**Spoiler Alert: Details Below**
Yellowstone has always been fixated on the concept of legacy, particularly that of the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, where the fictional Dutton family has resided since the late 1800s. John Dutton III, portrayed by Kevin Costner, embodies this preoccupation with the legacy of the land. He appears more focused on the well-being of the ranch rather than that of his children. The show suggests that the legacy of the land is shaped by the care it receives, emphasizing the importance of the Dutton lineage in maintaining this legacy.
The Yellowstone universe expands with the prequel spin-offs, 1883 and 1923, delving into the family’s history. 1883 follows the Dutton family’s origins with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill portraying the central figures who inherit the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. The story continues in 1923, with Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren playing key roles in the Dutton family saga, dealing with challenges of the 20th century.
In the flagship series Yellowstone, the violence and trauma culminate in the season 5 premiere with the death of John Dutton III. The season 5 finale sees the Dutton Ranch changing hands, with parts of it remaining with Kayce Dutton, Monica Long, and their son, Tate. Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler embark on a new ranch venture in Montana, continuing the Dutton legacy.
Understanding the complex Dutton family requires exploring its origins. James Dutton, a central figure in 1883, was the original patriarch who settled in Montana after a turbulent past. His wife, Margaret Dutton, supported him through their journey from Tennessee to Montana.
Please note that the following family tree is based on information revealed in the shows and may not reflect the official Dutton family tree in the Taylor Sheridan universe.
There are a total of three children in the Dutton family: Elsa, John, and Spencer.
Jacob Dutton, portrayed by Harrison Ford, took over caring for the Yellowstone homestead in the early 1900s after his brother James. He is a prominent figure in 1923.
Cara Dutton, played by Helen Mirren, is Jacob’s wife and the matriarch of the Dutton family after Margaret’s passing.
Claire Dutton, the sister of James and Jacob, was a recent widow in 1883. She journeyed with her brother’s family and her daughter, Mary Abel, in search of a new home. Tragically, Mary Abel was killed by a gang in Texas, leading to Claire’s own demise by suicide at her daughter’s grave.
Mary Abel, Claire’s daughter and niece to other Dutton family members, died during an attack by a gang while the family was traveling west in 1883.
Elsa Dutton, the eldest child of James and Margaret Dutton, served as the narrator in 1883 before her death in the season finale. Elsa fell in love twice but met a tragic end before reuniting with her second love, a Comanche warrior named Sam.
John Dutton I, the oldest son of James and Margaret, worked on the Yellowstone land and had a family of his own. He met his demise in 1923 due to a feud between cattle ranchers and sheep herders.
Spencer Dutton, the third child of James and Margaret, was a World War I veteran and a key character in 1923. He is speculated to be the father of John Dutton II.
Alex Dutton, whom Spencer falls in love with in Africa, eventually marries into the Dutton family and returns to the Yellowstone. In the 1923 finale, she shows signs of pregnancy.
Emma Dutton, the wife of John Dutton I, tragically takes her own life after her husband’s death in 1923.
Jack Dutton, the son of John and Emma, works on the Yellowstone land and marries Elizabeth Strafford. Although initially believed to be the father of John Dutton II, it is later revealed that Spencer and Alex may be the true parents.
Elizabeth Dutton, Jack’s wife, plays a significant role in the Dutton family in 1923.
Pregnant, but she has a miscarriage in the season finale.
John Dutton II is presumed to be the son of Spencer and Alex, or possibly Jack and Elizabeth if they have another child. Although not guaranteed to be featured in 1923, John Dutton II is portrayed as an elderly man in flashbacks on Yellowstone. He was once the head of the Dutton family and is the father of Costner’s character, John Dutton III.
John Dutton III, the former owner of the vast Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, was a staunch traditionalist, a tough cowboy, a survivor of numerous close calls, and the governor of Montana. He desired nothing more than to preserve his family’s land exactly as it was passed down to him. Due to behind-the-scenes conflicts between Costner and Sheridan, Costner left Yellowstone, leading to Sheridan writing off John Dutton III in the season 5 premiere.
In season 5 of Yellowstone, John Dutton III discloses to his daughter-in-law, Monica, that he had a brother named Peter who tragically passed away only 18 hours after birth.
Evelyn Dutton, the late wife and true love of John Dutton III, died while her children—Lee, Beth, Kayce, and Jamie—were still young. Beth carries the burden of blame for Evelyn’s death resulting from a horseback riding accident.
Lee Dutton, the eldest child of John Dutton III and Evelyn Dutton, was destined to continue the Dutton ranch’s legacy but met his demise in the first season of Yellowstone after a dispute over stolen cattle.
Beth Dutton, the only daughter of John Dutton III and Evelyn Dutton, is the fierce and dominant presence in the family. Her tenacity is evident through her piercing gaze and rough appearance. She only shows deference, albeit reluctantly, to her father and her husband, Rip Wheeler.
Rip Wheeler, a true cowboy at heart, arrived at the Yellowstone Ranch as a troubled teenager and gradually fell in love with his boss’s daughter. He served as John Dutton III’s most reliable confidant and is now set to uphold John’s land-first philosophy with a new ranch in Montana.
Kayce Dutton, the youngest of the Dutton siblings, faced detachment within the family and was once estranged from his father. He is the first to start his own family by marrying Monica Long from the Broken Rock Reservation. Together, they have Tate Dutton, who eventually bonds with John Dutton III as Kayce’s reservations diminish.
Jamie Dutton, eager for approval and easily influenced, is a lawyer and the adopted son of John Dutton III and Evelyn Dutton. John later disowns Jamie when their relationship becomes strained. Jamie’s biological father, Garrett Randall, killed Jamie’s mother when he was a baby. In a turn of events, Jamie ends up killing Garrett. Subsequently, Jamie is accused of murdering John Dutton III in season 5, and
Beth Dutton, portrayed by Kelsey Asbille, harbors a natural suspicion towards the intentions of the Dutton family, despite gradually warming up to them as her son matured and her husband, Kayce, found himself once again entangled in his father’s influence. Before and after her time on the reservation, she has dedicated herself to educating young minds as a teacher.
Tate Dutton, the lone surviving offspring of Kayce and Monica, is brought to life by Brecken Merrill. An adventurous spirit, Tate shares a lineage with his father and grandfather, having endured hardships beyond his years. Standing out among the Dutton descendants, Tate exhibits a deep appreciation for the land that mirrors his ancestors’ reverence. It is only fitting that this young boy, born of a union between a white man and a Native American woman, should reclaim a portion of the land that was unjustly taken from his forebears.
