You remember the kid. Colton Burpo. The four-year-old who claimed he sat in Jesus’ lap while surgeons were busy fixing his ruptured appendix. When the movie hit theaters in 2014, people weren’t just obsessed with the supernatural claims; they were hooked on the family dynamic. The heaven is for real movie cast had this weird, grounding chemistry that made a pretty wild story feel—honestly—kind of normal.
Randall Wallace, the guy who wrote Braveheart, didn't go for flash. He went for heart. He picked a lead actor who could play a small-town pastor without making it feel like a caricature, and a kid who didn't look like a polished Hollywood "prodigy." It worked. The movie pulled in over $100 million on a tiny budget. But if you look back at the credits now, you’ll see some names that have since exploded in ways nobody really expected back then.
Greg Kinnear as Todd Burpo: The Weight of Doubt
Greg Kinnear was already a big deal, but his role as Todd Burpo is arguably one of his most "human" performances. He had to play a guy who was literally losing his mind trying to reconcile his faith with what his son was telling him. Todd wasn't just a preacher; he was a volunteer firefighter, a garage door repairman, and a dad drowning in medical bills. Kinnear nailed that "exhausted blue-collar dad" energy perfectly.
Since 2014, Kinnear hasn't slowed down. He’s moved into that phase of his career where he shows up in prestige TV and you’re just happy to see him. You probably saw him recently in Black Bird on Apple TV+ or maybe as Tom Oakley in the Party Down revival. He’s got this knack for playing men who are slightly out of their depth but trying their best. It’s his brand. In Heaven is for Real, that vulnerability was the anchor. Without Kinnear’s skeptical-but-loving performance, the movie could have easily veered into "cheesy Sunday school video" territory.
Kelly Reilly and the Yellowstone Connection
Here is the thing that trips people up: Sonja Burpo was played by Kelly Reilly. Yes, that Kelly Reilly. Before she was the foul-mouthed, corporate-raiding Beth Dutton on Yellowstone, she was the patient, choir-singing mother in a faith-based drama. Talk about range.
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Watching her as Sonja now is almost jarring. She’s soft. She’s maternal. She’s worried about the mortgage. It’s a total 180 from the whiskey-swigging powerhouse we see on the ranch. Back when the heaven is for real movie cast was being assembled, Reilly was a respected British stage and film actress, but she wasn't a household name in the States yet. This movie was one of the projects that proved she could disappear into an American heartland role. Honestly, her performance is the secret sauce of the film. She represents the audience—the person who wants to believe her kid but is also terrified of what the neighbors are going to think.
Connor Corum: Where is Colton Now?
Finding a kid to play Colton Burpo was the biggest hurdle. They needed someone who didn't look like he was acting. They found Connor Corum. He was five years old when they filmed, and his wide-eyed delivery of lines like "Jesus has a horse" is what made the movie viral.
What happened to him?
Unlike a lot of child stars, Connor didn't dive headfirst into the Hollywood machine. After the movie and a 2016 appearance in a film called The Chosen, he basically stepped away from the spotlight. He’s a teenager now, living a relatively normal life. It’s a move that probably helped keep the "purity" of the role intact for fans of the movie. When you see him in the film, you’re seeing a kid who was legitimately just being a kid. There’s no ego there.
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Margo Martindale and the Church Board
We have to talk about Margo Martindale. She played Nancy Rawling, the church board member who was skeptical of the whole "heaven" thing. Margo is a "Character Actor" with capital letters. She’s won Emmys for Justified and The Americans.
In this movie, she provides the necessary friction. A story like this needs a "villain," but Nancy isn't a bad person; she’s a grieving mother who finds Colton’s stories painful. Martindale brings a level of gravitas to the heaven is for real movie cast that most faith-based films lack. She makes the conflict feel real because her grief feels real.
Other Notable Cast Members
- Thomas Haden Church: He played Jay Olson, Todd’s friend and fellow skeptic. Church is known for Sideways and playing Sandman in Spider-Man, and he brings a dry, cynical humor that keeps the movie from getting too sentimental.
- Jacob Vargas: He popped up as Michael, the man Todd comforts.
- Lane Styles: She played Cassie Burpo, Colton’s older sister. Like Connor, she hasn't pursued a massive acting career, keeping the family unit feeling authentic and "non-Hollywood."
The Real Burpo Family vs. Their Movie Versions
One of the reasons the movie resonated so much was the involvement of the actual Burpos. Todd and Sonja were on set, ensuring the details of their small-town Nebraska life were accurate. While the movie takes some creative liberties—mostly with the timeline of events—the core "cast" of the real-life story remains very active in the public eye.
The real Colton Burpo is now a young man. He’s spent years traveling and speaking about his experience. Interestingly, the movie cast reflects the feeling of the family more than a 1:1 physical resemblance. The Burpos have often praised Kinnear and Reilly for capturing the stress of that period in their lives.
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Why the Casting Still Works Today
A lot of movies in this genre feel dated after a couple of years. They use "flavor of the month" actors or lean too hard into preaching. Heaven is for Real avoided that by hiring heavy hitters.
Think about it. You have an Oscar nominee (Kinnear), an Emmy winner (Martindale), and a future TV icon (Reilly). That is a stacked lineup for a movie about a kid seeing angels. The casting directors—Benny Katz and David Rubin—didn't just look for "wholesome" actors. They looked for people who could handle the nuance of doubt and faith.
What to Watch Next if You Loved the Cast
If you’re revisiting the film because you loved the actors, you’ve got plenty of options. If you want more Greg Kinnear being a "confused but good guy," check out Little Miss Sunshine. If you want to see Kelly Reilly do the exact opposite of Sonja Burpo, start Yellowstone (but maybe shield your ears if you’re coming straight from a church movie).
For those interested in the "real" side of the story, the book remains the best source. It goes into much more detail about the specific things Colton claimed to see, including descriptions of family members he never met—details that the movie had to condense for time.
Actionable Next Steps
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of the heaven is for real movie cast or the story itself, here is how you can spend your next few hours:
- Watch the Behind-the-Scenes: The DVD and Blu-ray extras feature interviews with Greg Kinnear and the real Todd Burpo together. It’s fascinating to see them side-by-side discussing the "responsibility" of playing a living person.
- Follow the Real Colton: The Burpo family still runs their ministry. If you’re curious about what a "heaven survivor" looks like as an adult, their official social media channels offer regular updates.
- Compare Performances: Watch Kelly Reilly in Heaven is for Real and then watch a clip of her in Yellowstone. It’s a masterclass in acting range and might give you a new appreciation for her work in the 2014 film.
- Check the Soundtrack: The score by Nick Glennie-Smith is often overlooked, but it’s a huge part of why the scenes with the cast feel so emotional. It’s available on most streaming platforms.
The movie might be over a decade old, but the questions it asks—and the performances that ground those questions—keep it at the top of the list for fans of the genre. Whether you believe the story or not, the talent on screen is undeniable.