Once upon a time, Taylor Sheridan was a frustrated actor yearning for more who, amid failed contract negotiations, asked to be written off “Sons of Anarchy” to transition into writing. That move turned out to be one of the most incredible Hollywood success stories in history. Sheridan soon after penned Denis Villeneuve’s “Sicario,” earned an Oscar nomination for his “Hell or High Water” screenplay, and created one of the most-watched TV franchises of all time with “Yellowstone” and its six spinoffs. He is also responsible for the non-“Yellowstone” series “Mayor of Kingstown” (co-created with Hugh Dillon), “Tulsa King,” “Landman” (co-created with Christian Wallace), and “Lioness.”
His latest series, the “Yellowstone” continuation “The Madison” (premiering March 14 on Paramount+), is no exception when it comes to casting extraordinary talent. Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell star as the heads of a grieving family who move from New York City to Montana’s Madison River Valley. The two leads join a host of A-listers who have led Sheridan shows, like Kevin Costner, Helen Mirren, Harrison Ford, Nicole Kidman, and Billy Bob Thornton.
Sheridan’s TV projects have mostly been ignored when it comes to awards, despite their widespread popularity and the incredible work being done by top-tier performers. With the arrival of “The Madison,” the timing felt right to saddle up and rank the top performances of the Sheridan Universe.
9. Jeremy Renner, “Mayor of Kingstown”
Set in a fictional Michigan town, “Mayor of Kingstown” follows Mike McLusky (Renner), who steps into his late brother’s unofficial role of keeping the peace on the streets and within the local prison system. Renner might be best known as the cool and collected Hawkeye in the MCU, but he once showed off his skills as an intense wild card in Ben Affleck’s 2010 crime thriller, “The Town.” He taps back into that energy as Mike, giving off an air of aloofness until he needs to snap into violence.
8. Cole Hauser, “Yellowstone”
As ranch hand Rip Wheeler, Hauser often feels like the heart of “Yellowstone.” A product of a dark upbringing, Rip was unofficially adopted by the Dutton family, and, in addition to running the ranch, he became the trusted muscle for John (Costner). While Rip throws his fair share of punches, Hauser brings a softness and calmness to the role, making him the perfect match for Kelly Reilly’s fierce Beth. Hauser and Reilly’s chemistry eventually evolved the Beth and Rip relationship into the driving force of the series, so potent it led to its own upcoming spinoff, “The Dutton Ranch.”
7. Jacob Lofland, “Landman”
Sheridan-led shows never skimp on casting recognizable stars. “Landman” is no different (the series is led by Thornton, Demi Moore, Andy Garcia, and Sam Elliott), but it’s fresh-faced Lofland who emerges as a true breakout. He plays Cooper Norris, a young oilman looking to follow in his father’s footsteps. The rest of the Norris clan often engages in hijinks that have “Landman” feeling like a sitcom, but Lofland always regrounds the story with his soulful performance. He doesn’t come across as just an actor playing an oilman — he feels like someone born into it.
6. Kevin Costner, “Yellowstone”
It’s impossible to not include the man who paved the way for every Sheridan performance. For five seasons, Costner was the face of “Yellowstone” as John Dutton, the respected patriarch and rancher who desperately fights to protect his family’s legacy. Costner possesses a level of gravitas and composure that makes it clear why John is the center of this universe and the guiding light for those around him. The actor’s value and onscreen effectiveness became firmly evident when he decided not to return for the final episodes, leaving a considerable hole in the show’s fabric that was hard to ignore.
5. Isabel May, “1883”
No character or performance evolved more over the course of a series than May as Elsa Dutton. The “Yellowstone” prequel “1883” is narrated by Elsa, an innocent, sheltered teen who heads west with her family to start a new life. But the dangerous realities of the open road quickly harden Elsa, who comes into her own as a warrior. That transformation is a tough thing for any performer to pull off in only 10 episodes, but May sells it all. Surrounded by the towering presences of Elliott, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill, May is the one you can’t look away from.
4. Kelly Reilly, “Yellowstone”
Perhaps no truer words have been spoken on a Sheridan show than Beth Dutton declaring, “I am the tornado.” As played by Reilly, John’s lone daughter is the definition of a whirlwind, destroying anything or anyone in her path. But, behind the outbursts, there’s a brokenness to Beth, and as incredible as Reilly is at exploding, she’s just as good when Beth opens up and lets someone in, particularly Hauser’s Rip. That being said, there’s nothing quite like watching “10 minutes of Beth Dutton standing on business.”
3. Sam Elliott, “1883”
Elliott playing a cowboy in a Sheridan Western just feels right. The Oscar-nominated actor’s mustache, demeanor, and husky voice all made him a no-brainer to star in the prequel “1883” as Civil War veteran Shea Brennan. When introduced, Shea is mourning the deaths of his wife and daughter, and he soon takes on the job of leading a group of settlers on a journey across the country. Like he’s known to do, Elliott can say a lot by saying nothing, letting his expressive face do the talking. But once he opens his mouth, the words pack a punch. Elliott’s performance is fueled by grief, whether it’s simmering under the surface or turning him into a bubbling mess.
2. Zoe Saldaña, “Lioness”
Thanks to her work in blockbuster franchises like the MCU and James Cameron’s “Avatar” series, Saldaña is the highest-grossing actor of all time. And yet, the Oscar winner has arguably done her best work on Sheridan’s spy thriller “Lioness.” Saldaña is Joe McNamara, the tough-as-nails leader of a CIA team that puts female operatives undercover to fight the war on terror. Joe’s dedication to the work disconnects her from her family, and Saldaña carries that weight as Joe deals with the consequences of her choices. But Saldaña truly stuns when in the field. While the actor has always wielded an undeniable power, she has never been in more command. Early in Season 2, Joe’s meeting with her new recruit turns into a physical altercation, and a bloodied Joe unleashes an epic rant that shows who the boss is.
1. Billy Bob Thornton, “Landman”
“Landman” is the one Sheridan project that can’t be put in a box, because the writer is constantly shifting the tone of the series. Thornton’s oilman, Tommy Norris, could be dealing with life-and-death circumstances—such as being kidnapped by a Mexican cartel—and then the next scene might feature his wild wife, Angela (Ali Larter), taking retirement home residents to a strip club. But, no matter if “Landman” is a dark drama or a zany comedy, Thornton is right at home. The decorated actor navigates all of these various worlds with ease and exhaustion, and he chews up every big monologue from Sheridan, whether schooling audiences on wind turbines or going to battle with Garcia’s drug kingpin. Season 2 added new shades for Thornton to play with the introduction of Elliott as Tommy’s broken-down father. It’s no surprise these two elite Sheridan performers struck gold together.
