The Full Cast Of 'Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story' — Shocking Transformations And True-Crime Detail

The Lifetime movie event, Mormon Mom Gone Wrong: The Ruby Franke Story, has captivated and horrified audiences, bringing the dark downfall of the once-popular YouTube vlogger to the screen. As of December 2025, the film remains a highly discussed topic, not just for its shocking true-crime subject matter, but for the unexpected casting choices that brought the Franke family's tragedy to life. The movie, which premiered in 2024, stars a mix of established television veterans and rising Canadian talent who faced the unique challenge of portraying figures whose real-life sentencing in early 2024 made international headlines.

This deep dive reveals the full cast list, detailing the actors behind the controversial figures, their professional backgrounds, and the true-life events—including the severe child abuse charges and subsequent prison sentences—that anchor this 'ripped from the headlines' drama. The casting of an iconic Melrose Place star as the manipulative counselor, in particular, has been a major point of discussion.

The Full Cast List and Biographies: Who Plays Who in the Franke Family Tragedy

The success of any biographical true-crime drama hinges on the performances of its lead actors. For The Ruby Franke Story, the casting required performers capable of navigating the complex transformation from a seemingly perfect family vlogger to a convicted child abuser. Here is the full breakdown of the main cast and their profiles.

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• Ruby Franke: Emilie Ullerup

  Role: The matriarch of the '8 Passengers' YouTube channel who documented her family's life before her arrest on child abuse charges.
  Biography: Emilie Ullerup is a Danish-born Canadian actress, celebrated for her work in science fiction and Hallmark Channel movies. She is well-known for her role as Ashley Magnus in the series Sanctuary and has appeared in numerous family-friendly films. Her casting as Ruby Franke represents a significant departure from her usual roles, showcasing her range to portray the descent into a toxic and abusive environment.

• Jodi Hildebrandt: Heather Locklear

  Role: Ruby Franke's business partner and life coach through the controversial 'ConneXions' program, who was a co-defendant in the child abuse case.
  Biography: Heather Locklear is an American television icon, instantly recognizable for her career-defining roles as Amanda Woodward on Melrose Place and Sammy Jo Carrington on Dynasty. Her portrayal of Jodi Hildebrandt marks a major return to the screen for the actress, taking on the role of the manipulative figure who exerted significant influence over Franke.

• Kevin Franke: Josh Blacker

  Role: Ruby's estranged husband and father of the six children.
  Biography: Josh Blacker is a South African-born actor known for roles in projects like Elysium and the TV series Animal Control. Notably, Blacker practiced law in Alberta, Canada, for four years before moving to Vancouver to pursue his acting career, bringing a unique background to his portrayal of the distant husband.

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• Shari Franke: Savannah Miller

  Role: The eldest daughter who publicly distanced herself from her mother's actions and played a role in the eventual exposure of the abuse.
  Biography: Savannah Miller is a Canadian actress who has appeared in films such as Prom Pact. Her role as Shari is crucial, as the eldest Franke child's social media posts were a key part of the public narrative surrounding the family's collapse.

• Chad Franke: Nolen Dubuc

  Role: One of Ruby and Kevin's sons.
  Biography: Nolen Dubuc is a Canadian actor and singer, known for his work in projects like 13: The Musical and Hallmark films such as The Christmas Waltz. Born in Vancouver, Dubuc is a rising talent in the Canadian entertainment industry.

The True Story Behind the Film: From '8 Passengers' to Sentencing

The Lifetime movie, originally titled Mormon Mom Gone Wrong, is based on the harrowing true story of Ruby Franke, a Utah mother who gained millions of followers documenting her seemingly picture-perfect Latter-day Saint family life on the 8 Passengers YouTube channel. The channel, which began in 2015, became a lightning rod for controversy due to Franke's extreme parenting methods, which many viewers perceived as abusive even before the official charges were filed.

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The narrative took a dark turn when Franke partnered with life coach Jodi Hildebrandt and began promoting the controversial self-help program, ConneXions. The true extent of the abuse came to light in August 2023, when Franke's emaciated 12-year-old son, Russell, escaped Hildebrandt’s Ivins, Utah, home through a window and ran to a neighbor for help, showing severe signs of starvation and open wounds from being tied with a rope.

Both Franke and Hildebrandt were arrested on August 30, 2023, and later pleaded guilty to four counts of aggravated child abuse. The case concluded with a powerful and definitive sentencing in February 2024. Both women were sentenced to four consecutive terms of one to 15 years in prison, meaning they could each serve up to 30 years in state prison. This swift and public legal outcome provided a shocking and timely conclusion that the Lifetime film captured.

The Controversy and Topical Authority: Shari Franke's Reaction and Public Scrutiny

The Lifetime movie's production and release immediately generated significant controversy, highlighting the fine line true-crime dramas walk when portraying recent, sensitive events. The most notable reaction came from the Franke family itself. Shari Franke, the eldest daughter, who was instrumental in bringing the abuse to light, publicly voiced her disapproval of the film.

Shari Franke, portrayed by Savannah Miller in the film, took to social media to express her frustration, stating that the family was not consulted and that the movie was being made too soon after the actual events, suggesting it was exploitative. Her public statement added a layer of real-world complexity to the film’s narrative, forcing viewers to consider the impact of dramatization on the actual victims.

The decision to cast veteran actress Heather Locklear as Jodi Hildebrandt was also a key moment for topical authority. Locklear’s star power drew immense attention to the project, but also placed intense scrutiny on her performance, demanding a nuanced portrayal of a woman convicted of child abuse. The film leverages the public recognition of the Melrose Place star to underscore the shocking nature of Hildebrandt's involvement in the scandal.

Furthermore, the movie serves as a cautionary tale about the dark side of the 'momfluencer' and family vlogging culture. The 8 Passengers channel represented a genre of content that often blurred the lines between documentation and exploitation. The film's title, Mormon Mom Gone Wrong, explicitly frames the narrative around the juxtaposition of a public image of religious perfection and the hidden reality of severe abuse, tapping directly into the public's fascination and horror with the scandal.

Emilie Ullerup and Heather Locklear: The Challenge of Portraying Convicted Abusers

For Emilie Ullerup, taking on the role of Ruby Franke was a professional high-wire act. Franke's on-screen persona was characterized by a strict, often harsh, style of 'tough love' parenting that eventually spiraled into criminal behavior. Ullerup’s performance had to capture this shift, from the saccharine YouTube personality to the emotionally and physically abusive figure revealed in court documents.

Similarly, Heather Locklear's depiction of Jodi Hildebrandt required addressing the manipulative and controlling nature of the controversial 'ConneXions' counselor. Hildebrandt’s influence over Franke was a central theme in the criminal case, with Franke even claiming at her sentencing that Hildebrandt was her employer, attempting to shift some of the blame. Locklear’s casting brought the necessary gravitas to portray this dark, authoritative dynamic. The chemistry between Ullerup and Locklear was critical to illustrating the toxic relationship that led to the severe child abuse charges.

The film's exploration of the Franke case ensures that the conversation around family vlogging, child welfare, and the accountability of online influencers remains current. The Lifetime movie serves as a permanent, dramatized record of one of the most shocking falls from grace in the history of social media, driven by the compelling performances of its cast, including Emilie Ullerup, Heather Locklear, Josh Blacker, Savannah Miller, and Nolen Dubuc. The true story of the Franke family will continue to be a reference point for the dangers inherent in broadcasting private life for public consumption.