where Are You, Christmas?
Da’Vine Joy Randolph,
TFM ’09
Da'Vine won an Academy Award for her memorable performance in 2023's holiday-themed The Holdovers as Mary Lamb. Before that, she also starred in another holiday film in 2016, comedy Office Christmas Party as Carla.
Kim Rhodes,
TFM ’94
Kim appeared in 2004's Christmas with the Kranks and 2011's Beethoven's Christmas Adventure. Her most memorable role may be playing Zack and Cody's mother, Carey, in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, which had multiple Christmas-themed episodes.
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