Angel in the Rubble cast members are drawing attention as Lifetime’s new true-story movie reaches audiences in the United States following its September 12, 2026, premiere. The film, officially titled Robin Roberts Presents: Angel in the Rubble: The Genelle Guzman Story, tells the real-life story of Genelle Guzman, the last survivor rescued from the World Trade Center rubble after the September 11 attacks. Lifetime lists the movie as a Saturday, September 12 premiere at 8/7c, with streaming available the following day.
The movie stars Sherri Shepherd as Genelle Guzman. Dondré T. Whitfield plays Roger McMillan, Genelle’s boyfriend and later husband. The supporting cast includes Frank Rautenbach, Sean C. Michael, Darron Meyer, Colin Moss and Ethan Saunders. Manu Boyer directed the film, while Robert Eisele wrote the screenplay.
With the film now airing, viewers are particularly interested in who portrays the real people connected to Guzman’s survival story. Here is a closer look at the confirmed cast, their characters and the story behind the Lifetime production.
Angel in the Rubble Cast at a Glance
The confirmed principal cast includes:
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Sherri Shepherd | Genelle Guzman |
| Dondré T. Whitfield | Roger McMillan |
| Frank Rautenbach | Jeffrey Stockton |
| Sean C. Michael | Frank Dougherty |
| Darron Meyer | Pasquale Buzzelli |
| Colin Moss | Captain Phil Torello |
| Ethan Saunders | Bill Jackson |
IMDb’s current full-credit listing identifies these performers and roles for the 2026 film.
The movie has a reported runtime of about 90 minutes on Rotten Tomatoes, although some television listings display a longer programming slot because of commercial breaks. Rotten Tomatoes classifies it as a TV-14 drama.
Sherri Shepherd as Genelle Guzman
Sherri Shepherd leads the Angel in the Rubble cast as Genelle Guzman, the central figure in the true story.
Guzman was working in the World Trade Center complex when the September 11 attacks changed her life. She became trapped beneath the debris after the collapse of the North Tower and remained there for approximately 27 hours before rescuers reached her.
Shepherd’s role required her to portray Guzman during one of the most frightening periods of her life. The film follows Guzman’s struggle to survive while trapped beneath the wreckage and focuses on the faith and determination that helped her endure the ordeal.
Recent interviews have highlighted how seriously Shepherd approached the role. She met Guzman while preparing for the movie and discussed the importance of presenting her experience respectfully. Shepherd has described playing Guzman as an honor because of the extraordinary circumstances surrounding her survival.
Shepherd is also credited as an executive producer on the production. IMDb lists her among the film’s executive producers alongside Robin Roberts and other production figures.
For Shepherd, the project represents a dramatic performance centered on a real woman rather than a fictional character. That distinction is important because the movie deals with an event that remains deeply significant to millions of Americans.
Dondré T. Whitfield as Roger McMillan
Dondré T. Whitfield plays Roger McMillan, Genelle Guzman’s partner.
The character represents an important part of Guzman’s life outside the rubble. Her relationship with Roger forms part of the personal story surrounding the traumatic events of September 11 and the life she rebuilt afterward.
Movie listings identify Whitfield as one of the two principal stars alongside Shepherd. Rotten Tomatoes specifically lists him as Roger McMillan, while other current entertainment listings also confirm the role.
Whitfield has a long television and film career, making him a recognizable presence in the cast. His role in the Lifetime movie gives the production another established performer alongside Shepherd.
The story does not focus only on Guzman’s rescue. It also examines the relationships, faith and personal changes that followed her survival. Roger’s place in the story helps connect the events at Ground Zero with Guzman’s life afterward.
Frank Rautenbach as Jeffrey Stockton
Frank Rautenbach is another confirmed member of the cast.
He plays Jeffrey Stockton, according to the film’s current full cast listing.
Rautenbach is part of the supporting ensemble that helps recreate the people surrounding Guzman during the events depicted in the movie.
Although Shepherd and Whitfield receive the primary billing, the supporting performers are important to the film’s portrayal of the rescue and the circumstances surrounding Guzman’s time beneath the wreckage.
Rautenbach’s inclusion also reflects the production’s effort to build a larger ensemble around Guzman’s story rather than relying solely on the central character.
Sean C. Michael as Frank Dougherty
Sean C. Michael plays Frank Dougherty.
His name appears in the film’s current cast credits alongside Shepherd, Whitfield, Rautenbach, Darron Meyer, Colin Moss and Ethan Saunders.
Michael contributes to the supporting cast portraying people connected with the events surrounding Guzman’s rescue.
The production uses several supporting characters to place the central survival story within the larger rescue effort that followed the World Trade Center collapse.
Darron Meyer as Pasquale Buzzelli
Darron Meyer portrays Pasquale Buzzelli.
Buzzelli was among the real people connected to the aftermath of the World Trade Center collapse, and his presence in the movie helps the production depict the rescue environment surrounding Guzman.
IMDb’s current cast information confirms Meyer in the role.
Meyer is part of the ensemble that supports Shepherd’s central performance. His role is another example of how the film incorporates individuals connected with the real events rather than presenting the story through Guzman alone.
Colin Moss as Captain Phil Torello
Colin Moss plays Captain Phil Torello.
The role appears in the film’s current full cast credits.
Torello is connected to the emergency response portrayed in the movie. The inclusion of rescue personnel is essential to the story because Guzman’s survival ultimately depended on emergency workers reaching her location.
The film therefore moves between Guzman’s experience beneath the rubble and the rescue effort taking place above and around her.
Ethan Saunders as Bill Jackson
Ethan Saunders rounds out the currently listed principal supporting cast as Bill Jackson.
His role is confirmed in IMDb’s current full credits for the movie.
Saunders joins a supporting ensemble that helps recreate the people involved in the dramatic events surrounding Guzman’s rescue.
While the movie’s marketing centers on Shepherd’s portrayal of Guzman, these supporting roles provide the surrounding characters needed to tell the story of her survival.
Who Plays Genelle Guzman in the Movie?
Sherri Shepherd plays Genelle Guzman.
This is the most important casting detail for viewers searching for information about the movie. Shepherd portrays Guzman throughout the Lifetime production, including the scenes depicting her experience trapped beneath the World Trade Center wreckage.
Guzman herself is a real survivor whose story became widely known after rescuers pulled her alive from the debris.
The movie is based on Guzman-McMillan’s memoir, Angel in the Rubble: The Miraculous Rescue of 9/11’s Last Survivor. The memoir recounts her experience during the attacks and the events that followed her rescue.
Who Plays Roger McMillan?
Dondré T. Whitfield plays Roger McMillan.
Roger is an important figure in Guzman’s personal life. The film uses his character to show the relationship that surrounded Guzman as she moved through the aftermath of her experience.
Current film listings consistently identify Whitfield as Roger McMillan.
Whitfield’s casting also gives the production a recognizable supporting lead opposite Shepherd.
Who Is the Mysterious Paul in the Story?
One of the most unusual elements of Guzman’s story involves a man named Paul.
While trapped beneath the rubble, Guzman said that a man stayed with her and offered comfort while she waited for rescue. She later tried to identify the person who had been with her.
The identity of the mysterious man could not be confirmed.
Guzman came to believe that Paul may have been an angel who appeared during her darkest moment. That belief is central to the title and emotional theme of the Lifetime movie.
The production presents this element as part of Guzman’s personal understanding of what happened to her. It does not change the confirmed facts surrounding her rescue from the World Trade Center debris. Current descriptions of the film also emphasize the stranger named Paul and Guzman’s belief about his identity.
What Is the Movie About?
The film follows Genelle Guzman’s experience during and after the September 11 attacks.
Guzman was working in the World Trade Center when the attacks occurred. After the North Tower collapsed, she became trapped beneath the wreckage.
She remained buried for about 27 hours.
During that time, she prayed and reflected on her life. The story places particular emphasis on her renewed faith and her determination to survive.
Eventually, rescuers found Guzman alive.
Her rescue became one of the most remarkable survival stories connected with the September 11 attacks. She was the last survivor rescued from the World Trade Center rubble.
Lifetime describes the movie as the story of Guzman’s survival after being buried beneath the collapsed tower.
Who Directed Angel in the Rubble?
Manu Boyer directed the movie.
Robert Eisele wrote the screenplay.
The production companies listed for the film include Lighthouse Pictures, Motion Entertainment and Rock’n Robin Productions. Robin Roberts serves as an executive producer, and Shepherd also has an executive producer credit.
The film is part of the Robin Roberts Presents banner at Lifetime.
Roberts has been involved with previous Lifetime projects under the banner, making this movie another collaboration between the television journalist and the network.
When Did Angel in the Rubble Premiere?
The movie premiered on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 8 p.m. Eastern and Pacific/7 p.m. Central and Mountain time on Lifetime.
Lifetime’s current movie schedule confirms the 8/7c premiere and states that the film would stream the next day.
The September premiere coincides with the 25th anniversary period of the September 11 attacks.
Current Lifetime scheduling information also shows additional broadcasts after the initial premiere, including overnight and early-morning airings.
For viewers searching for the movie after its premiere, Lifetime remains the primary source for current availability and scheduling.
Is Angel in the Rubble Based on a True Story?
Yes.
The film dramatizes the real survival story of Genelle Guzman-McMillan.
Her memoir, Angel in the Rubble, was published as an account of her experience as the last survivor rescued from the World Trade Center debris. The book describes her time trapped beneath the collapsed structure and her reflections on faith, survival and the future.
The movie uses that memoir as its source material.
Because the story involves a real historical tragedy, the cast is portraying real people and events rather than fictional characters created solely for the film.
What Makes the Cast Important to the Story?
The casting gives the movie a way to connect the personal experience of one survivor with the broader events of September 11.
Shepherd carries the central role as Guzman. Whitfield portrays Roger. The supporting actors portray people connected with the emergency response and the events surrounding Guzman’s rescue.
That structure allows the movie to remain centered on Guzman while showing the circumstances around her.
The cast also helps the production balance the intense survival scenes with the personal relationships that became important after her rescue.
Angel in the Rubble Cast and Characters: Complete Current List
The currently identified principal cast can be summarized as follows:
- Sherri Shepherd — Genelle Guzman
- Dondré T. Whitfield — Roger McMillan
- Frank Rautenbach — Jeffrey Stockton
- Sean C. Michael — Frank Dougherty
- Darron Meyer — Pasquale Buzzelli
- Colin Moss — Captain Phil Torello
- Ethan Saunders — Bill Jackson
These names and roles reflect the current cast information available for the 2026 production.
Where Can U.S. Viewers Watch the Movie?
U.S. viewers can watch Robin Roberts Presents: Angel in the Rubble: The Genelle Guzman Story through Lifetime.
Lifetime lists the movie as a September 12 premiere at 8/7c and states that it streams the following day.
Current television listings also show repeat airings after the premiere, giving viewers additional opportunities to watch the film on Lifetime.
Availability can vary by television provider and streaming platform, so viewers should check their current Lifetime listings for the latest schedule.
Why Sherri Shepherd’s Role Has Drawn Attention
Sherri Shepherd’s casting has become one of the main talking points surrounding the movie.
Shepherd is known primarily for television work, including hosting and acting. This production places her in a serious dramatic role based on the life of a real 9/11 survivor.
In recent interviews, Shepherd has spoken about the responsibility involved in portraying Guzman. She also met Guzman during the preparation process, allowing her to learn more about the person behind the widely reported survival story.
That personal connection gives Shepherd additional insight into the character she portrays.
For viewers, it also provides context for why the performance has received attention ahead of and around the film’s premiere.
The Movie’s Connection to Genelle Guzman’s Memoir
The production draws directly from Guzman-McMillan’s memoir.
The book, published under the title Angel in the Rubble: The Miraculous Rescue of 9/11’s Last Survivor, tells her account of surviving the collapse and spending 27 hours trapped beneath the debris.
The Lifetime movie translates that personal account into a scripted television drama.
Its title reflects the role that faith plays in Guzman’s interpretation of her survival and her belief about the unidentified man named Paul.
The film therefore combines a documented rescue with Guzman’s personal perspective on what she experienced while waiting for help.
Final Cast Update
As of September 13, 2026, the movie has completed its U.S. premiere, and the principal cast is confirmed across current entertainment listings. Sherri Shepherd leads as Genelle Guzman, with Dondré T. Whitfield as Roger McMillan and a supporting ensemble that includes Frank Rautenbach, Sean C. Michael, Darron Meyer, Colin Moss and Ethan Saunders.
The film is now part of Lifetime’s current programming lineup, with additional airings listed after its September 12 premiere.
The cast gives viewers a dramatized look at one of the most extraordinary survival stories connected with September 11, while keeping Genelle Guzman’s experience at the center of the production.
What do you think about the casting for the movie? Share your thoughts in the comments and stay updated on the latest confirmed developments.