Meet the Real-Life Kids of Shifting Gears Stars Tim Allen, Kat Dennings and More

Tim Allen and Kat Dennings play father and daughter in the heartwarming sitcom ‘Shifting Gears’

Tim Allen, wife Jane Hajduk and daughter Katherine attend Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA premiere on October 24, 2024 in Santa Monica, California ; Jenna Elfman and her son in May 2024. Credit :Chris DELMAS / AFP via Getty ; Bodhi Elfman/Instagram

NEED TO KNOW

Shifting Gears stars Tim Allen and Kat Dennings as a father-daughter duo reconnecting
The ABC sitcom also stars Daryl Mitchell, Seann William Scott, Jenna Elfman, Cynthia Quiles and Lucas Neff
Dennings plays an on-screen mother to Maxwell Simkins and Barrett Margolis

Shifting Gears has no shortage of relatable family moments, and many of the show’s stars also have sweet families of their own.

The ABC sitcom, which premiered its second season on Oct. 1, stars Tim Allen as Matt Parker, a widower grieving the loss of his wife while running his classic auto restoration shop. At the same time, his estranged daughter, Riley Parker (Kat Dennings) reunites with him after going through her own struggles from a divorce and financial problems.

Riley brings her two children, son Carter (Maxwell Simkins) and daughter Georgia (Barrett Margolis), along for the adventure. As Riley and Matt get reacquainted with each other, Matt confides in his trusty employees, Stitch (Daryl Mitchell) and Gabriel (Seann William Scott).

In addition to the main cast, the series stars Jenna Elfman as Matt’s love interest, Cynthia Quiles as Frankie and Lucas Neff as Riley’s estranged husband Jimmy. Several stars — including Brenda Song and Patricia Richardson — have also made guest appearances.

While Dennings plays a single mom of two on the show, in reality, she is a stepmother to her husband Andrew W.K.’s children. Meanwhile, Allen is also a doting dad to two children.

Here’s everything to know about the real kids of the Shifting Gears cast.

Tim Allen’s 2 Children

Tim Allen, Jane Hajduk and their daughters at the premiere of “Toy Story 4” on June 11, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.Amanda Edwards/WireImage

While Allen plays dad Matt Parker trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter, in reality, he has a close relationship with both of his daughters. Allen is a father to two daughters: Katherine Allen, whom he shares with ex-wife, Laura Deibel, and Elizabeth Allen-Dick, whom he shares with his current wife, Jane Hajduk.

The Santa Clause actor became a dad when he and Deibel, who were married from 1984 to 1999, welcomed Katherine in December 1989. Katherine has kept most of her life out of the spotlight but has supported her dad at various events — including when he accepted a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004.

Allen later married fellow actress Hajduk in 2006, and they had daughter Elizabeth in March 2009. As Elizabeth has grown up, she has followed in her parents’ footsteps as an actor and has appeared in The Third Act and The Santa Clauses.

“The advice I gave to my daughter Elizabeth is that the writers, producers and crew have the most important roles on a production,” Allen told PEOPLE in 2022. “Being an actor is a wonderful craft but we are just a part of a teamwork experience.”