While Sheridan has been a Hollywood regular (both writing and acting) since the mid-90s, the his cowboy persona is no mere act—he's the real deal. Sheridan spent his early years living on a ranch with his family until they lost the property in the early 1990s.
After spending some time in New York and LA, Sheridan realized that rural living was the life for him and moved to Utah before ultimately relocating back to Texas. He and his wife, Nicole, actually run their own ranch now, which seems like a lot of work, considering his multiple hit TV shows!
Slim Pickens wasn't your typical hero, but his real-life cowboy background added a layer of authenticity to his villainous roles. Pickens managed his own ranch and continued to participate in rodeo events, maintaining his cowboy roots until his death in 1983.
Before finding success in acting, he was a rodeo performer, showcasing his expertise in shows across the country. While audiences often saw him as the bad guy in films like Blazing Saddles, Pickens brought a unique humor to his characters.
Josh Brolin's portrayal of tough characters often benefits from his real-life connection to ranch life. Raised on a ranch in California, Brolin continues to raise horses there, demonstrating a lifelong passion for cowboys. This experience with animals and the land adds depth to his performances, particularly in action roles like No Country for Old Men.
While Brolin may not be a traditional cowboy hero, his background provides a foundation of understanding that allows him to portray characters who navigate the complexities of the modern West.
Ben Johnson wasn't just acting the part of a cowboy – he lived it. Before becoming a Hollywood stuntman and later a respected actor, Johnson established himself as a rodeo champion. His talent for taming bucking broncos and roping steers translated well to the silver screen, where he performed many of his own stunts.
Johnson's big break came with John Ford's Wagon Master (1950), and he went on to star in Shane (1953), The Wild Bunch (1969), and won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in The Last Picture Show (1971). Off-screen, Johnson remained deeply connected to his cowboy roots, managing his own ranch and competing in rodeos.
If you're familiar with his Yellowstone character, you're probably not surprised to learn that Ryan Bingham is a musician in real life. While he may have gotten his start playing bars and other small venues, his music is no joke—at this point, he's managed to nab both an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Critics' Choice Award for his hit songs.
However, he's also a cowboy at heart. In his younger years before his music career, Bingham was actually a part of the New Mexico rodeo circuit and made a name for himself riding bulls. So he's a decorated musician, an actor, and a bull rider? Is there anything this guy can't do?
Tom Mix wasn't just a movie cowboy; he was a rodeo superstar in real life. His daring stunts and undeniable charisma on the rodeo circuit translated perfectly to the silent film era. Mix became a household name in the 1920s, known for performing his own death-defying stunts on horseback.
Beyond the silver screen, Mix owned a sprawling ranch in Arizona where he raised cattle and even created his own brand, "The Tom Mix Ranch," to promote his cowboy persona.
Forrie J. Smith has been in the entertainment industry for years, but that doesn't mean he's not a real-life cowboy as well! In addition to being involved with rodeo work himself, he comes from a long line of country folks, including his mother, father, and grandfather—all of whom were barrel racers themselves.
Before Yellowstone, Smith worked as a stuntman in Hollywood for over 20 years. So, while he's no stranger to show business in general, the show marks his first appearance as a series actor of any kind. Something tells us he's probably got some more great cowboy roles in his future!
Buck Jones wasn't just comfortable in front of the camera; he was a champion bronc rider. He served in the U.S. Army during the Philippine-American War and later worked as a cowboy and rodeo rider. His rodeo skills, particularly his mastery of taming wild horses, translated well to the silent film era. Jones' film career spanned decades, solidifying his status as a western icon.
Beyond acting, his passion for the cowboy life continued. He owned a large cattle ranch in California and even established his own rodeo company, showcasing his skills and passion for the Wild West tradition.
There aren't many cast members on Yellowstone who are more true-to-life cowboys than Jake Ream. In fact, Ream first met Taylor Sheridan when Sheridan hit him up about buying a horse. If you've got a horse for sale, you're basically more cowboy than 99% of the country!
Before his big Hollywood debut, Ream founded the company Ream Performance Horses, which he continues to run. His business specializes in training cutting horses, which are used for herding cattle and other livestock on ranches. It doesn't get much more authentic than that!
Gene Autry's story embodies the classic singing cowboy. Growing up in Oklahoma, Autry's early life included working on ranches, giving him firsthand experience with the cowboy lifestyle. His signature yodeling talent, combined with his charm, caught the attention of radio stations in the 1920s.
This success paved the way for a film career where Autry's musical westerns, like Tumbling Tumbleweeds, dominated the box office. He inspired a generation of young fans with his music and cowboy heroics, and even owned several ranches and was involved in rodeo events.
While John Wayne became synonymous with the cowboy hero on film, his background differed from many of his co-stars. Raised in California, Wayne's early experiences were on movie sets, not on ranches. However, his dedication to his craft led him to become a highly skilled horseman. Wayne practiced roping and riding extensively, ensuring his portrayals felt believable.
His breakout role came in John Ford's Stagecoach (1939), and he became a Hollywood legend with films like True Grit (1969), for which he won an Oscar, The Searchers (1956), and Rio Bravo (1959). Wayne owned a sprawling ranch in Arizona where he raised cattle and horses, living the cowboy life he often portrayed on screen.
Rex Linn, known for his role as "Cutler" in the modern western series Yellowstone brings a unique blend of acting experience and real-life cowboy skills to the screen. Before becoming an actor, Linn spent years working on ranches in Oklahoma, where he honed his expertise in cattle wrangling and horsemanship.
He appeared in Western-themed films like Wyatt Earp (1994) and Django Unchained (2012). Linn's connection to the cowboy lifestyle is evident in his personal life, where he enjoys riding horses and participating in rodeo events.
Clint Eastwood, a legendary actor and filmmaker, is synonymous with Westerns and the rugged cowboy lifestyle. Off-screen, Eastwood has owned ranches in California, where he has enjoyed riding horses and managing his land, reflecting his on-screen personas.
Eastwood rose to fame in the 1960s with "spaghetti westerns" like The Man with No Name trilogy. These films showcased his stoic persona and riding prowess, further solidifying his image as a tough-as-nails gunslinger.
Like many of the actors playing ranch hands on the show, is much more of a cowboy than he is a high-profile Hollywood actor. In fact, before he was cast in Yellowstone, Lee only had one previous acting credit as a wagon driver in Matthew McConaughey’s movie Free State of Jones.
When he was growing up in Louisiana, Lee spent a lot of time in the rodeo scene as a bull rider and a trick rider on horses. Additionally, he's had some work as a stuntman on numerous TV shows and movies, including NCIS and Underground.
Hoot Gibson spent his early years working as a ranch hand, rodeo champion, and trick rider before entering the film industry.. His natural horsemanship and rugged good looks led him to Hollywood, where he became a silent film star.
Gibson's portrayal of characters like The Lone Star Ranger established him as a prominent figure in westerns. His cultural background and real-life experiences brought depth and authenticity to his characters.
James Landry Hebert seems like a complete natural in front of a camera playing a cowboy, and there are two reasons for that. For one, he has official theater training, so it's no surprise that he can act up a storm. However, he's also a real-life cowboy, which can't hurt when you have to play one on TV!
After being orphaned at an early age and adopted by a family on an Indian reservation, Hebert grew up in the world of horse wrangling, which is just as difficult as it sounds! While he owns his own ranch, he's also nabbing high-profile roles with appearances in hits like Stranger Things and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
Bill Elliott wasn't just playing a cowboy; he was a champion calf roper in his own right. His rodeo expertise, particularly his mastery of rope tricks, made him a natural fit for Hollywood westerns. Elliott transitioned from rodeo arenas to movie sets in the 1930s, showcasing his roping skills and horsemanship on screen.
His passion for the cowboy life extended beyond acting, as he owned a ranch in California and continued competing in rodeos while filming westerns. Elliott's career spanned several decades, and he remained a beloved Western hero until his death in 1965.
While Luke Perry was best known for his role as Dylan McKay in "Beverly Hills, 90210," his upbringing was far from glamorous. Raised on a farm in Ohio, Perry was exposed to the realities of farm life from a young age. His connection to the land and animals continued even after his acting career took off.
Perry remained actively involved in raising cattle on his ranch, demonstrating a genuine passion for a lifestyle that differed greatly from his Hollywood persona.
Roy Rogers, also known as the "King of the Cowboys," didn't just play the part; he lived it. Raised on ranches in California and Oklahoma, Rogers' early life was filled with experiences that would later define his career. He even won yodeling contests before becoming a movie and singing star.
Known for his trusty horse Trigger and his musical talents, Rogers became a cultural icon. Off-screen, he owned Double R Brand Ranch with third wife and co-star Dale Evans.
In real life, Alex Fine wasn't raised in the cowboy lifestyle like many of Yellowstone's real-life cowboys were. Instead, he came to it later in life. Fine primarily works as a fitness trainer in Hollywood and first got interested in bull riding when a client suggested the sport to him.
Since then, he's caught the rodeo bug and continues to ride bulls to this day. When he's not acting or wrangling bucking broncos, Fine is married to singer-songwriter Cassie Ventura. The two got married in 2019 and currently have two children together.
