Although Yellowstone focuses primarily on Kevin Costner’s John Dutton and his children, the series crafted several fan-favorite characters

from outside of the main Dutton family. Each of Yellowstone’s iconic supporting characters thrives in large part thanks to the dynamic

performances that bring them to life. Counted among this group is one fan-favorite character whom Taylor Sheridan created with a very

 

 

specific actor in mind from the beginning. Not only did Sheridan snag the actor he envisioned in the role, but five seasons of television ended up proving him right

The role of Rip Wheeler was destined for Cole Hauser. Known at the time for his appearances in films like Good Will Hunting and Dazed and Confused, Hauser made his first appearance as Rip in Yellowstone’s pilot episode in 2018. He continued in the role for five seasons, starring in all fifty-three episodes of the hit neo-Western series. In a 2021 appearance on the Ryen Russillo Podcast (via CinemaBlend),

 

 

Hauser revealed the behind-the-scenes story that led to his casting in Yellowstone. Initially, the show’s co-creator, John Linson, contacted Hauser, asking him to audition for one of John Dutton’s three sons. Despite pressure from Linson and his agents, Hauser connected with a different character in the script. “The one that jumped off the page was Rip,” Hauser revealed, which was surprising given the character’s relatively limited role in the pilot, “this character is going to have something really good, I can just feel it.” The actor went on to explain that it was his character’s relationship with Beth Dutton that truly sold him on Rip. This was an astute observation on his part, as this would be the storyline that turned Rip into a fan-favorite over the years.

In a more recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter (via MovieWeb), Hauser expanded on the story, revealing that he later shared a phone call with Taylor Sheridan, who listened to his ideas about Rip Wheeler’s character. As the writing process for Yellowstone continued, Sheridan continued his talks with Hauser, slowly building the character of Rip around his personality and ideas. Parts of the character morphed and became clearer thanks to his input, resulting in the fan-favorite character that the world knows and loves today. By the time Sheridan was finished, there was really only one actor who could ever bring the character of Rip Wheeler to life.

Cole Hauser was instrumental in the construction of Rip Wheeler as a character, making him the only person Taylor Sheridan could ever cast in the role. This is a distinct honor for the actor that is exceedingly rare in Hollywood. Even Kevin Costner wasn’t the only actor in mind for John Dutton, with other leading men like Robert Redford and Josh Brolin considered for the role. But because of his strong opinions about the character and his immediate connection with Taylor Sheridan, Cole Hauser set himself up as the only person who could properly portray Rip Wheeler for five seasons of television. While the initial character from the pilot may not have been written for Hauser, the final version that appears in the series is all for him.