This article mentions suicide.
TheYellowstonefranchise would be nothing without the devastating deaths that mark the Dutton family’s story with tragedy. Danger and destruction surround theDutton family tree’s pursuit to maintain stewardship of the largest contiguous ranch in the United States, the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, including many deaths the family must process. That said, while there are many devastatingdeaths within the Dutton family inYellowstone,the fate of other characters can be just as sad.
Death plagues the characters in each of Taylor Sheridan’sYellowstoneshows, especially the prequels,1883and1923.The tragic fates that Sheridan sprinkles into his series have even led to some ofYellowstone’s most controversial moments, with its most dedicated fans not wanting to see their favorite characters depart the franchise, understandably. Still, death and the themes and emotions that come with it are the bedrock of the neo-Western saga, andYellowstone’s stories wouldn’t be the same without their misfortunes.
11Lee Dutton
Lee Dutton Dies In Yellowstone Season 1, Episode 1
Marking the first major character death in theYellowstonefranchise,Lee Dutton (Dave Annable) dies in the series premiere ofYellowstone.Lee dies when Monica’s (Kelsey Asbille) brother, Robert Long (Jeremiah Bitsui), shoots him in a confrontation between theYellowstone Dutton Ranchand the Broken Rock Tribe that kicks off the series’ events. Lee’s death marks a grave tragedy for John Dutton (Kevin Costner), and watching John grieve his son’s death makes the moment all the more impactful.
We don’t have much time to get to know Lee, but his death and funeral are significant. Moreover,Lee is positioned as a main characterinYellowstoneseries premiere, so watching him die was memorable, since the character’s death so early in the series was completely unexpected. Ultimately,Lee’sYellowstonedeathisn’t higher on the list because he’s unfamiliar. Still, Lee’s passing kicked off the modern range war that would haunt the Dutton family throughYellowstone’s five seasons.
10Dirk Hurdstrom
Jimmy’s Grandfather Dies In Yellowstone Season 2, Episode 9
We didn’t know Dirk Hurdstrom (Stanley Peternel) well, but his grandson, Jimmy Hurdstrom (Jefferson White), is one of the most well-knownYellowstone Ranch hands. InYellowstoneseason 2, Ray (Lane Garrison) and Blake (Ryan Dorsey), two meth dealers that Jimmy used to cook for, come after him for money.Jimmy’s former contacts threaten to come after his grandfather, Dirk, who vouches for his grandson in the premiere and gets him the job on the Dutton Ranch.
Ultimately, the Yellowstone Ranch cowboys get justice for Jimmy.
Despite Jimmy riding bulls at the rodeo to earn money, Dirk Hurdstrom experiences a genuinely heartbreaking death.Dirk is beaten by Ray and Blake, passing away from a ruptured blood vesselthat causes a stroke. Jimmy is devastated by the loss, and it was awful to know an innocent, elderly man endured such a senseless beating. Ultimately, theYellowstone Ranch cowboysget justice for Jimmy, murdering the men responsible for killing his last family member.
9Colby Mayfield
Colby Mayfield Dies In Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 13
Colby Mayfield’s (Denim Richards) death inYellowstoneseason 5was truly unexpected. Afterward, we watch key characters mourn Colby’s passing, adding to the emotional weight of his unforeseen fate.Colby died when a rogue horse trampled him in the barn, so Carter (Finn Little) feels responsible for the event, since Colby entered the horse’s pen to save him. Therefore, Carter blames himself, prompting a memorable scene between him and Beth (Kelly Reilly).
All episodes ofYellowstoneare streaming on Peacock.
Colby’s death is particularly hard on his sweetheart,Teeter (Jennifer Landon), who was out of the state tending cattle at the Four Sixes Ranch. When Teeter returns, there’s almost nothing left of his personal effects. However,Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith) saves Colby’s cowboy hat for Teeter, giving her a token to remember their love. Teeter and Colby had just said“I love you,”enhancing the tragedy that they couldn’t start a life together after all the cowboys left the Dutton Ranch.
8Pete Plenty Clouds
Teonna Rainwater’s Love Interest Dies In 1923 Season 2, Episode 5
Pete Plenty Clouds’ (Jeremy Guana) death was also a sad loss for theYellowstonefranchise.Teonna Rainwater’s (Aminah Nieves) love interest, Pete, died in a shootoutwith Marshal Kent (Jamie McShane), which was amassive cliffhanger at the end of1923season 2, episode 5. As Teonna’s father, Runs His Horse (Michael Spears), points out to her when they learn about Pete’s death, Plenty Clouds gave his life for Teonna’s freedom, emboldening her claim that it cost her everything.
Pete was one of the many innocent Native Americans Marshal Kent killed in his pursuit of Teonna Rainwater. Kent didn’t know that Pete was with Teonna’s group, which is why Father Renaud (Sebastian Roché) turned on him, killing Kent for murdering many innocent boys and men. Still,Renaud’s retaliation didn’t make Pete’s death any less difficult, and the cliffhanger where his life hung in the balance was a truly tenseYellowstonemoment, adding to1923season 2, episode 6’s bloodbath.
7Alexandra Dutton
Spencer Dutton’s Wife Dies In 1923 Season 2’s Finale
Perhaps the most heartbreaking death in1923is Alexandra Dutton (Julia Schlaepfer), Spencer Dutton’s (Brandon Sklenar) wife.Alex Dutton dies of complications from hypothermiain1923season 2’s finale, and her death was a genuinely devastating affair. Alex died in the hospital in Bozeman, opting to deliver her baby, John, instead of having a life-saving procedure to amputate both her legs and one of her arms.
Alexandra’s death is one of theYellowstonefranchise’s most tragic becausehorrible things happened to Alex Dutton in1923.By the end of the second season, Alex Dutton was due for some happy developments, and that’s what many fans were expecting after the countless tragedies she faced in her journey. Sadly, her happy ending with Spencer was cut short, and the fact thatAlex didn’t get to enjoy the fruits of her strugglewas particularly heartbreaking.
6Issaxche Rainwater
Marshal Kent Kills Teonna’s Grandmother In 1923 Season 1, Episode 6
Teonna’s grandmother experiences one of the saddestYellowstonedeaths in1923season 1, episode 6.Marshal Kent killsIssaxche Rainwater when he comes to her houselooking for Teonna, accusing the grandmother of potentially harboring Teonna as a fugitive. Not understanding Kent’s intentions at her home, Issaxche hits the marshal’s arm. When he pushes her back, Issaxche hits her head on the cookstove and dies instantly.
While Issaxche’s death seemed like an accident, it established Marshal Kent’s ruthlessness as he showed little remorse. The lawman leaves Issaxche on the floor of her home, showing no respect for her life. The silver lining is that Runs His Horse, Issaxche’s son, discovers her body and gives her a proper ceremony. Still,Issaxche’s death is an outrage, establishing a pattern for Marshal Kentof senselessly killing Indigenous people, prompted by his prejudice against them.
5Baapuxti
Father Renaud Kills Teonna’s Cousin In 1923 Season 1, Episode 5
It was also devastating to watch Teonna lose her cousin. In1923season 1, episode 5,Father Renaud kills Baapuxti(Leenah Robinson) after Teonna Rainwater flees the U.S. School for Native Americans, murdering Sisters Mary (Jennifer Ehle) and Alice (Kerry O’Malley) and causing quite the uproar at the institution. While Teonna makes her escape, the priest homes in on Teonna’s cousin, who cries softly as Renaud scans the remaining schoolgirls for their involvement.
Despite Baapuxti eventually telling Renaud that Teonna said she was going home, the priest doesn’t believe the cousin and begins beating her. When she reaches a breaking point, Baapuxti threatens Father Renaud in Crow, her Native language, enraging the priest so much thatRenaud pushes Baapuxti backwards in her chair and stomps on her faceto kill her. Renaud buries Teonna’s cousin in the school’s graveyard, reflective of sites at authentic assimilation schools throughout the United States, making it a genuinely sad death within the story and beyond it.
4Shea Brennan
Wagon Train Leader Shea Brennan Dies In 1883’s Finale
Shae Brennan (Sam Elliott) dies in1883’s series finale. TheYellowstoneprequel follows the earliest-known members of the Dutton family tree. Shea is the leader of James (Tim McGraw) and Margaret Dutton’s (Faith Hill) wagon train, leading a northwest journey along the Oregon Trail from Texas. Despite his many treks along the trail,Shea’s 1883 expeditionwas his last, since the veteran lost his wife and daughter to smallpox shortly before departing.
After losing everyone who loved him,Shea Brennan shoots himself on the Oregon coastas he stares out across the ocean, which was his wife’s dream. While it was a brief affair, Shea Brennan’s death is one of the saddest, enhanced by a moment between Shea and Elsa Dutton (Isabel May). InSam Elliott’s bestYellowstonescene, Shea tells Elsa that when a loved one dies, you have a piece of their soul, and they can see the world through your eyes. Shea, therefore, ends his life after showing his wife the ocean.
3Ennis
Ennis Dies In 1883 Episode 5
Another tear-jerker of death in1883isElsa Dutton’s love interest, Ennis (Eric Nelsen), a cattle handler who rides with her family for part of their Oregon Trail journey. When he joins the wagon train with Wade (James Landry Hébert), Ennis and Elsa fall in love, exchanging flirtations as Elsa hits her stride working as a cowgirl. Despite deciding to spend their life together after being intimate,Ennis and Elsa Dutton’s romance is tragically cut shortwhen bandits come after the wagon train’s herd.
Elsa’s sadness for Ennis is palpable when watching the couple’s love story end.
When bandits target the group, Ennis attacks the thieves with the rest of the cowboys. While James, Shae, and the others successfully fend off their assailants, one takes a shot at Ennis, fatally wounding him. Ultimately,Ennis dies of his gunshot wound, losing consciousness as James watches. Elsa’s sadness for Ennis is palpable when watching the couple’s love story end, with the audience feeling her grief second-hand. Ennis was a kind person who would have made a great partner for Elsa, so their ill-fate was devastating all around.
2John Dutton III
Kevin Costner’s Yellowstone Character Died In Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2’s Premiere
One of the most significant deaths in theYellowstonefranchise, and certainly one of the saddest, isJohn Dutton’s death inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2’s premiere. The gravity of John’s death greatly influencedYellowstone’s future, and its gruesome nature madeJohn’s death one of the saddest to witness, with a team of trained operatives attacking the governor of Montana in his sleep. John’s death prompted the events ofYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, leading to the end of the original series.
Outside Taylor Sheridan’s story, John Dutton’s death was sad because Kevin Costner’sYellowstoneexit prompted it, which worsened the death for the majority ofYellowstonefans. WhileYellowstone season 5, part 2, got many things rightin its execution, many felt Costner should have been included in the final season to give John a better sendoff.John’s death is commemorated with a beautiful funeralinYellowstoneseason 5’s finale, and the ceremony is a truly somber occasion, especially for Beth, who can barely stand to witness it.
