All 8 Yellowstone Actors Who Have Appeared in Taylor Sheridan’s Movies
The Sheridan Universe: Where Film Meets Frontier
Before Yellowstone became a television juggernaut, Taylor Sheridan had already carved out a name for himself in Hollywood through his gritty, morally complex films like Sicario, Hell or High Water, and Wind River.
His projects — whether on the plains of Montana or the deserts of Texas — share not only a signature tone of realism and rugged beauty, but often the same actors. Sheridan is known for his loyalty to performers who understand his storytelling style, and many of his Yellowstone cast members first appeared in his films before joining his TV empire.
Here’s a look at eight actors from Yellowstone who also appeared in Taylor Sheridan’s movies — and how those roles helped shape the cinematic world he’s built.
1. Taylor Sheridan — Hell or High Water
Yes, the man himself. Before he became Hollywood’s go-to storyteller for modern Westerns, Sheridan was an actor. Fans of Sons of Anarchy may remember him as Deputy David Hale, but he also appeared briefly as a cowboy in Hell or High Water (2016), the Oscar-nominated crime drama he wrote and directed.
He later appeared in Yellowstone as Travis Wheatley, a charismatic horse trainer who works closely with the Duttons. Sheridan has also acted in his prequel 1883 and in Special Ops: Lioness, though these days he’s far more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it.
2. Buck Taylor — Hell or High Water
Western veteran Buck Taylor, best known for Gunsmoke, played the “Old Man” in Hell or High Water. His brief but memorable role reminded audiences why Taylor is one of the genre’s most authentic figures.
Sheridan later cast him in Yellowstone as Emmett Walsh, an old rancher and member of the Montana Stock Growers Association. Emmett’s peaceful passing on the trail in Season 5 was one of the show’s most poignant moments — a true cowboy’s farewell.
3. Martin Sensmeier — Wind River
In Sheridan’s 2017 thriller Wind River, Martin Sensmeier delivered a heartfelt performance as Chip Hanson, the grieving brother of the murdered Indigenous woman at the film’s center.
Sheridan clearly saw potential in him — Sensmeier later joined Yellowstone as Martin, Monica Dutton’s physical therapist and brief love interest. He then appeared again in 1883 as Sam, a Comanche warrior who captures the heart of Elsa Dutton (Isabel May).
4. Ian Bohen — Wind River and Sicario: Day of the Soldado
Ian Bohen, who plays ranch hand Ryan on Yellowstone, first worked with Sheridan in Wind River as Evan, one of the deputies caught up in the deadly investigation.
He returned in Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018), which Sheridan wrote, as Carson Willis, a Marine sniper tangled in the cartel conflict. His collaborations with Sheridan led to his Yellowstone promotion from recurring role to series regular in later seasons.
5. Gil Birmingham — Hell or High Water and Wind River
Few actors embody Sheridan’s world better than Gil Birmingham. He starred alongside Jeff Bridges in Hell or High Water as Texas Ranger Alberto Parker, and a year later gave a devastating performance as Martin Hanson, the grieving father in Wind River.
In Yellowstone, Birmingham plays Chief Thomas Rainwater, the proud and strategic leader of the Broken Rock Reservation — often both an adversary and ally to John Dutton (Kevin Costner). His collaborations with Sheridan remain some of his finest work.
6. Kelsey Asbille — Wind River
Before playing Monica Dutton, Kayce’s wife and moral compass on Yellowstone, Kelsey Asbille starred in Wind River as Natalie Hanson, the young Indigenous woman whose tragic death drives the film’s haunting story.
Though her screen time was brief, Asbille’s performance left a lasting impression — and it’s easy to see why Sheridan brought her back for his biggest television project to date.
7. James Jordan — Wind River
A familiar face in Sheridan’s world, James Jordan has appeared in nearly every series the creator has produced — from 1883 and Mayor of Kingstown to Lioness and Landman.
His journey began with Wind River, where he played Pete Mickens, the film’s central villain. The brutal role showcased his intensity, paving the way for his recurring part in Yellowstone as Steve Hendon, a no-nonsense livestock agent who often assists Kayce and the Duttons.
8. Hugh Dillon — Wind River
Actor and musician Hugh Dillon, who co-created Mayor of Kingstown with Sheridan, also appeared in Wind River as Curtis, a security supervisor linked to the crime at the film’s core.
On Yellowstone, Dillon played Sheriff Donnie Haskell, a morally murky lawman whose alliances often shift with the wind. His deep creative relationship with Sheridan has made him one of the key figures in the broader Yellowstone franchise.
The Ties That Bind Sheridan’s World
From the Texas plains of Hell or High Water to the frozen landscapes of Wind River, Taylor Sheridan’s films laid the foundation for the storytelling empire he built on television. His casting choices reveal a loyalty to actors who share his vision — authentic, grounded performers who can inhabit the grit and grace of the modern American frontier.
It’s that consistency — of tone, talent, and trust — that makes the Sheridan-verse feel so real, no matter the medium.