‘Yellowstone’ Hunks: Our 9 Favorite Cowboys, Ranked

Paramount’s Yellowstone has become one of the most talked-about shows on television —and while the storytelling alone is enough to keep people interested, the hunky actors that bring the story to life certainly don’t hurt. From Kevin Costner’s John Dutton, the serious and respected patriarch of the family, all the way down to Jefferson White as Jimmy Hurdstrom, the ranch hand who proved his loyalty and earned the respect of his Yellowstone peers, the actors on this show make it worth a watch.

What is Yellowstone about?

Yellowstone is a neo-western drama on Paramount starring Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly and Wes Bentley as the Dutton family, who own the largest ranch in Montana. The series takes us through their intricate family dynamic, the complexities of their relationships with one another, the complications that arise when it comes to land and border conflicts and much more. All the while, the storyline is intertwined with elements of romance and drama.

While the main Yellowstone cast that make up the Dutton family are iconic in their own right, you can’t overlook supporting characters and actors like Cole Hauser’s Rip Wheeler, John Dutton’s right-hand-man. Each individual cast member brings something unique to the storyline, and we couldn’t imagine Yellowstone without each player.

Our Favorite Yellowstone actors

Ranking our favorite male Yellowstone actors is just about impossible. How could you put Rip Wheeler against Kayce Dutton? While no easy feat, here is an unofficial list of our favorite Yellowstone hunks!

9. Wes Bentley as Jamie Dutton

While it’s tough to remove the actor from the character, we have to for the sake our our ranking’s integrity. Jamie Dutton is as controversial as they come, but Wes Bentley’s striking features and icy blue eyes ultimately put him on this list of Yellowstone hunks. The adopted son of John Dutton, we see over time the way his loyalty is tested (tests in which he ultimately fails), putting him at odds with the people he considered his family his entire life.

“I try not to judge my characters, but it’s been enough years that it’s hard not to at this point. It’s very hard to play him. And at the same time, I love it. I’m going to miss the challenge,” Bentley told The Hollywood Reporter. “Every single scene is literally the hardest scene I’ve ever had to do. Or it’s bringing in a new challenge. If the next thing is not the same challenge, I’m definitely going to miss it.

8. Jefferson White as Jimmy Hurdstrom

White plays the fan-favorite Jimmy Hurdstrom. The ranch-hand had himself a tough start: Beginning as a thief involved with drugs, his grandfather convinced John Dutton to take on Jimmy as a ranch hand to help turn his life around. While his early days were no walk in the park, Jimmy proved himself to be loyal and hardworking.

“As an actor, you never really know where you’re going to wind up,” he told Looper. “You kind of audition for everything and the jobs you get, you cling to like a barnacle for as long as you can. I feel so, so lucky to have wound up on Yellowstone. It’s the best job I’ve ever had, and it’s been an incredible journey over the course of four years. It has had such an incredible resp onse from audiences. It’s a show that I love that also has found an audience that loves it, and that’s been a tremendous gift.”

7. Denim Richards as Colby

Colby is another ranch hand at the Yellowstone, often known for his comedic timing, sarcastic remarks and banter with his fellow ranch hands. But ultimately, he too is a loyal and hard worker.

“Since starring on Yellowstone, I have a greater appreciation for the entertainment industry, as challenging as it is to be a part of – and I have cried many nights out of frustration and sadness, but I continued on, blocked out the noise, and beautiful things happened,” Richards told PWR Magazine.

6. Forrie J. Smith as Lloyd Pierce

Forrie J. Smith plays LLoyd Pierce, the oldest ranch hand at the Yellowstone. He knows the inner workings of the ranch like the back of his hand, and fans love him for his wise and kind-hearted nature.

“I’m just a country kid from Montana on screen with an Academy Award winner,” he told Good Housekeeping.

5. Ian Bohen as Ryan

Ian Bohen plays Ryan, another ranch hand. He is a trusted member of the unit and additionally works as a livestock agent.

“I wanted to be a cowboy since I was a little kid spending summers on my grandfather’s farm in Wisconsin,” he told Numéro Netherlands. “Getting to play one in the mountains of Montana and shooting this show has been a dream come true. It’s certainly a once-in-a-lifetime kind of opportunity. I don’t look at it like a job, it’s an entire lifestyle now. I’m very grateful.”

4. Ryan Bingham as Walker

Ryan Bingham plays bad boy-playboy-cowboy Walker in the Yellowstone series. Bingham has brought his real-life musical talent with him when playing his role on the hit show, as we often see him with a guitar in tow.

“We’re always joking backstage and things like that,” Bingham told The Los Angeles Times. “It’s interesting how light and fun it is when we’re on set and we’re playing around. People are chasing around horses and things like that. But then when you see the show, it can be pretty dark.”

3. Kevin Costner as John Dutton