Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few years, you’ll be well aware that Yellowstone and its ever-expanding universe of sequels, prequels, and spin-offs have become one of the most lauded and talked-about television franchises in some time. Created by Taylor Sheridan, after he became “bored with acting,” the shows are gritty Western dramas, set across multiple timelines chronicling the trials and tribulations of the Dutton family as they fight to protect their land from encroaching developers, rival families, and political threats.

With its stunning landscapes, intense family dynamics, and intricate storytelling, audiences have been captivated and critics wowed. With a talented cast comprising promising up-and-comers, veteran icons, and powerhouse performers, it’s unsurprising that at least a few have received the highly coveted Oscar nod at some point in their careers.

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Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner’s John Dutton in YellowstoneParamount Network
Kevin Costner received widespread critical acclaim as the straight-talking ranch owner John Dutton III, one of the central protagonists in the main Yellowstone series. Rough, rugged, and fiercely protective of his land and his family, the character quickly became a fan favorite, earning Costner a Golden Globe for his magnetic and nuanced portrayal of the deeply layered and complex character.

A Director and Actor
Long before his Golden Globe, Costner had been wowing audiences with his commanding screen presence for decades, having starred in a slew of iconic movies including The Untouchables, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and The Bodyguard. He has been nominated for dozens of awards over the years, including three Academy Awards for his movie Dances with Wolves, for which he won both Best Director and Best Picture.

Sam Elliott in 1883
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Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton in the series premiere of 1923Paramount
Helen Mirren plays Cara Dutton, matriarch of the Dutton family and wife of Jacob Dutton in 1923. Perfectly conveying the character’s commanding yet understated presence through measured delivery and penetrating glances, Mirren’s performance is a masterclass in emotional precision, earning her a ‘Best Actress – Drama or Genre Series’ Satellite Award and sitting among her finest performances in her long and varied career.

Hollywood Royalty
With an acting career spanning over six decades, Helen Mirren is one of the most beloved and respected actors in the industry. She has been nominated for an impressive four Oscars in total, for her roles in The Madness of King George, Gosford Park, The Last Station, and The Queen, with the latter winning her Best Actress.

5
Sam Elliott
Sam Elliott in 1883Paramount+
Sam Elliott stars as Shea Brennan, the rugged and commanding leader of the wagon train, frequently reminding members of the danger and tragedy that they will face along the way. It’s a tour de force of grief, grit, and gravitas – a role perfect for his iconic Western persona.

A Veteran of the Western Genre
Making his acting debut in the 1967 Western The Way West, he has remained a staple in the genre ever since, including appearances in Tombstone, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Shadow Riders, and the TV series The Yellow Rose, to name but a few. Elsewhere, he’s established himself as a character actor with supporting roles in a number of films such as Road House, We Were Soldiers, Hulk, Ghost Rider, and The Big Lebowski. His Oscar nomination, though, came from A Star Is Born, where he plays the grizzled older brother of Bradley Cooper’s troubled rockstar character, Jack.

4
Ryan Bingham

Ryan Bingham’s Walker in YellowstoneParamount Network
Singer-songwriter Ryan Bingham fittingly plays the role of Walker in Yellowstone, an aspiring country singer whose checkered past and lack of family connections make him an ideal farmhand for the Duttons. Useful and expendable, Walker is perfect for the harsh and morally grey world the ranch operates in.

An Accomplished Musician
While Bingham has tried his hand at acting before, appearing in a few minor roles in movies including Crazy Heart and Hostiles, he is best known for his musical output. A renowned country performer, he has six albums under his belt—five of which cracked the US Country Top 20. It was, in fact, his music that earned him his Oscar, awarded for Best Original Song, The Weary Kind, which he co-wrote with T Bone Burnett for Crazy Heart. The song also won a Grammy, Satellite Award, Golden Globe, and Critics’ Choice Movie Award.

3
Jacki Weaver
Jacki Weaver as Caroline WarnerParamount/ MTV Studios
Appearing in Seasons 4 and 5 of Yellowstone, Jacki Weaver plays Caroline Warner, the chairperson of Market Equities, a big firm that plans to buy out several landowners in Montana to build an airport. Serving as a threat to the Duttons’ ranch and legacy, she uses her legal clout and vast financial resources to try and take control of the land. Cold and calculated, Weaver effortlessly commands any room she steps into, exuding icy charm and a sense of underlying menace.

A Star of the Small and the Silver Screen
Hailing from New South Wales, Australia, Weaver made a name for herself during the Australian New Wave in the 1970s. She later went on to star in the critically acclaimed 2010 Australian crime thriller Animal Kingdom, which earned her her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Two years later, she was nominated once again—this time for her role as Pat and Jake’s mother in Silver Linings Playbook. She has since starred in a number of Hollywood projects including The Five-Year Engagement, The Disaster Artist, and Bird Box.

Her acting credits extend beyond the silver screen, though; she has also appeared in dozens of television shows, both American and Australian, including The Secret Life of Us, Wentworth, and Dirty John.

Kelly Reilly as Beth Dutton in Yellowstone
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Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford as Jacob Dutton in ‘1923’Paramount
Harrison Ford made his appearance in the Yellowstone universe as Jacob Dutton in 1923. Playing alongside Helen Mirren, he is the husband of Cara Dutton and the patriarch of the Dutton family. Typical of the family patriarchs, he is stoic, emotionally distant, and fiercely protective of his family and legacy. However, unlike Costner’s portrayal of John Dutton III, it is less about being brooding and silently intimidating and more about being emotionally grounded and rooted in quiet moral clarity. Ford received widespread acclaim for his performance, with his on-screen chemistry with Helen Mirren being particularly praised.

A True Hollywood Icon
With a career spanning over seven decades, Ford is one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, having appeared in some of the world’s most successful and iconic movies. Known for his inimitable rugged authenticity and understated emotion, he has starred in blockbuster franchises like Indiana Jones and Star Wars. He has won a plethora of awards over his lifetime but has, surprisingly, only been nominated for one Oscar—for his performance in the 1985 crime thriller Witness.

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Michelle Pfieffer
Ladyhawke Starring Michelle PfeifferWarner Bros. Pictures
Last year, it was announced that Michelle Pfeiffer will be starring in and executive producing the Yellowstone spin-off sequel series The Madison. It will focus on the McIntosh family’s journey to rebuild their lives after a tragedy, with Michelle Pfeiffer playing Stacy Clyburn, the family’s matriarch.

One of Hollywood’s Most Bankable Stars in the ‘80s and ‘90s
Following her first lead role in Grease 2 and her breakthrough role in Scarface, she took the industry by storm, starring in a number of commercial hits including Dangerous Liaisons, Batman Returns, and Dangerous Minds.

She has been a mainstay in the industry ever since, securing multiple award nominations and starring in the likes of Stardust, What Lies Beneath, and the Marvel entries Ant-Man and the Wasp, Avengers: Endgame, and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. She has received three Oscar nominations in total, for her performances in Dangerous Liaisons, The Fabulous Baker Boys, and Love Field.