The Complete Cast of Apple TV’s ‘Being Heumann'(with Pictures)

Directed by Academy Award winner Siân Heder, the biographical drama ‘Being Heumann’ dramatizes the historic 1977 Section 504 sit-in in San Francisco, which catalyzed the modern disability rights movement. The film is adapted from the memoir by activist Judith Heumann and features an ensemble that unites acclaimed Hollywood stars with a groundbreaking cohort of disabled performers.

Across twenty-eight days of continuous protest inside a federal building, these individuals challenged administrative inertia and secured nationwide civil rights protections for disabled Americans. Here is a comprehensive look at the principal actors and real-life historical figures portrayed in the Apple TV production.

Ruth Madeley

Ruth Madeley portrays American disability rights activist Judith Heumann in the biographical drama ‘Being Heumann’. The British actress, who was born with spina bifida and is a full-time wheelchair user, brings lived experience to the central role. Her character leads over one hundred demonstrators during the historic twenty-eight-day sit-in at the San Francisco Federal Building in 1977. Madeley previously earned critical acclaim and a BAFTA Television Award nomination for her breakthrough performance in the BBC television film ‘Don’t Take My Baby’. She has also appeared in prominent television series such as ‘Years and Years’ and ‘Doctor Who’.

Mark Ruffalo

Mark Ruffalo plays Joseph A. Califano Jr., the United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare during the Carter administration. In ‘Being Heumann’, Califano serves as the central administrative obstacle who hesitates to sign the meaningful enforcement regulations for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The real-life official faces intense public pressure and personal protests outside his home as the activists refuse to compromise on their civil rights. Ruffalo is a multi-time Academy Award nominee recognized globally for portraying Bruce Banner in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and starring in dramas like ‘Spotlight’ and ‘Poor Things’. Off-screen, the veteran actor has long been an outspoken political activist and environmental advocate.

Dylan O’Brien

Dylan O’Brien steps into the role of Evan White, a local television journalist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. In ‘Being Heumann’, White embeds himself directly within the federal building alongside the disability rights activists to cover the continuous demonstration. His journalistic presence provides a crucial link to the outside world, broadcasting the activists’ living conditions and political objectives on television news. O’Brien rose to fame portraying Stiles Stilinski on MTV’s supernatural teen drama ‘Teen Wolf’. He subsequently starred as Thomas in ‘The Maze Runner’ cinematic film trilogy and led the post-apocalyptic adventure ‘Love and Monsters’.

Rob Delaney

Rob Delaney takes on the role of California Congressman George Miller in the biographical drama ‘Being Heumann’. Congressman Miller played an essential real-life role as a congressional ally who convened official hearings inside the occupied federal building to give voice to the demonstrators. His political support helped prevent federal authorities from forcibly removing the protesters and kept public scrutiny focused on the government’s delays. Delaney is widely known as the co-creator and star of the acclaimed British comedy series ‘Catastrophe’. The actor and comedian has also appeared in major feature films including ‘Deadpool 2’ and ‘Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One’.

Ray Fisher

Ray Fisher portrays Chuck Jackson, a dedicated member of the Black Panther Party who aids the demonstrators during their historic protest. In ‘Being Heumann’, Jackson represents the vital coalition between the Black Panthers and the disability rights activists inside the San Francisco building. The Panthers famously supported the sit-in by delivering daily hot meals and supplies to sustain the occupiers when government officials cut off food and phone access. Fisher gained international recognition for his portrayal of Victor Stone, also known as Cyborg, in ‘Justice League’ and ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’. He has also performed on stage and appeared in the limited series ‘Women of the Movement’.

Michael Patrick Thornton

Michael Patrick Thornton plays Ed Roberts, a prominent leader in the independent living movement who contracted polio as a child. In ‘Being Heumann’, Roberts provides guidance to Judith Heumann and the organizers while managing his own complex medical needs that require the use of an iron lung. The real-life Roberts co-founded the World Institute on Disability alongside Heumann and Joan Leon in 1983. Thornton is an accomplished stage and screen actor who uses a wheelchair due to a spinal stroke suffered early in his career. His notable television appearances include recurring roles on the medical dramas ‘Private Practice’ and ‘The Good Doctor’.

Daniel Durant

Daniel Durant plays Steve McCleeland, a Deaf activist who participates in the 1977 occupation of the federal building. In ‘Being Heumann’, McCleeland and his fellow Deaf protesters utilize American Sign Language to communicate across windows when authorities cut external telephone lines. Durant previously collaborated with director Siân Heder on the Academy Award-winning drama ‘CODA’, where he played Leo Rossi. The Deaf actor also starred on Broadway as Moritz Stiefel in the acclaimed Deaf West Theatre revival of the musical ‘Spring Awakening’. His television credits include a recurring appearance as Charlie Arden in the television drama ‘Switched at Birth’.

Jon Beavers

Jon Beavers portrays Jim Pechin, an activist and the romantic interest of Judith Heumann in ‘Being Heumann’. His scenes with Heumann provide warmth and personal intimacy amidst the intense political conflict of the twenty-eight-day demonstration. In real life, Pechin stood as a steadfast partner and fellow organizer during the nascent years of the disability rights campaign. Beavers has established a diverse acting career with appearances in crime dramas such as ‘Animal Kingdom’ and the historical miniseries ‘The Pacific’. He also portrayed John Lennon in the music-inspired series ‘Sun Records’.

Roberta Colindrez

Roberta Colindrez stars as Joni Breves, Judith Heumann’s trusted confidante, fellow organizer, and intermittent personal caregiver. In ‘Being Heumann’, Breves provides crucial emotional grounding and practical support to keep Heumann focused during the arduous sit-in. Their deep bond illustrates the daily interdependence and caregiving infrastructure required to maintain grassroots advocacy. Colindrez is an acclaimed performer known for originating the role of Joan in the Tony Award-winning musical ‘Fun Home’. On television, she has delivered standout performances in series such as ‘Vida’, ‘The Deuce’, and ‘A League of Their Own’.

Russell Harvard

Russell Harvard portrays Olin Fortney, a Deaf demonstrator who participates in the historic 1977 sit-in. In ‘Being Heumann’, Fortney joins other Deaf protesters in using visual communication to pass vital updates across security lines when communication channels are severed. Harvard is a celebrated Deaf actor who gained widespread acclaim for playing the adult version of H.W. Plainview in the feature film ‘There Will Be Blood’. He also garnered praise on television for his recurring portrayal of hitman Mr. Wrench in the FX anthology series ‘Fargo’. On the theatrical stage, Harvard starred in Broadway productions including ‘Spring Awakening’ and ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’.

Joe Cobden

Joe Cobden portrays Hamilton Jordan, a key political figure in the presidential administration of Jimmy Carter. In ‘Being Heumann’, Jordan works within the executive branch to navigate the escalating political fallout surrounding the nationwide Section 504 demonstrations. The character reflects the White House’s strategic calculations as disability rights advocates refuse to abandon their demands. Cobden is a Canadian actor and filmmaker whose career spans prominent roles in film, television, and theatre. His past screen credits include appearances in ‘The Day After Tomorrow’, ‘Source Code’, and the television series ‘Fargo’.

Matthew Jeffers

Matthew Jeffers portrays Gerald, an enthusiastic demonstrator who occupies the San Francisco Federal Building. In ‘Being Heumann’, Gerald embodies the unapologetic pride and rebellious energy shared by the young disabled demonstrators. Jeffers is an actor born with dwarfism who has earned widespread recognition for pushing disability representation on both screen and stage. He gained notice for his portrayal of Dr. Mark Walsh in the medical drama ‘New Amsterdam’ and played Nat in ‘The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live’. In addition to his screen work, Jeffers made his Broadway debut in the 2024 revival of Henrik Ibsen’s ‘An Enemy of the People’.

Will Brill

Will Brill portrays Gene Eidenberg, a senior official within the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare who serves as a deputy to Joseph A. Califano Jr. In ‘Being Heumann’, Eidenberg is sent to San Francisco to meet face-to-face with the protesters in place of Secretary Califano. His tense standoff with Judith Heumann in the federal building marks one of the pivotal dramatic encounters in the film. Brill is an accomplished American actor who won a Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway play ‘Stereophonic’. His television and film credits include roles in ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’, ‘The OA’, and ‘The Eyes of My Mother’.

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