What The Cast Of Yellowstone Looks Like In Real Life

The fictional Dutton family, from the Yellowstone series, has been depicted as battling, riding horses, and quarreling among themselves for years in Montana. However, it’s essential to remember that fiction and reality are distinct; the actors portraying John Dutton (Kevin Costner), fiery Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly), and sincere Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) aren’t like their intense characters… or are they? Could there be a hint of their roles influencing their real-life personas?

Upon careful observation, you’ll notice that the “Yellowstone” series boasts a multitude of adventurers among its cast members. This accomplished group is filled with intelligent individuals and those who know exactly how to seize acting opportunities. While not all may be skilled equestrians, they certainly recognize and capitalize on good opportunities when they arise.

Kevin Costner took a big gamble on a large-scale Western production for the big screen, while Kelly Reilly and Casey Grimes found themselves immersed in new “Yellowstone” spin-offs. Let’s explore what these actors look like off-screen, their activities prior to the show’s premiere, and their post-series ventures.

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Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner, a renowned actor whose fame has long been established, is best recognized for his role as John Dutton in the hit series “Yellowstone.” His acting career took off with an impactful performance as Alex, the deceased friend of a group of college friends in “The Big Chill.” Subsequently, he gained prominence in Western films, which solidified his status as an actor. He achieved stardom in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and Academy Awards for “Dances with Wolves” soon followed; however, movies like “Waterworld” and “The Postman” resulted in less-than-stellar box office earnings. In his career, he has had successful projects such as “Mr. Brooks” or “Open Range,” but there have also been less successful ones, like “Swing Vote.

Costner continued to be involved in Hollywood, but he captured audience interest once more by portraying the self-sacrificing Pa Kent opposite Henry Cavill’s Clark Kent in “Man of Steel” (2013). Since then, he starred as the unyielding John Dutton for four seasons on “Yellowstone,” but his relationship with series creator Taylor Sheridan deteriorated to the point of a legal dispute that resulted in an abrupt and seemingly disrespectful exit for John Dutton. Following “Yellowstone,” Costner has focused on completing the remaining installments of his film series “Horizon: An American Saga,” which initially prompted him to leave the show.

Kelly Reilly

Kelly Reilly has had a varied and successful acting career in Hollywood, which might surprise you given her convincing portrayal of Beth Dutton, the rebellious daughter from “Yellowstone.” However, it’s important to note that she is actually British. She first gained fame in television shows and dramas produced in the UK, such as “Ruth Rendell Mysteries,” “Bramwell,” “Poldark,” and “Poirot.

In the 2005 adaptation of “Pride and Prejudice,” Kylie Reilly had her major break, playing Caroline Bingley, who causes quite a stir for Elizabeth Bennet, portrayed by Keira Knightley. Later, she was seen in “Eden Lake,” “Me and Orson Welles,” and in Robert Downey Jr.’s “Sherlock Holmes” series as Mary Morstan. Despite the fame that came her way, there was one aspect of her character in “Yellowstone” that Reilly disliked: her smoking habit. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she revealed, “Since I don’t smoke in real life, all those cigarettes are herbal ones.” She even attempted to persuade the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan, to include a storyline where Beth gives up smoking.

Luke Grimes

Prior to embodying the mature and family-focused character Kayce Dutton, Luke Grimes initially made a name for himself as an ordinary teenage actor. His breakout role was in “All the Boys Love Mandy Lane”, followed by his regular stint on “Brothers & Sisters” as Ryan Lafferty and a part in “Taken 2.” Subsequently, Grimes landed a significant role in “True Blood” as James Kent. However, he left the show after six episodes due to alleged creative disagreements with the writing team.

Previously, Grimes was known as Marc Lee in “American Sniper,” then starred as Elliot Grey across the “Fifty Shades of Grey” series, followed by a role as Teddy Q in the 2016 remake of “The Magnificent 7.” After wrapping up “Yellowstone,” Grimes has since featured in the romantic drama “Happiness for Beginners.” His next project involves returning to his character Kayce in an upcoming “Yellowstone” spin-off series scheduled to air on CBS.

Though it’s evident he’s enthusiastic to portray Kayce once more, he has confessed that certain aspects of the character grate on him. He shared with Men’s Health Magazine that, at heart, Kayce is a truly good and pure individual. However, his indecisiveness can be quite vexing not only for him but also for those around him.

Wes Bentley

As a devoted admirer, I’d say, “I was already familiar with Wes Bentley’s versatile acting resume when he joined the cast of ‘Yellowstone.’ Similar to his costar Luke Grimes, Bentley initially made a name for himself playing teen roles. He became a household name with his exceptional portrayal of Ricky Fitts in ‘American Beauty,’ a sensitive and gifted filmmaker. Although roles in ‘Ghost Rider’ and ‘Jonah Hex’ temporarily halted his career progression, he eventually landed the role of Seneca Crane in ‘The Hunger Games.’ Following this, he appeared in ‘Interstellar,’ three installments of ‘American Horror Story’ – ‘American Horror Story: Freak Show,’ ‘American Horror Story: Roanoke,’ and notably, as John Lowe in ‘American Horror Story: Hotel.’

Additionally, Bentley has starred as Jack in “Pete’s Dragon” and Erik in “Mission Impossible: Fallout”. At present, following his role in “Yellowstone”, he seems to be taking some time off – understandably so, given that he confessed to Fox News that portraying Jamie took a toll on him emotionally. He admitted, “Jamie is not someone I easily relate to and find it difficult to live with. He carries a lot of emotional baggage and heavy responsibilities, making it quite a challenge for me in my personal life.

Cole Hauser

One of the regular cast members on “Yellowstone,” Cole Hauser, is also part of the illustrious Hollywood family tree. It wasn’t until he was around ten that Cole discovered his connection to the popular daytime soap opera actor, Wings Hauser, who happens to be his father. The duo strengthened their bond as they grew older, with Wings offering a home to his son while Cole was building his acting career and finding his footing in Hollywood.

As a young gamer, I quickly made a name for myself, carving out my niche in Hollywood during my twenties. I landed some youthful roles in movies like “School Ties,” “Dazed and Confused,” and “Good Will Hunting.” I also scored my first series regular gig, portraying Randy Willitz in Fox’s “High Incident.” I managed to juggle parts in military films such as “Hart’s War” with roles in prestigious dramas like “White Oleander” and sci-fi shows like “Pitch Black.” I was a regular on “The Lizzie Borden Chronicles” and led the cast of the long-running drama “Rogue” before joining the team on “Yellowstone” as Rip.

According to Hauser, he and Taylor Sheridan have a common goal when it comes to the character of Rip. As Hauser put it in an interview with Cowboys and Indians Magazine, “What I’ve always envisioned for Rip is what Taylor has wanted as well.” This vision includes a complex, intriguing, thoughtful, emotional, and strong American man. Next year, Hauser will take this American character to new places; he and Kelly Reilly will reunite to focus on the story of Beth and Rip in a spin-off series set for release in 2026.

Kelsey Asbille

Kelsey Asbille, known for her portrayal of Monica Dutton in “Yellowstone,” made a mark in acting with her debut role as Gigi in “One Tree Hill.” Following this, she appeared on “Pair of Kings” as Mikayla Makoola, Brady’s love interest (played by Mitchel Musso). After wrapping up the Disney XD sitcom, she moved towards more complex characters, appearing in “Teen Wolf” as Tracy Stewart and in the romantic TV movie “Brimming with Love.

Currently established in her acting career, Asbille appeared alongside Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen in the movie “Wind River.” During breaks from “Yellowstone,” she made appearances in Season 4 of FX’s “Fargo” as Swanee Capps, and co-starred with Finn Wittrock in the Netflix horror film “Don’t Move.” If she doesn’t return for the upcoming Kacey-related spin-off series, she mentioned that her portrayal of Monica was impactful enough. As she discussed on The Kelly Clarkson Show, saying goodbye to Monica was difficult, especially on the final day of shooting which was unforgettable due to smoke from a nearby fire. However, when it came time to film the last scene, she remembered the skies clearing and the sun shining – a touching farewell to a character who faced numerous hardships.

Brecken Merrill

In the “Yellowstone” series, Brecken Merrill, who is the youngest regular cast member, has skillfully portrayed his character’s growth from childhood to early teenage years. Known as Tate, the son of Monica and Kacey, he finds himself navigating a harsh, survival-of-the-fittest environment at a tender age, barely escaping numerous dangerous accidents. However, Tate manages to overcome these perilous situations admirably, leading to a peaceful life for him and his family on a small ranch in Montana, distancing themselves from the Dutton family’s history of violence and tragedy.

Before taking on the role of Tate, Merrill had limited acting background, with just two appearances on “This Is Us” portraying a younger Nicky Jr. Since then, he has been featured in the movie “Lifeline,” playing the youngest iteration of Steven Thomas (portrayed by Judah Lewis as an older teen and Josh Lewis as an adult). Additionally, Merrill has acted in the independent film “We All Got Up To Dance,” which is yet to be released.

Regardless of future events, Merrill appears to be thankful for the knowledge he acquired while working on “Yellowstone.” He expressed this sentiment to Entertainment Tonight, stating, “This is my calling… I’m really enjoying it … I feel incredibly fortunate to collaborate with such a talented group of actors.” It’s clear that the young performer intends to carry on acting, and his role as Tate undoubtedly provided him valuable practice for the future.

Jefferson White

In reality, Jefferson White, who became well-known for playing the role of hard-luck Dutton ranch hand Jimmy Hurdstrom, has not only produced but also acted, thereby increasing his fame in the industry. This versatile career path offers him numerous possibilities for his future in Hollywood.

Initially, White commenced his acting journey as an apprentice, securing minor roles in TV series like “The Americans” and “Elementary.” Later on, he appeared as Philip Jessup in the second season of “How to Get Away with Murder,” Cole Dunlavey in the short-lived “Manhattan,” and Sean O’Neal in “Chicago P.D.” On the silver screen, he portrayed Samuel in “God’s Country” and Dave in “Civil War.” Currently, White is a busy producer of short films, and he will soon take on the roles of both director and star in his debut feature film, titled “Caravan.

He consistently keeps a healthy gap between himself and his “Yellowstone” character, expressing to the San Francisco Gate that he wishes “Jimmy’s life stays just intriguing enough for TV, but not any more so than that […] I suppose I hope that he has a long, peaceful spring with his new fiancé and the kind of serene, tranquil life ahead of him.” Whether peace is in store for Jimmy or not remains to be seen if he becomes a recurring character in the upcoming spin-off set on the ranch he relocated to work on in “6666.

Jennifer Landon

Jennifer Landon hails from a lineage deeply rooted in acting, being the daughter of multi-talented actor-director Michael Landon. Despite her esteemed family background, she carved out her unique path in the competitive world of Hollywood as an accomplished actor. Prior to her role as Teeter, Landon made a name for herself in the soap opera sphere. She played Gwen Munson on “As the World Turns” (earning three Daytime Emmys for outstanding younger actress), Hillary Nelson on “Days of Our Lives,” and Heather Stevens on “The Young and the Restless.

Working in the soap operas aided Landon’s educational journey, eventually resulting in her appearing as a guest star on shows like “House,” “Chicago Med,” “The Resident,” and “The Orville.” She had recurring roles on “Banshee” as Lilith Bode, portrayed Sarah Allen during Seasons 2 and 3 of “FBI: Most Wanted,” and appeared frequently on “Animal Kingdom” as Amy Wheeler.

As a devoted admirer, I can’t help but share the exciting possibility that Landon could resurface as Teeter in the upcoming “6666” spin-off from “Yellowstone”. If she decides to reprise her role, we can anticipate the return of her uniquely eccentric accent. Speaking with TV Fanatic, she described her character’s peculiar way of speaking as “so weird”, yet she found it effortless. I think this is a testament to how well-suited she was for the part, and I always managed to grasp what she meant.

Gil Birmingham

Regardless of the Twilight series, Gil Birmingham is recognized by millennials as Billy Black, Jacob Black’s (Taylor Lautner) father. However, his acting career predates this recognition, with roots tracing back to the 1980s. He starred as Oz in the medical drama “Body & Soul,” played Pete in two direct-to-VHS reboots of “Gentle Ben,” and depicted an older Dog Star in the miniseries “Into the West.” Post the popularity surge from Twilight, he took on the role of Red Knee in 2013’s The Lone Ranger, a character that stood in stark contrast to his portrayal of One Horn in the 2003 Lone Ranger TV movie.

In various television series, Birmingham has made appearances. He played roles in “Banshee,” “House of Cards,” and “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” where he was Virgil. He often portrayed detectives in three cable and streaming dramas: Detective Pearce in “Animal Kingdom,” Detective Bill Taba in “Under the Banner of Heaven,” and Sheriff Dale Bishop in “Siren.” Additionally, he recurred as Navy Captain Steven Douglas in “NCIS: Los Angeles” and more recently lent his voice to Forge in “X-Men ’97.

In the upcoming chapters of Thomas Rainwater’s life, there’s much to look forward to, and Birmingham felt satisfied with the conclusion of his story on “Yellowstone.” He expressed this to ScreenRant, saying, “It was a compelling resolution, extremely impactful.

Forrie J. Smith

Forrie J. Smith is primarily recognized as an experienced actor, particularly noted for his roles in numerous Westerns. His career culminated with his significant part as Lloyd Pierce, the taciturn and insightful aide to John Dutton, in the series. His acting credits include minor roles in “Tombstone” as Pony Deal and Sammy in “Transamerica.” Additionally, he has appeared in various Western productions, ranging from large-scale to small-scale ones. As a seasoned rodeo rider and horse trainer since his youth, Smith is renowned for his stunt work, having stood in for actors in “Rambo III,” “Aces: Iron Eagles III,” and “Lightning Jack.

Despite having a long-established career in Hollywood, Smith once confessed that he used to experience tremendous self-imposed pressure during his early acting days as he strived to secure a position in the industry. However, incorporating techniques from roping and riding into his acting work has proven beneficial for him. In an interview with Cowboys & Indians Magazine, he explained, “Before I ride or compete in rodeos, I take deep breaths to calm down. I began using some of these relaxation methods before my auditions as well.

Denim Richards

From a greenhorn on the Dutton ranch, Colby Mayfair, portrayed by Denim Richards, left an indelible mark on me. Amidst the more seasoned hands, Colby gradually earned respect and affection from his peers. Sharing a poignant romance with Teeter, our bond was cut short by Colby’s untimely demise while saving Carter (Finn Little) from a rampaging bronco. Stricken in the chest by the horse, he passed away, leaving a heartbroken Teeter to depart the Dutton household and seek employment under Travis Wheatley (Taylor Sheridan) in Texas.

In the real world, Richard’s resume may be brief, but it’s brimming with intriguing positions. He has made appearances on various reality and talk shows as a supporting actor and singer. His breakthrough role was as Colby, but his most significant part—which he filmed concurrently with “Yellowstone”—came in the series “Good Trouble,” where he portrayed Elijah Adrieux. He also starred as Dante Hill in the direct-to-streaming modern Western film series “Country/Line” and took the lead in Netflix’s “Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher” as Jack Brown. He runs his own production company, Lazer Focus Productions, LLC, and has founded a nonprofit organization called Youth Empowering Success (YES), which assists underprivileged youth in developing their skills in public speaking, filmmaking, and other areas.

Moses Brings Plenty

Mo Brings Plenty kick-started his acting journey with a string of minor roles, one of which was portraying Chief Crazy Horse in an episode titled “Custer’s Last Stand” from the series “American Experience.” He later appeared regularly on “Hell on Wheels,” played Sitting Bull in “The American West,” and Ottawa Jones in “The Good Lord Bird.” In feature films, he starred as Shep in “Jurassic World: Dominion” and was part of the cast for the groundbreaking film “Rez Bomb,” which was the first to be shot entirely on tribal lands.

Beyond portraying Mo in “Yellowstone”, he also took on the role of the show’s Cultural Liaison for Native American Affairs. This position enabled Plenty to maintain the accuracy of the costumes, rituals, and character actions of the Native characters. He carries out similar responsibilities in the spin-off, “1923”. As for whether Plenty will continue his consulting work for the series remains uncertain. However, now that his duties on “Yellowstone” have ended, he’s set to star in “Topper”, a 2025 film about a fallen stand-up comic with a drinking problem.

Isabel May

While some “Yellowstone” viewers may not recognize Isabel May as Elsa Dutton, those who watch the prequels “1883” and “1923” know that she is the first person buried on the Dutton land and died there. Her character evolves from an innocent to a warrior, eventually dealing with the reality of death itself. She narrates both prequels and provides voiceover during the finale of “Yellowstone,” making her a significant figure in the “Yellowstone” universe. Since her death in 1883, Elsa has been watching over the Dutton family, who live on their Montana land, which will eventually be returned to Thomas Rainwater’s tribe as prophesied.

Before linking up with the Yellowstone crew, I had carved out a sturdy path for myself in the acting world as a teen, gracing nine episodes as Veronica on Young Sheldon, sharing director duties on Alexa and Katie, and playing Leighton in I Want You Back. Post-Elsa, I’ve got an exciting lineup of new ventures, one of them being the latest Scream sequel where I’ll step into the shoes of Neve Campbell’s daughter, Sidney Prescott’s character. That’s a daring decision that the fearless Elsa would definitely give a thumbs up to.

2025-04-20 14:32