Alert – Yellowstone cast look VERY different in their early roles (and there’s even an Oscar winner in their midst)

Part two of the fifth and final season of Yellowstone finally hit screens this weekend, with fans left shocked as Kevin Costner’s lead character John Dutton bowed out of the neo-Western drama series in brutal fashion.

The Paramount juggernaut, which follows the trials and tribulations of the Dutton family at the largest ranch in Montana, is officially coming to an end after its current run after dazzling audiences for over six years.

During its six-year run, the show has dominated screens, propelling the cast to even bigger stardom and making them household names on America’s favourite TV show.

But before their Yellowstone success, the stars of the show looked worlds away from their current characters as they cut their acting teeth in earlier roles.

At least two have acted in Oscar nominated films, while one of the more low-key cast members is an Academy Award Winner. 

Star of the show Kelly Reilly may have perfected her Montana accent, but she was born in London and got her first role on the small screen in a BBC children’s drama series with EastEnders heartthrob Paul Nicholls. 

As Yellowstone’s latest offering gets everyone talking, takes a look at how the cast started out in showbiz.

Before their Yellowstone success, the stars of the show looked worlds away from their current characters as they cut their acting teeth in earlier roles

Kelly Reilly – Beth Dutton

Kelly has enthralled audiences playing the only daughter of Costner’s character Beth Dutton. 

Born and raised in Chessington, London, Kelly attended Tolworth Girls’ School in Kingston, where she studied drama for GCSE under the watchful eye of her hospital receptionist mother and police officer father.

Before discovering her talent for acting, she loved working with horses and thought she’d have a future in equestrianism.

The actress, now 47, first hit TV screens in 1995, starting her career in BBC Children’s drama series The Biz alongside former EastEnders star Paul Nicholls.   

She also landed a role in 1995’s Prime Suspect 4: Inner Circle after getting her foot in the door by writing to the producers of the drama series.

As well as her roles in TV, Kelly managed to build up a name for herself in the theatre world, working with Terry Johnson in four productions: Elton John’s Glasses (1997), The London Cuckolds (1998), The Graduate (2000) and Piano/Forte (2006).

At age 26, Kelly received a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award nomination in 2004, making her the youngest actor to receive such an honor after starring in After Miss Julie, a Michael Grandage production at the Donmar Warehouse in London’s West End in 2003.

Kelly has enthralled audiences playing the only daughter of Costner’s character Beth Dutton

The English actress, 47, first started her career in BBC Children’s drama series The Biz in 1995, starring alongside former EastEnders star Paul Nicholls

Kelly portrayed Laura in The Biz alongside Paul Nicholls as Tini

Kelly pictured with her Last Orders co-star JJ Feild, whom she reportedly dated in the early 2000s

She went on to play the role of Caroline Bingley in 2005’s Pride And Prejudice alongside Keira Knightley.  

Her first leading role came in the 2008 horror film Eden Lake, starring alongside Hollywood heavyweight Michael Fassbender as a young couple terrorised by a group of murderous teenagers on a weekend away, earning herself a Best Actress nomination at the British Independent Film Awards

The following year, Kelly continued to keep her star profile alive with a role on prime-time British series Above Suspicion, playing a rookie detective determined to prove herself in the male-dominated police department.

Hollywood soon beckoned for Kelly who starred in both 2009’s Sherlock Holmes and the 2011 sequel A Game of Shadows, playing Mary Watson.

Leading lady: Hollywood soon beckoned for Kelly who starred in both 2009’s Sherlock Holmes and the 2011 sequel A Game of Shadows, playing Mary Watson (pictured with co-star Jude Law) 

Stellar work: At age 26, Kelly received a Laurence Olivier Theatre Award nomination in 2004, making her the youngest actor to receive such an honor after starring in After Miss Julie in London’s West End in 2003 (pictured with co-star Richard Coyle)

Having counted Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as co-stars, she then went on to work with Vince Vaughn, playing his wife Jordan Semyon in the critically acclaimed second season of the television series True Detective.

Since 2018 she has seen her star continue to rise with her turn in Yellowstone, a Paramount Network drama that debuted on 20 June 2018. Reilly plays Beth Dutton, daughter to John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner. Reilly’s and Costner’s characters are constantly at war with several outside parties who want to gain control of the Duttons’ family land.

In 2012 Kelly met financier Kyle Baugher and the couple were engaged and married in the same year with an intimate ceremony in Somerset, England.

The couple – who have no children – currently live in New York City, with Kelly telling The Guardian in 2014: ‘England is always home, but I have made my life here. I suffered terrible homesickness at first—for English people, pubs, humor, all my family and friends—but I love New York, it’s my favorite city.’

Cole Hauser – Rip Wheeler 

Cole has portrayed Rip Wheeler, the husband of Beth Dutton, since the series first premiered in 2018. 

Rip is a ranch hand who rises to become John’s thug enforcer – and who commits multiple murders in the course of his work.

As the show progresses, Rip strikes up a romance with John’s daughter Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly), and the two eventually get married. 

However, longtime fans will recognise him from his debut role in 1992 American drama School Ties, in which he starred alongside an A-list cast including Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Brendan Fraser and Matt Damon.

Hauser, who is married to Sweet Valley High actress Cynthia Daniel, went on to star in Richard Linklater’s classic Dazed and Confused in 1993, playing the role of Benny O’Donnell.

In another link to Hollywood big hitters Ben, Casey and Matt, Casey also joined them for the Oscar-winning 1997 film Good Will Hunting. 

In 2013, Cole appeared as Special Agent Roma in Olympus Has Fallen, while he portrayed Colonel Stevens in 2014’s Trascendence.

Cole having other notable role in films including Tigerland, White Oleander, Hart’s War, Tears of the Sun and Too Fast, Too Furious. 

Cole has portrayed Rip Wheeler, the husband of Beth Dutton, since the series first premiered in 2018

Longtime fans will recognise him from his role in 1992 American drama School Ties [pictured second right] , in which he starred alongside an A-list cast including Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, Brendan Fraser and Matt Damon

In another link to Hollywood big hitters Ben, Casey and Matt, Casey also joined them for the Oscar-winning 1997 film Good Will Hunting

Cole Hauser and his wife Cynthia Daniel attend the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards 

Luke Grimes – Kaycee Dutton

Luke Grimes, 40, plays Kayce Dutton, the son of Costner’s John Dutton, owner of the massive Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, the largest cattle ranch in the United States.

The Ohio native got his start in acting world after moving to New York City to study acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. 

Before landing this big role, Luke made an appearance in 2006’s All The Boys Love Mandy Lane, in which he played Jake. 

He also featured as Ryan Lafferty in ABC series Brothers & Sisters alongside Sally Field while he appeared in six episodes of True Blood as vampire James Kent, before being replaced by Nathan Parsons. 

One of Luke’s most notable roles was starring as Christian Grey’s brother Elliot in the Fifty Shades Of Grey trilogy. 

Last month, he welcomed his first child with model wife Bianca Rodrigues Grimes. While the actor prefers to keep his personal life private, he did provide a rare insight into his marriage last year.

‘I just wanted to make it very clear,’ he told USA Today in July 2023.

‘I’m a very married person and I love my wife to death,’ he continued. ‘We’ll be together forever.’

He also shared the sweet nickname that his wife has for him as he explained that Bianca calls him ‘anjo,’ the Portuguese word for ‘angel.’

‘There’s no way I earn it,’ he added. ‘I do my best. But I’m a flawed, big ol’ weird a** man.’

He continued: ‘She’s the real angel here.’

Luke, who lives in Montana where the show is filmed, has also turned his hand to country music, releasing his hit country tune No Horse To Ride in 2022; his songs Hold On and Oh Ohio were released in 2023.

Luke Grimes [right], 40, plays Kayce Dutton, the son of Costner’s John Dutton [left], owner of the massive Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, the largest cattle ranch in the United States

Before landing this big role, Luke featured as Ryan Lafferty in ABC series Brothers & Sisters alongside Sally Field

Wes Bentley – Jamie Dutton

Wes plays Jamie Dutton, the adopted son of Costner’s John Dutton III, in the series. 

Wes rocketed to fame after starring as Kevin Spacey’s pot-dealing neighbor Ricky Fitts in American Beauty in 1999.

The breakout role garnered him much praise and numerous awards by the National Board of Review in 1999.

He also won the Chicago Film Critics Association Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2000.

But he struggled through a series of low budget movies in the coming years until he hit rock bottom in the late noughties, which led to a drug addiction. 

The actor considered becoming a drug dealer or a DJ as he tried to shake off his heroin addiction and said that Robert Downey’s Jr’s openness about his own struggles helped him to get clean.

He told the New York Times: ‘The regrets are always going to be there. He was arrested in 2008 and pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and using a counterfeit $100 bill.

Bentley said when he was working on the 2009 crime thriller ‘Dolan’s Cadillac’ he began to question his acting career.

He said: ‘This is probably my last acting job… I’m going to be a drug dealer and a DJ.’

A friend in the industry took him to ’12-step meetings’ to help with his addictions which helped him get sober, which he has been since 2009.

Bentley also credited Downey Jr.’s openness about his drug addiction with helping him get clean and sober himself.

He opened up to Page Six about his efforts to kick his life-threatening addiction while at the season five Yellowstone premiere in New York City.

He said: ‘I was in the deepest throes of my addiction and in the worst place and at death’s door, I guess, or at risk of it, and I saw him be so bold and brave and open and it saved me.

‘So I thought if I do that too, I can maybe pass that on to somebody else.’ 

Downey Jr, 57, was arrested several times on drug charges and sentenced to time behind bars as he combatted his addiction.

‘I never had money before,’ he explained, ‘So there was a lot of combination of things I wasn’t prepared for.’

‘I also knew as an actor that I wasn’t going to be really ready to do good roles until in my 30s and 40s.

‘So I didn’t really want it to happen like that too early. I tried to go with it and hang with it, but I wasn’t ready.’

After rebuilding his career, Wes appeared in 2010’s two-man play Venus Is Fur and also starred in American Horror Story. 

Other notable roles for the actor included playing Seneca Crane in 2012’s Hunger Games, while he also featured as Doyle in Intersteller back in 2014.  

Wes plays Jamie Dutton, the adopted son of Costner’s John Dutton III, in the series

Wes rocketed to fame after starring as Kevin Spacey’s pot-dealing neighbor Ricky Fitts in American Beauty in 1999

Ryan Bingham – Walker

Ryan Bingham plays Walker, a fellow ranch hand who is a musician and former convict. He was originally a recurring character in the first three seasons, before being bumped up to series regular status in season four. 

The hunk is a crossover musician/actor, who is perhaps known more for his music than his on screen roles, having made six studio albums and one live album.

Ryan starred in acclaimed 2009 movie Crazy Heart with Jeff Bridges and went on to win a Best Original Song Oscar for The Weary Kind, which was featured in the film.

While music is his main passion, Ryan has also appeared in Jack & Ryan, A Country Called Home and Hostiles.

Bingham is married to his Yellowstone co-star Hassie Harrison, who plays barrel racer Laramie – and is also his on-screen love interest. 

The actors tied the knot in a ‘cowboy black tie’ wedding in Texas earlier this year. 

Bingham performed an unreleased song he penned in tribute to Harrison, and asked her to join him in singing it. 

Harrison was previously in a relationship with actor Austin Nichols, while Bingham shares three children with ex-wife Anna Axster, to whom he was married from 2009 to 2021.

Ryan portrays rebellious ranch-hand Walker [right] in the hit TV series

Ryan starred in acclaimed 2009 movie Crazy Heart with Jeff Bridges and went on to win a Best Original Song Oscar for The Weary Kind, which was featured in the film.

Bingham and Harrison play a couple on the hit series Yellowstone. He plays ranch hand Walker and she stars as barrel racer Laramie

Jefferson White – Jimmy

Jefferson portrays professional thief and drug cook turned ranch hand Jimmy Hurdstrom on the Paramount show. 

The actor made his TV debut in 2014’s The Americans, with Jefferson going on to appear as Gary Hinman in TV series Aquarius between 2015-16. 

Aside from Yellowstone, one of Jefferson’s most notable roles was as Sean O’Neil on Chicago P.D. on NBC, making his debut on the show in 2022. 

Other roles include How to Get Away with Murder. Elementary, Blue Bloods and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Jefferson portrays professional thief and drug cook turned ranch hand Jimmy Hurdstrom [third right] on the Paramount show  

The actor made his TV debut in 2014’s The Americans, with Jefferson going on to appear as Gary Hinman in TV series Aquarius between 2015-16 [pictured]

Ian Bohen – Ryan

Ian started out as recurring cast member, cowboy Ryan, at the start of the series before joining the main cast in season four.

However, Ian’s career began long before the show, with the actor’s most notable role being Peter Hale in MTV’s Teen Wolf, which he starred in between 2011-17. 

After making his acting debut in Todd Field’s 1993 short film Delivering, he went on to make an appearance as Young Earp in the 1994 Oscar-nominated film Wyatt Earp, in which his Yellowstone co-star Kevin Costner portrayed the older Earp. 

In 1996, he played Denny in coming-of-age movie Boy Meets World.

While fans will also recognise him in his later role as Roy Hazelitt in Mad Men.

Ian started out as recurring cast member, cowboy Ryan, at the start of the series before joining the main cast in season four

He went on to make an appearance as Young Earp in the 1994 Oscar-nominated film Wyatt Earp, in which his Yellowstone co-star Kevin Costner portrayed the older Earp

In 1996, he played Denny in coming-of-age movie Boy Meets World.