A Doctor to Die For: The Sarah Harris Story Cast Guide

Lifetime’s A Doctor to Die For: The Sarah Harris Story brings together actors familiar from family dramas, romantic movies and science fiction. The new film follows Sarah’s relationship with an older medical professional and the family members who begin looking for answers. Its central cast is built around those relationships, with the mother and sister playing an essential part in the story.

Related: Where Was A Doctor to Die For: The Sarah Harris Story Filmed?

Siobhan Williams as Sarah Harris

Siobhan Williams plays Sarah Harris, the young woman whose story gives the movie its title. Sarah becomes involved with Dr. James Ryan, and her relationship with him gradually becomes a source of concern for her family. Williams’ role connects the relationship storyline with the experiences of Sarah’s mother, Tina, and sister, Rachel. TV Insider’s interview with the executive producers identifies Williams as Sarah and confirms the actors playing her closest family members.

Viewers may recognize Williams as Brandy Lynn in Deadly Class, a credit listed on Apple TV’s series page. She also plays Laura in the interactive horror game The Quarry, according to publisher 2K’s cast listing. That gaming credit is particularly useful for anyone who recognizes her face or voice without remembering a television role.

Luke Macfarlane as Dr. James Ryan

Luke Macfarlane plays Dr. James Ryan, the older oral surgeon involved with Sarah. Production company Rohm Feifer Entertainment’s project description places Ryan’s position in the Maryland community at the center of the drama. His professional standing is part of what makes the family’s questions about the relationship significant.

Macfarlane has a long association with Hallmark, including The Mistletoe Promise, Taking a Shot at Love and Moriah’s Lighthouse. Hallmark’s official page collects those movies and their previews. His television work also includes Brothers & Sisters and Killjoys, highlighted in his Hallmark biography, and Charlie Greeves in the comedy Platonic, confirmed by Apple TV’s credits.

Janet Kidder as Tina, Sarah’s mother

Janet Kidder plays Tina, Sarah’s mother. The character has an active role in seeking answers about her daughter, making Kidder a key part of the family side of the film. Tina’s place in the story also helps explain why the cast extends beyond the two actors playing the central relationship.

Kidder is known to Star Trek: Discovery viewers as Osyraa, the leader of the Emerald Chain. StarTrek.com’s interview with the actress confirms that role and also highlights her work in Continuum, Arrow and Gene Roddenberry’s Earth: Final Conflict.

Jessica Sipos as Rachel, Sarah’s sister

Jessica Sipos plays Rachel, Sarah’s sister, who joins Tina in trying to understand what happened. The sisters’ connection gives the film another family relationship to explore alongside Sarah’s romance. Rachel is part of the story’s search for answers, rather than simply someone mentioned in Sarah’s background.

Hallmark viewers may know Sipos as Sarah Mercer in Chesapeake Shores, a role named in the network’s official episode credits. She also stars as Ava opposite Dan Jeannotte in Love on the Danube: Royal Getaway. Her official Hallmark biography lists further roles including Hayley in UnREAL and Cassandra in Legends of Tomorrow.

The family connection behind the movie

Executive producers Elisabeth Rohm and Kara Feifer told TV Insider that they collaborated with Sarah’s family on the film. Feifer also described phone calls with Tina during production, including opportunities for her to greet the actors. Rohm Feifer Entertainment identifies Siobhan Devine as the director and Barbara Marshall as the writer.

Lifetime’s official movie page lists the US premiere for Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central. The network also advertises streaming the next day. This guide covers the four central performers identified in the film’s advance coverage, rather than presenting an unverified complete end-credit list.