The 'Daddy Help! Mommy's in Prison!' Cast Brings a Family Reunion Drama to Life

The story of "Daddy Help! Mommy’s in Prison!" may revolve around secrets and second chances, but it’s the cast that gives the drama its emotional weight. Led by Marc Herrmann and Samantha Drews, the actors bring the series’ complicated relationships to life on screen.

When CEO Matt Baron discovers he has a daughter with a woman from his past who’s been imprisoned, it sets a chain of events that lead to a dramatic family reunion.

The “Daddy Help! Mommy’s in Prison!” cast, led by Marc Hermann and Samantha Drews, helps bring this emotional story to life. Get to know them and the other stars driving this ReelShort series.

The poster of "Daddy Help! Mommy's in Prison!" from the series trailer | Source: youtube/reelshortapp

Marc Herrmann as Matt Baron

Marc Herrmann plays Matt Baron, a powerful CEO who is unexpectedly reunited with his seven-year-old daughter Joyce after years apart.

In the story, Matt once believed he had been betrayed by his college sweetheart, Linda. What he didn’t know was that Linda had broken up with him to protect him from her dangerous family—and that she was pregnant at the time.

Marc Hermann as Matt Baron in "Daddy Help! Mommy's in Prison" | Source:youtube/reelshortapp

Years later, Joyce tracks him down, forcing him to confront the past and help clear Linda’s name after she was framed for attempted murder by her own relatives.

Herrmann has become a recognizable face in vertical dramas. He previously appeared in series such as “My Sugar-Coated Mafia Boss,” “Undercover Prison King,” and “Doctor Boss Is My Baby Daddy.”

Other ReelShort titles in his filmography include “Infatuated with the CEO,” “Billionaire CEO’s Secret Obsession,” and “The Double Life of a Billionaire Heiress.”

Born on April 12, 1993, Herrmann studied communications at the University of California, San Diego after graduating from Mount Carmel High School.

In addition to acting, he has also worked as a writer and director on several projects. His work in romantic and dramatic roles has helped make him a frequent leading man in the ReelShort universe.

Samantha Drews as Linda Abell

Samantha Drews plays Linda Abell, Matt’s former girlfriend and the mother of Joyce.

Linda’s storyline is at the heart of the series. After being framed for attempted murder by members of her own family, she ends up in prison.

Years earlier, she had ended her relationship with Matt to keep him safe from the same dangerous relatives. Her daughter’s determination to reunite the family sets the story in motion.

Samantha Drews as Linda Abell in "Daddy Help! Mommy's in Prison!" | Source: youtube/reelshortapp

Drews is a SAG-E actress based in Los Angeles who has built a strong presence in vertical dramas. She graduated from California State University Fullerton with a degree in Cinema and Television Arts and later worked as a production and post-production intern with ABC Signature under the Walt Disney General Entertainment branch.

Her ReelShort projects include “The Deaf Heiress’s Secret,” “Accidental Triplets With the Billionaire,” and “Mommy Don’t Cry, Daddy Is Sorry.” Drews has also appeared in series such as “The Beggar King Returns,” “Big Bad Husband 2: Please Wake Up!” and “My Sister Is the Warlord Queen.”

Anastasiia Surdina as Joyce Abell

Young actress Anastasiia Surdina plays Joyce Abell, the determined daughter who brings the story’s broken family back together.

Joyce grows up knowing that her mother is in prison, but she refuses to accept the situation as final. Armed with little more than a college yearbook photo, she tracks down Matt and convinces him to help prove Linda’s innocence.

Anastasiia Surdina as Joyce Abell in "Daddy Help! Mommy's in Prison!" | Source: youtube/reelshortapp

Surdina is a Los Angeles-based child actress and model. Her credits include other vertical dramas such as “Bow Down, Brats! Your Great-Grandmother Speaks!” and “Big Bad Daddy Your Busted!” She has also appeared in projects like “Surprise! Baby Daddy Is the CEO” and “The Lost Prima Ballerina.”

In addition to screen work, Surdina has performed in musical theatre productions such as “The Sound of Music.”

James Riseborough as Sean Baron

James Riseborough appears in the series as Sean Baron, Matt’s loyal younger cousin who helps support him throughout the story.

James Riseborough as Sean Baron in "Daddy Help! Mommy's in Prison!" Source: youtube/reelshortapp

Riseborough grew up in central Massachusetts and first discovered his interest in acting while performing in school plays. After graduating in December 2023, he pursued acting professionally and began appearing in independent films and short projects in New York and Los Angeles.

He has trained at the Howard Fine Acting Studio in Los Angeles and continues to develop his career in film and television.

The “Daddy Help! Mommy’s in Prison!” cast helps turn a dramatic premise into a story about family, second chances, and uncovering the truth. Through the performances of Herrmann, Drews, Surdina, and Riseborough, the series explores how one child’s determination can bring two people back together after years apart.

The series was released on July 10, 2025.