The primary story at hand in Under the Banner of Heaven is the real-life brutal 1984 murders of 24-year-old Brenda Lafferty and her 15-month-old daughter Erica, who were part of one of the most notable Latter-day Saint families in their Utah community. The true crimes were soon revealed to be connected to fundamentalist Mormonism, inspired by specific scriptures and teachings of the Laffertys’ religion. From actors well-versed in spiritually-driven projects to horror stars, the Under the Banner of Heaven cast is able to accurately and emotionally portray such complex, terrifying, and strong-willed people.

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Billy Howle As Allen Lafferty

Active Since 2012

Actor: Billy Howle stars in Under the Banner of Heaven as Allen Lafferty, which remains one of his most prominent roles to date. However, he has also had appearances in feature-films and TV shows, such as in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker as Rey’s father, Chloe as Elliott, and Outlaw King as Prince Edward. His first role was in 2012's Vera, and he's due to appear in the Netflix mystery drama The Perfect Couple alongside Nicole Kidman and Liev Schrieber

Character: Many of the events in Under the Banner of Heaven’s flashbacks are told from the perspective of Allen Lafferty, Brenda’s real-life husband, who came home to find his wife and their daughter murdered in July 1984. Allen, the youngest brother in the Lafferty family, quickly falls in love with Brenda after meeting her, but his brothers and father prove to dislike her outspoken and independent nature. As Allen recalls their life together before her murder, it’s his critical assertions about the teachings of Mormonism and the LDS Church that gradually see Detective Pyre questioning his faith.

Daisy Edgar-Jones As Brenda Wright Lafferty

Active Since 2015

Actor: Daisy Edgar-Jones stars in the Under the Banner of Heaven cast as Brenda Lafferty (neé Wright). Outside of the cast of Dustin Lance Black's miniseries, Daisy Edgar-Jones is notable for starring in Hulu’s Fresh as Noa, Normal People as Marianne Sheridan, and War of the Worlds as Emily Gresham. However, her most widely known role is arguably as Kya in 2022's Where the Crawdads Sing. Her next notable appearance is in the 2024 Twister sequel Twisters.

Character: Brenda Lafferty was the real-life 24-year-old wife of Allen Lafferty and mother to 15-month-old Erica, who was brutally murdered in her home in 1984. The show's flashbacks follow Brenda Lafferty before her murder as she goes from her Mormon family in Idaho to Utah’s Brigham Young University, where she meets Allen and his extremely devout LDS family. As the FX on Hulu series progresses through flashbacks and the present-day investigation led by Andrew Garfield’s character, the shocking details of how Mormon religious extremism influenced her killers gradually come to light.

Andrew Garfield As Detective Jeb Pyre

Active Since 2004

Actor: Academy Award-nominated actor Andrew Garfield leads Under the Banner of Heaven as Jeb Pyre. Andrew Garfield is best known for portraying Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man movies, Desmond Doss in Hacksaw Ridge, Jonathan Larson in Tick, Tick… Boom!, and Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network. These are far from his only roles, however, and he also appeared in cult hit Under the Silver Lake.

Character: In Under the Banner of Heaven, Detective Pyre is the detective in charge of the investigation of Brenda and Erica Lafferty’s murders. A devout Mormon who has known the Laffertys through his church, Detective Pyre’s own faith in the Church of Latter-day Saints is tested as the details of the murders and how his religion inspired them come to light. Unlike the majority of the characters in Under the Banner of Heaven, Jeb Pyre is a fictional figure.

Sam Worthington As Ron Lafferty

Active Since 2000

Actor: Another somewhat prominent name in the cast of Under the Banner of Heaven is Sam Worthington. Sam Worthington is best known for his roles in James Cameron’s Avatar movies, Terminator Salvation, Clash of the Titans, and as the voice of Alex Mason in the Call of Duty video games. He also appeared alongside Under the Banner of Heaven co-star Andrew Garfield in Hacksaw Ridge, in which Worthington played Captain Jack Glover.

Character: The eldest Lafferty brother is the first to stray from his father’s teachings and ideals on subscribing to their Mormon scriptures, with Ammon Lafferty thus choosing Dan to follow in his footsteps instead. Under the Banner of Heaven’s real-life Ron, who owns a construction company, is married to Dianna, with whom he has six children.

Wyatt Russell As Dan Lafferty

Active Since 1987

Actor: Another prominent name in the Under the Banner of Heaven cast is Wyatt Russell, who has been active since the late 1980s when he first appeared in uncredited roles as a baby and child-actor. Wyatt Russell, the son of actors Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, is notable for starring in TV shows and films like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, 22 Jump Street, Overlord, and Lodge 49. His most recent prominent roles was in 2024 horror movie Night Swim, and he is due to reprise his role as U.S. Agent in the 2025 MCU movie Thunderbolts. He and father Kurt Russell also played younger and older versions of Lee Shaw in Apple's Monarch: Legacy of Monsters.

Character: One of Allen’s older brothers, who Ammon names as the head of the family while he and their mother are away on a missionary trip, is played by Wyatt Russell. Dan takes over the family’s chiropractor business out of the Lafferty home while Ammon is away, and is also outspoken about refusing to pay his taxes. The character’s responsibility also impacts his wife, Matilda, who he married after a mission in Scotland, and her two daughters from a previous marriage.

Gil Birmingham As Detective Bill Taba

Active Since 1986

Actor: Under the Bannter of Heaven cast member Gil Birmingham brings a considerable amount of gravitas to the 2022 miniseries. Birmingham is known for appearing as Thomas Rainwater in Yellowstone, Billy Black in The Twilight Saga, and Alberto Parker in Hell or High Water. He also voiced Forge in X-Men '97 and is due to reprise his role as Martin Hanson in the sequel to 2017's Wind River, titled Wind River: The Next Chapter.

Character: Alongside Andrew Garfield’s Jeb Pyre, Detective Bill Taba is also investigating the double-murder case of Brenda and Erica Lafferty in Under the Banner of Heaven. As a non-Mormon, Under the Banner of Heaven’s fictional Bill Taba feels at odds in the small Utah town. This also allows him to tackle the tougher and more objective questions about the religion’s key role in the brutal events of the case.

Denise Gough As Dianna Lafferty

Active Since 2004

Actor: Irish actress Denise Gough has been active since 2004, getting her earliest experience in the UK medical soap Casualty, with her first feature-film appearances being roles like "Village Mother" in 2010's Robin Hood. Gough is notable for her stage career and appearances in TV shows like Too Close, Paula, and the Disney+ Star Wars series Andor as Dedra Meero. She most recently appeared in 2023's Who Is Erin Carter? as Lena.

Character: Denise Gough portrays the wife of the eldest Lafferty brother, Ron, whom she met on his mission in Florida and with whom she shares six children. Under the Banner of Heaven’s Dianna, an adult convert to Mormonism, quickly gravitates to Brenda, who she welcomes to the family and often seeks advice from.

Chloe Pirrie As Matilda Lafferty

Active Since 2010

Actor: Similarly to Under the Banner of Heaven co-star Denise Gough, Chloe Pirrie also started her career in British medical soaps, appearing in an episode of Doctors. From there, she also appeared in the 2012 Black Mirror episode "The Waldo Moment", and in the epic historical drama Troy: Fall of a City as Andromache. Pirrie has also been seen in The Crown, The Queen’s Gambit, The Game, and 2020’s Emma.

Character: Dan’s Scottish wife, who he met on his mission in Scotland, with the two soon marrying and returning to live in the United States, is played by Chloe Pirrie. Under the Banner of Heaven’s real-life Matilda is the divorced mother of two daughters from a previous marriage, who frequently mentions how Dan Lafferty had originally been interested in her sister. Once Dan takes over as the head of the family, Matilda’s responsibility and Dan’s expectations become overbearing, whereafter she seeks advice and friendship from Brenda.

Seth Numrich As Robin Lafferty

Active Since 2011

Actor: Under the Banner of Heaven cast member Seth Numrich, who plays Robin Lafferty, is one of the lesser-known cast , though has a much more successful career in the theater in the U.K. Outside of Under the Banner of Heaven, Numrich has also appeared in projects like Turn: Washington’s Spies, Homeland, and Madam Secretary.

Character: Another of the Lafferty brothers in Under the Banner of Heaven’s true story who dislikes Brenda’s independence is Robin Lafferty, played by Seth Numrich. Robin (whose name is different from the real-life figure) also s in taking over the chiropractic business and becomes Dan’s right-hand man after their father leaves, with Robin sharing Dan’s strict LDS Church mindset and anti-tax beliefs as well.

Rory Culkin As Sam Lafferty

Active Since 1993

Actor: The younger brother of actors Macaulay and Kieran Culkin, Rory Culkin is most notable for his roles in Scream 4, Signs, Mean Creek, and Waco. While he may not have as prominent career as his brothers, Rory Culkin has been active since 1993 and, from his performance as Sam Lafferty in Under the Banner of Heaven, it's clear that talent runs throughout every single one of the Culkin siblings. He recently appeared in Swarm as Marcus and as Kappa in the Black Mirror episode "Beyond the Sea", both of which were released in 2023.

Character: Under the Banner of Heaven's Sam Lafferty (a different name from the real-life person) is the middle child in his family who must stay loyal to his brothers. The devout Mormon character is notable for his fierce protection of his brothers, firm opinions on his faith and political ideals, and hot temper. Rory Culkin