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Which of the ‘Yellowstone’ Cast Members Are Actually Real Life Cowboys?

The answer may surprise you!

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The cast and crew that bring the hit series Yellowstone to life make the series extremely believable, but we still find ourselves wondering from time to time — Is anyone in Yellowstone a real cowboy? The answer is yes!

There are several members of the famed crew we love to see on our screens that have experience in the world of cowboys and rodeos. Here, take a look at which members of the Yellowstone cast know what it’s like to be a cowboy off-screen.

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Forrie J. Smith (Lloyd)

Forrie J. Smith, Yellowstone
Forrie J. Smith, YellowstoneParamount Network

Just looking at the character of Lloyd, there’s something about the way Forrie J. Smith carries himself that just screams “cowboy” (and no, it’s not the Sam Elliott-esque ‘stache we love to see him sport).

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Smith has a lot of experience off-screen in the cowboy and rodeo world. The actor grew up riding horses, as both his mother and grandfather were involved in the rodeo circuit.

Falling off a horse as a youngster led him to another career venture as a stuntman, which ultimately made up the majority of his resume. Now, the cowboy has returned back to his roots in the cast of Yellowstone — a cowboy on the screen and off.

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Ryan Bingham (Walker)

Ryan Bingham, 2023
Ryan Bingham, 2023Greg Doherty/Getty Images for Bingham’s Bourbon

Ryan Bingham plays the famed crooner Walker, but the actor/singer actually has experience as a cowboy. Throughout his upbringing, he learned how to ride bulls and gained experience in the rodeo.

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Originally, Taylor [Sheridan, show creator] contacted me about writing some songs for the show,” he told Cowboys & Indians Magazine. “Then when he discovered my family ranched and I used to ride bulls, he said, ‘Well, shoot. We gotta get you in the show. If you’re good, we’ll keep you on. If you suck, we’ll kill you off.’ I’m not dead yet.”

MUST-READ: Inside ‘Yellowstone’ Stars Hassie Harrison and Ryan Bingham’s Real-Life Romance

Taylor Sheridan (Travis) ‘Yellowstone’ cowboys

Taylor Sheridan, 2022
Taylor Sheridan, 2022David Becker/Getty Images for Paramount+

Taylor Sheridan is truly a jack of all trades. He has experience as an actor, writer, and — you guessed it — a cowboy.

He spent a lot of his youth on his family’s ranch in Texas, making him an accomplished rider familiar with cowboy culture. Today, he and his wife own and operate a ranch in Texas.

MUST-READ: 10 Surprising Facts About ‘Yellowstone’ You Might Not Have Known

Jake Ream (Jake) Yellowstone cowboys

Jake Ream, 2022, Yellowstone cowboys
Jake Ream, 2022Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images for Paramount

Jake Ream, who plays a ranch hand at the Dutton Ranch, has professional experience working with horses — and his introduction to the series was actually behind the camera. Ream and show creator Taylor Sheridan first connected when Ream purchased a horse through him.

From there, Ream got started behind-the-scenes, serving as an instructor and consultant for the series. However, it wasn’t long before he hopped in front of the camera, now one of the famed bunkhouse boys.

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Ethan Lee (Ethan) Yellowstone cowboys

Ethan Lee, 2022,  'Yellowstone' cowboys
Ethan Lee, 2022Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images for Paramount

Ethan Lee is another member of the cast who grew up surrounded by horses — he even worked as a rodeo trick rider for many years. Much like Jake Ream, Lee joined the series working behind the camera as a consultant and trainer before stepping in front of it as a ranch hand and branded member of the Dutton ranch.


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