Few TV shows blend parenting chaos with workplace satire as candidly as Workin’ Moms. But what many fans don’t realize is how much of that authenticity comes straight from creator Catherine Reitman’s own life — including her marriage to costar Philip Sternberg and the real babies who appeared on set. This cast guide breaks down every main actor, their characters, and the real-world stories behind the scenes.

Seasons: 7 ·
Episodes: 83 ·
Aired: 2017–2023 ·
Main Cast Members: 6 ·
Creator: Catherine Reitman

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • The exact reason for cancellation has not been officially stated (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • The possibility of a revival or spin-off remains unconfirmed (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
3Timeline signal
  • Premiered January 10, 2017 on CBC Television (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Final episode aired May 10, 2023 after 7 seasons (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
4What’s next
  • No revival announced; cast members have moved on to other projects (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Catherine Reitman is developing a new series for CBC (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))

Seven seasons, one pattern: the show’s key facts tell a story of a Canadian hit that ran its full creative course.

Label Value
Creator Catherine Reitman
First episode February 7, 2017
Last episode May 10, 2023
Number of seasons 7
Total episodes 83
Network CBC Television

The implication: with 83 episodes across seven years, Workin’ Moms became one of CBC’s most-watched comedies before closing its run on its own terms.

Why was Workin’ Moms cancelled?

Fans were caught off guard when the show ended after its seventh season in 2023. No official reason for the cancellation has been publicly confirmed by CBC or creator Catherine Reitman (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).

End of the series after season 7

Reasons cited by the creators

  • Reitman stated she felt the show told the story it needed to tell (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Industry speculation points to natural creative exhaustion after seven seasons
The upshot

For viewers invested in the characters, the lack of a formal cancellation reason leaves the door slightly ajar, but Reitman’s move to a new project suggests the chapter is closed.

The pattern: unlike abrupt cancellations, Workin’ Moms ended with advance notice and a planned finale.

Is Charlie actually Kate’s son?

Yes. Charlie Foster is Kate Foster’s biological son throughout the series (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)). The show never questions his parentage, though it explores the ups and downs of their relationship.

Charlie Foster’s relationship to Kate

  • Charlie is Kate and Nathan’s first child
  • His birth is shown in the pilot episode

Plotline involving Charlie’s paternity

  • No paternity drama exists — Charlie is unequivocally Nathan’s son
  • The show focuses on Kate’s evolution as a working mother
Why this matters

This clarity lets the series stay grounded in real parenting issues rather than manufactured twists, a choice that reflects Reitman’s commitment to authenticity.

Is Catherine Reitman still married?

Yes. Catherine Reitman has been married to actor Philip Sternberg since 2009 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)). Sternberg plays Nathan Foster, Kate’s on-screen husband — a bit of life-imitating-art that adds depth to their scenes.

Catherine Reitman’s marriage to Philip Sternberg

Philip Sternberg’s role on the show

  • Sternberg played Nathan Foster for all seven seasons
  • He also worked behind the scenes as a producer
The trade-off

Casting her real husband could have been a gamble, but it gave the Fosters the most believable on-screen rapport of any couple in the series.

Did Catherine Reitman use her own kids in Workin’ Moms?

Yes. Reitman’s real-life children appeared as extras on the show, adding an extra layer of familial involvement to the production (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).

Catherine Reitman’s children as extras

  • Her sons appeared as background children in several episodes
  • This allowed Reitman to keep her family close during long shoots

Behind-the-scenes family involvement

  • Reitman’s mother, one of her real-life inspirations, also visited set
  • The family atmosphere reportedly improved morale among the cast

The catch: using real children meant stricter labor laws and shorter shooting days for scenes involving toddlers, but the payoff was genuine behavior on camera.

Was Kate actually pregnant in Workin’ Moms?

In the show, Kate fakes a pregnancy to land a client. In real life, Catherine Reitman was actually pregnant during the filming of that season — a coincidence that became a running joke on set (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).

Plotline of Kate’s fake pregnancy

  • Kate wears a prosthetic baby bump in several episodes
  • The comedy stems from her discomfort and the lies spiralling

Actress’s real pregnancy during filming

The paradox

One of the show’s funniest premises — a fake pregnancy — was delivered by an actress carrying a real child, blurring the line between scripted and lived experience.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Workin’ Moms ended after season 7 in 2023 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Charlie Foster is Kate’s biological son
  • Catherine Reitman is married to Philip Sternberg
  • Reitman’s children appeared as extras
  • Kate’s pregnancy plotline mirrored Reitman’s real pregnancy (MovieMeter (film database))

What’s unclear

  • Exact reason for cancellation (not officially stated) (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Possibility of a revival or spin-off

What this means: most of the burning questions fans have about the cast and production can be answered with confidence — only the show’s offscreen future remains foggy.

Full cast list

Six main cast members, one standout: Catherine Reitman leads a group of actors who brought the moms and dads of Workin’ Moms to life. Here’s a breakdown of the primary players and their characters across all seven seasons.

  • Catherine Reitman as Kate Foster — PR executive, lead protagonist (TV Guide (entertainment listings))
  • Dani Kind as Anne Carlson — stay-at-home mom, later lawyer (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator))
  • Juno Rinaldi as Frankie Coyne — realtor, main cast seasons 1–5 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Jessalyn Wanlim as Jenny Matthews — IT specialist, main cast seasons 1,3–7 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Philip Sternberg as Nathan Foster — Kate’s husband, stay-at-home dad (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
  • Ryan Belleville as Lionel Carlson — Anne’s husband (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))

The pattern: the core friendship — Kate, Anne, Jenny, Frankie — drives most storylines, while the husbands provide comic relief and counterpoints.

Summary

Workin’ Moms succeeded because Catherine Reitman trusted her own story: her marriage, her pregnancies, her struggles as a working mother. The result was a show that felt lived-in, not written-by-committee. For fans wondering about a reunion or revival, the implication is clear: Reitman has moved on to her next project, and the cast has scattered to new roles. The best way to revisit the world of Kate, Anne, Frankie, and Jenny is through a rewatch — 83 episodes are waiting.

Related reading: His and Hers Cast: Tessa Thompson, Jon Bernthal & Full List

For a comprehensive breakdown of the ensemble, check out this full list of actors and characters from Singapore Review.

Frequently asked questions

How many seasons of Workin’ Moms are there?

Seven seasons, from 2017 to 2023 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).

Who created Workin’ Moms?

Catherine Reitman created the series and served as showrunner and star.

Is Workin’ Moms based on a true story?

The show is inspired by Reitman’s own experiences as a working mother, though the characters are fictional.

Where was Workin’ Moms filmed?

The series was filmed in and around Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Who plays the nanny in Workin’ Moms?

Multiple actresses played nannies across the seasons; the most prominent is Novie Edwards as a recurring nanny character.

What is the age rating of Workin’ Moms?

It carries a TV-MA rating in the United States and 14+ in Canada for language and mature themes.

Will there be a Workin’ Moms movie?

No official plans have been announced. Catherine Reitman has not indicated interest in a film continuation.