Kimberley Sustad: Hallmark Star, Divorce, and Life After 17-Year Marriage
Kimberley Sustad: Hallmark Star, Divorce, and Life After 17-Year Marriage

Kimberley Sustad is a Canadian actress, screenwriter, and a staple of the Hallmark Channel. Since her network debut in A Bride for Christmas in 2012, she has appeared in nearly 30 Hallmark movies. She is best known for her role as Dr. Marilee White in The Nine Lives of Christmas (2013) and its sequel, The Nine Kittens of Christmas (2021). Sustad married her college sweetheart, Scot Sustad, in 2004, but the couple separated around 2021 after 17 years of marriage.

Key Takeaways

  • Kimberley Sustad has appeared in nearly 30 Hallmark Channel movies since 2012.
  • Her ex-husband is Scot Sustad, a Canadian entrepreneur whom she met at Trinity Western University.
  • The couple married on August 8, 2004, and separated around 2021 after 17 years of marriage.
  • Kimberley has twin daughters, Vienna Wild and Ari Royal, born on June 14, 2017.

Profile Summary

  • Full name: Kimberley Sustad (née Starmer)
  • Gender: Female
  • Date of birth: May 27, 1987
  • Age: 39 years (as of 2026)
  • Place of birth: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
  • Current residence: Canada
  • Nationality: Canadian
  • Ethnicity: White
  • Zodiac sign: Gemini
  • Religion: Christianity
  • Sexuality: Straight
  • Height: 5' 10" (178 cm)
  • Weight: 137 lb (62 kg)
  • Hair colour: Dark brown
  • Eye colour: Brown
  • Marital status: Divorced
  • Ex-husband: Scot Sustad
  • Children: 2
  • Father: Graham Starmer
  • Mother: Sylvia Starmer
  • Siblings: 1
  • Alma mater: Trinity Western University
  • Profession: Actress and writer
  • Instagram: @kimberleysustad

Who is Kimberley Sustad?

Kimberley Sustad is a Canadian film and television actress best known for her work in feel-good romantic dramas and made-for-TV movies, particularly on the Hallmark Channel. She has appeared in popular television series such as Travellers and Unspeakable. However, she is most widely recognized for her leading roles in numerous Hallmark productions, where she has become a familiar face for audiences who enjoy light romance and holiday-themed storytelling.

How Old is Kimberley Sustad?

Kimberley Sustad is 39 years old as of 2026. She was born on May 27, 1987, and her zodiac sign is Gemini.

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What is Kimberley Sustad's Family Background?

The actress was born Kimberley Starmer in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She grew up in a household that nurtured her love of performance and the arts. Her parents, Graham Starmer and Sylvia Starmer, raised her alongside one sister. As a child and teenager, she was drawn to theatre and participated enthusiastically in school plays. She later took the surname Sustad after marrying Scot Sustad in 2004. Her ethnicity is White, and she is a practicing Christian.

Educational Background

Kimberley studied in Canada. After completing her elementary and high school education, she attended Trinity Western University in Langley Township for higher studies, where she pursued an acting course.

Career

Kimberley began her professional acting journey in Seattle and Vancouver, taking on stage work at notable theatre companies. Her early credits include Boeing-Boeing at Vancouver's Arts Club Theatre and One Slight Hitch at A Contemporary Theatre in Seattle. During those early years, she also worked at The Cheesecake Factory to supplement her income. A pivotal moment came when her manager introduced her to Andy Tennant, a prominent screenwriter, which helped open doors in the screen industry.

In 2009, she made her on-screen debut in Live Henry Live, and by 2012, she had landed her first Hallmark Channel movie, A Bride for Christmas, in which she played Vivian Patterson. She has since appeared in nearly 30 Hallmark productions.

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For her work, she has received two Leo Award nominations: one for Best Supporting Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series for Unspeakable (2019), and one for Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Television Movie for A Godwink Christmas (2019).

Beyond acting, Kimberley has become one of Hallmark's most trusted screenwriters. In an interview, she shared: "I have been worried for so long — talk about not feeling like you're enough, you know, having imposter syndrome. That's me writing these movies. I sort of fell into it and I hate being thrust into the limelight and Three Wise Men kind of did that."

An interesting fact about the actress is that she is allergic to cats. She took antihistamines and anti-allergy medications when filming The Nine Lives of Christmas because her role required her to be near a cat. She explained that the character Marilee was her real-life persona: "Marilee is me. That was my first introduction to Hallmark and I just brought myself to all of that... I bump over things. I'm klutzy. I don't think I'm enough, all of that."

What Movies Did Kimberley Sustad Play In?

  • Live Henry Live (2009) - Self
  • Super Buddies (2013) - Joanne
  • Down River (2013) - Christie
  • A Bit of Bad Luck (2014) - Sandy

Television Series and Movies

  • Thunderballs (2011) - Nikki
  • Continuum (2013) - Patsy
  • The Nine Lives of Christmas (2013) - Marilee White
  • Baby Sellers (2013) - Bethany
  • Spooksville (2013-2014) - Madeline Templeton
  • Signed, Sealed, Delivered (2015) - Melissa
  • Witches of East End (2014) - Gorgeous Young Woman
  • The Gourmet Detective (2015) - Sally Aldridge
  • All Things Valentine (2016) - McKenna
  • The Romeo Section (2015-2016) - Kelly Hadler
  • Hearts of Christmas (2016) - Isabel
  • Walking the Dog (2017) - Delia
  • The Real Stephen Blatt (2017) - Interviewer
  • Past Malice (2017-2018) - Perry Quinn/Perry
  • Cooking with Love (2018) - Jessica
  • Chesapeake Shores (2018) - Caroline Moss
  • A Godwink Christmas (2018) - Paula Mayer
  • Travellers (2018) - Joanne Yates
  • Unspeakable (2019) - Caitlyn Hartley
  • The Twilight Zone (2019) - Helen Foley
  • Morning Show Mysteries (2019) - Lana Brown
  • Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen (2019) - Marianne
  • You Me Her (2020) - Julia
  • Wedding Every Weekend (2020) - Brooke Etheridge
  • Supernatural (2012-2020) - Betty/Amanda Willer
  • Christmas by Starlight (2020) - Annie Park
  • Spotlight on Christmas (2020) - Paparazzi
  • The Nine Kittens of Christmas (2021) - Dr. Marilee White
  • North to Home (2022) - Beth
  • Christmas at the Catnip Café (2025) - Marilee White
  • Three Wisest Men (2025) - Dr. MacLaren

Besides acting, Kimberley is a writer. Her writing credits include Three Wisest Men (2025), Three Wiser Men and a Boy (2024), Three Wise Men and a Baby (2022), and Christmas by Starlight (2020).

In a November 2025 interview with EntertainmentNow ahead of the Three Wisest Men premiere, Kimberley painted a picture of the close-knit Hallmark world she has cultivated: "We have this dream of buying homes on a cul-de-sac... I have the trampoline, so the parents can sit by the fire. During the summer, there will always be a Hallmark actor here, starting from, like, May to August. There's always someone here. It's pretty lovely."

Is Kimberley Sustad Married?

Kimberley Sustad and her ex-husband, Scot Sustad, are divorced. Scot is a Canadian-based entrepreneur and community builder, and the founder of The Arrival Store. He is also associated with Digital Hot Sauce, a firm that deals with website development. The two met at Trinity Western University, where Scot was studying International Studies while Kimberley pursued acting. Their relationship blossomed into a college romance, and they married in a private ceremony on August 8, 2004.

Their marriage came to an end after approximately 17 years together, placing their separation around 2021. Confirmation of the split emerged from Scot's own public statements. In a podcast called Pursue Whole in December 2023, he referred to Kimberley as his ex-wife. In another podcast, Daddy Boss Love in May 2024, Scot was described as a newly single dad whose marriage had ended after 17 years.

For her part, Kimberley has subtly alluded to the separation by adding her maiden name back into her Instagram bio, now listing herself as Kimberley Starmer Sustad. Neither party has made a formal public statement about the divorce.

How Long Has Kimberley Sustad Been Married?

The Canadian actress and Scot Sustad were married for about 17 years before their union ended. Scot took to Instagram to talk about divorce with a caption that read in part: "Divorce was never an option for me until it became the clear, best, and right option. It's surreal. It's very real. It's touched all coordinates on my emotional, relational, and spiritual compass. Every other significant relationship in my life has been impacted as well. It's been extremely hard. I've never felt so alone. It's been freeing and relieving. There is no blame. Whose fault it is, is irrelevant. At each step of the long process, the decision became more clear and further confirmed."

Who Are Kimberley Sustad's Children?

The Canadian actress is a mother of two. On May 18, 2017, she announced her pregnancy via social media. On June 14, 2017, Kimberley Sustad's twin daughters were born. Their names are Vienna Wild Sustad and Ari Royal Sustad. Despite their mother's prominent public profile, the twins have been kept largely out of the spotlight.

Where Does Kimberley Sustad Live Now?

Kimberley Sustad lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

How Tall is Kimberley Sustad?

The actress is 5' 10" (178 cm) tall, and her weight is about 137 lb (62 kg). She has dark brown hair and brown eyes.

FAQs

Who is Kimberley Sustad's sister?

The actress has a sister who is her only sibling. Details about her sister's name and profession have not been publicly shared.

Does Kimberley Sustad have children?

Yes. Her twins, Vienna Wild and Ari Royal, were born on June 14, 2017.

Who is Kimberley Sustad's husband?

The actress is divorced. Her ex-husband is Scot Sustad, a Canadian entrepreneur and community builder whom she met at Trinity Western University.

What is Kimberley Sustad's family background?

She was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to parents Graham and Sylvia Starmer. She grew up alongside one sister and developed an early passion for theatre.

Where does Kimberley Sustad live now?

She lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Kimberley Sustad transitioned from a theatre-loving girl in Ottawa to one of Hallmark Channel's leading ladies and screenwriters. Over more than a decade on the network, she has not only delivered consistently charming performances but has also cemented herself as a trusted creative voice behind the camera. Away from work, she was married to Scot for 17 years before their divorce.