Yellowstone Cast and Character Guide (2024)

Yellowstone is a neo-Western drama television series that was created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson. Taylor Sheridan makes a guest appearance in eight episodes as cowboy, Travis Wheatley.

The series centers around the Dutton family, owners of the largest ranch in Montana, the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, commonly called "the Yellowstone" who defend their property against constant attacks by land developers, a Native American reservation, and America's first National Park.

It was announced that the fifth season would be its last and would be released in two parts. The first part of the fifth season premiered in November 2022 and the second part is expected to premiere in November 2023. Yellowstone will be followed by a sequel series starring Matthew McConaughey. Here is what you need to know about the cast and characters of Yellowstone.

Kevin Costner as John Dutton lll

Kevin Costner stars as John Dutton lll, a sixth-generation homesteader and devoted father who controls the largest contiguous ranch in the United States. Josh Lucas portrays a young John Dutton in the series.

John Dutton was married to Evelyn, who is buried on the Yellowstone Ranch and the two had four children, three sons and a daughter. John operates in a corrupt world where politicians are compromised by influential oil and lumber corporations. Before his father, John Dutton ll, died of cancer, he urged him to never give up the ranch to anyone under any circumstances.

Kevin Costner received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination and a Golden Globe Award for starring as John Dutton in the Yellowstone series. Costner is also known for his roles in The Body Guard, Dances With Wolves, The Guardian, Hidden Figures, and The Highwaymen.

Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton

Kelly Reilly portrays Bethany "Beth" Dutton-Wheeler, as the fiercely loyal daughter of John and Evelyn Dutton. The cutthroat businesswoman will do anything to protect her family's land and reputation.

Beth lives with the guilt following an accident during a horse ride, that left Beth's mother dying from the injury, and accuses Beth of being to blame. Later in her teen years, Beth reaches out to Jamie to help her with an unexpected pregnancy however, Jamie's help leads to shape their tense relationship.

Related: Yellowstone: Why Rip Wheeler Is the Most Interesting Character

Nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for her performance in After Miss Julie, Kelly Reilly is also known for her roles in Sherlock Holmes, Flight, Calvary, Pride and Prejudice, and Eden Lake.

Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler

Cole Hauser stars as Rip Wheeler, the long-time ranch foreman for the Dutton family ranch and Beth Dutton's husband. Rip considers the Duttons his family and is willing to do anything they ask of him. As an Orphan, Rip is found hiding in a barn covered in cuts and blood. After learning that he killed his abusive stepfather after he brutally murdered the rest of the family, John Dutton decides to take Rip in as a farmhand.

Cole Hauser is best known for his roles in School Ties, Dazed and Confused, Good Will Hunting, and 2 Fast 2 Furious.

Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton

Luke Grimes plays Kayce Dutton, John and Evelyn Dutton's son. John and Kayce have a complex and tense relationship and John begins to regret the emotional distance between them. Kayce served in the United States Navy as a Navy SEAL and while on a mission in Pakistan, he had to do unspeakable things to protect himself.

After returning home from the mission, Kayce lived on the Broken Rock Reservation with his wife Monica and their son Tate. Later in the series, Kayce, Monica, and Tate move to the Yellowstone ranch and John appoints Kayce as the new foreman of the ranch, causing tension between Kayce and Rip.

Luke Grimes is known for appearing as Ryan Lafferty in the family drama Brothers & Sisters. Grimes is also known for roles in American Sniper, True Blood, Fifty Shades of Grey, and Taken 2.

Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton

Wes Bentley portrays Jamie Dutton, considered the black sheep of the family and the adopted son of John and Evelyn Dutton. Jamie has a complex relationship with both John and Beth. When Beth and Jamie were teenagers, Jamie made a decision that affected Beth for the rest of her life.

After Jamie learns he was adopted, he confronts his birth father, Garrett Randall who spent nearly 30 years in prison for murdering his wife, Jamie's birth mother. Garrett claims he killed Jamie's mother to give Jamie a better life, that didn't include drugs.

Earning a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Supporting Actor, Wes Bentley is best known for starring as Ricky Fitts in American Beauty. Bentley is also known for his part in The Hunger Games, American Horror Story, Hotel, and Interstellar.

Kelsey Asbille as Monica Dutton

Kelsey Asbille stars as Monica Dutton, a Native American and lifelong resident of Broken Rock Indian Reservation. Monica's marriage to Kayce Dutton puts the couple in a difficult position between the Yellowstone Ranch and the Native Americans of Broken Rock Indian Reservation.

Monica worked as a faculty member at a Middle School and later ended up taking a job at Montana State University. After attempting to break up a fight at school, Monica suffers from a traumatic brain injury. Later while living on the Ranch, Monica's fears for the safety of her and Tate are heightened after she witnesses the aftermath of Beth's assault, learning what happens when you're involved in the Dutton family business.

Kelsey Asbille is known for her role in the Disney XD sitcom Pair of Kings. Asbille also had recurring roles in the television series One Tree Hill, Teen Wolf, and Fargo.

Brecken Merrill as Tate Dutton

Brecken Merrill plays Tate Dutton, the son of Monica and Kayce Dutton and John's grandson. Tate is the youngest member of the Dutton family and has been growing up on an Indian reservation. Tate endures more trauma than most characters during the series including abduction, killing a grown man in self-defense, and witnessing the loss of his baby brother.

Brecken Merrill's breakout role was portraying Tate Dutton in Yellowstone. Merrill is also known for his roles in This Is Us and Lifeline.

Gil Birmingham as Thomas Rainwater

Gil Birmingham portrays Tribal Chairman Thomas Rainwater, a wealthy casino mogul and the chief of the Broken Rock Reservation. Rainwater is the owner of the Painted Horse Casino with the desire to reclaim the land that his ancestors lost and take the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch.

Gil Birmingham is known for his portrayal of Billy Black in the Twilight franchise. Birmingham is also known for his roles in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Hell or High Water, House of Cards, and Animal Kingdom.

Jefferson White as Jimmy Hurdstrom

Jefferson White stars as Jimmy Hurdstrom, who was a professional thief who used to provide drugs for two drug dealers. Jimmy becomes a ranch hand at Yellowstone Ranch and is thrown into the world of cowboys, horses, and cattle.

While learning the ropes of working on the ranch, Jimmy finds a passion for rodeo, however, when he is severely injured in a competition, John makes Jimmy swear that there will never be any more rodeo for him. After going against his word to John, Jimmy is sent to another ranch with Travis Wheatley to learn how to be a cowboy.

Jefferson White first made his television debut on The Americans and later appeared in Blue Bloods, How to Get Away with Murder, Elementary, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Forrie J. Smith as Lloyd Pierce

Forrie J. Smith appears as Lloyd Pierce, the oldest and wisest ranch handler on the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Lloyd is one of the branded men which means he was given a second chance in life to work on the Dutton Ranch and received a brand on his chest as a reminder. In the Yellowstone series, Forrie J. Smith's son Forrest Wilder, portrays a young Lloyd.

Forrie J. Smith is a real-life cowboy and stuntman who began competing in the rodeo at age 8. Smith is known for his roles in 2 Guns, Hell or High Water, and Rambo lll.

Denim Richards as Colby Mayfield

Denim Richards stars as Colby Mayfield, a ranch hand who is pulled into the dangerous drama surrounding the Dutton Ranch. Teeter shows an affinity towards Colby and frequently flirts with him. Colby is first skeptical of Teeter's romantic advances.

In Season 3, Colby and Teeter go skinny-dipping and are attacked by Wade Morrow and his men. Teeter and Colby survive the attack and bond over the shared trauma, sharing a passionate kiss. Denim Richards has also appeared in Good Trouble and the Netflix film Chickasaw Rancher.

Jennifer Landon as Teeter

Jennifer Landon stars as Teeter, a Texan ranch hand hired on by Rip. Teeter spits, curses, and fights and is seen as one of the guys. After she and Colby are brutally attacked by Wade Morrow and his men, the ranch hands hunt down the Morrows and take their revenge. Teeter witnesses the execution and is required to receive the brand herself.

Teeter is later fired when John decides to let go of all the female ranch hands since their presence is provoking men to violence. Teeter approaches John and Rip, begs for her job back, and points out that her contributions to the ranch often outpaced the men, and she wears the Yellowstone brand. John rehires Teeter as a ranch hand.

Jennifer Landon is the daughter of actor Michael Landon and the half-sister of screenwriter Christopher B. Landon and director Michael Landon Jr. Staring as Gwen Norbeck Munson in the soap opera As the World Turns, Landon won three consecutive Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series.

Ryan Bingham as Walker

Ryan Bingham plays Walker, a cowboy and aspiring country singer who is hired as a ranch hand on the Yellowstone after Rip Wheeler learns Walker is a convicted felon. Walker is branded with the Yellowstone Brand to prove he is serious about the second chance he was given.

Later, Walker and Lloyd have a feud, mostly over liking the same woman, Laramie. Lloyd ends up smashing Walker's guitar. Walker doesn't only have a rift between him and Lloyd. A fight between Rip and Walker occurs when Walker attempts to get closer to Beth. Walker also later helps Beth face her fear of riding a horse again.

Ryan Bingham is an actor, singer, songwriter, and guitarist whose music spans multiple genres. Bingham is also known for his roles in Crazy Heart, Joe, and Hostiles.

Danny Huston as Dan Jenkins

Danny Huston portrays Dan Jenkins, a land developer for Paradise Valley who wants to build a casino near Yellowstone Dutton Ranch and is determined to destroy the Dutton Family. Dan aligns himself with Thomas Rainwater to conspire against the Dutton family with hopes of reclaiming Yellowstone Ranch and profiting from it. Jenkins is one of the primary antagonists and is later assassinated by a hired hitman from a rival business.

Nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead in his film Ivans Xtc, Danny Huston later received the Golden Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Constant Gardener. Huston also directed the films Mr. North, The Maddening, and The Last Photograph.

Finn Little as Carter

Finn Little stars as Carter, a young boy who has an upbringing much like Rip Wheeler. Carter and Beth meet outside a hospital, bonding over similar circumstances. Beth takes an instant liking to Carter and stays with him at the hospital while his father passes away.

Carter tends to commit petty crimes and Sheriff Donnie Haskell ends up arresting Carter for a misdemeanor. In an attempt to get Beth to help him, Carter tells the Sheriff that Beth is his guardian. Beth decides to help him and later Carter sees Rip and Beth as his adoptive parents.

Ian Bohen as Ryan

Ian Bohen portrays Ryan, a Yellowstone Ranch worker for John Dutton and a livestock agent for the Montana Livestock Association. Ryan's loyalty helps get him accepted on the Dutton Ranch, and he is branded in season 3.

Ian Bohen is best known for his role as Peter Hale in MTV's, Teen Wolf. Bohen has also appeared in Mad Men, Wind River, Little Women, and Young Hercules.

Wendy Moniz as Lynelle Perry

Wendy Moniz stars as Governor Lynelle Perry, a former Congresswoman and a love interest to John Dutton. After being Governor for many years, Lynelle became the Senator of Montana in season five with John Dutton as the new Governor. Lynelle and John's romantic relationship begins to fade away when Summer Higgins (Piper Perabo) comes into John's life.

Related: Kevin Costner's Best Performances, Ranked

Wendy Moniz is a television actress known for her role as Dinah Marler in the CBS soap opera Guiding Light. Moniz has also appeared in television series Nash Bridges, The Guardian, Betrayal, and House of Cards.

Piper Perabo as Summer Higgins

Piper Perabo portrays Summer Higgins, a fierce environmental activist from Portland leading a group called Free Earth that wants to bring down industrialized farming in Montana and is a love interest of John's. Summer is a vegan and was taught by her parents that consuming meat and products from animals is a sin.

Summer protests against the butchering of animals in Montana and is later arrested after protesting on the future airport site. After spending time in prison, Summer is released thanks to the newly elected Governor John Dutton, who pardoned Summer within his first week in office.

Piper Perabo made her debut acting in the comedy-drama, Coyote Ugly, where she starred as Violet Sanford, an aspiring songwriter. Piper is also known for her roles in The Prestige, Angel Has Fallen, and Covert Affairs.

Moses Brings Plenty as Mo

Moses Brings Plenty stars as Mo, the driver and enforcer of Thomas Rainwater who is also a member of the Tribal Police. When Mo was young, his mother was murdered by a group of men after she was stranded on the road in need of fuel while a young Mo was stuck in his car seat for 3 days until someone found him.

Moses Brings Plenty is a direct descendant of Brings Plenty, an Oglala Lakota warrior who fought in the Battle of Little Big Horn. The traditional name that was given to him as a young boy is Ta Sunke Wospapi, which means "catches his horse." Moses has made guest appearances in the films Hidalgo, Thunderheart, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Dave Annable as Lee Dutton

Dave Annable appears as Lee Dutton, the oldest child of John and Evelyn Dutton. Lee spent his entire life heavily involved with the operations of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch and was the right-hand man to John. During the season premiere, while attempting to recover stolen cattle, Monica's brother shoots Lee.

Dave Annable first made his acting debut in an episode on the NBC crime drama, Third Watch. Annable has also appeared in Brothers & Sisters, 666 Park Avenue, Heartbeat, and Special Ops: Lioness.