Though he’s better known for creating prestige TV shows and movies,Taylor Sheridanhas also played four characters in the projects he wrote. BeforeTaylor Sheridan wrote his showsand movies, Taylor Sheridan was an actor in his own right. He starred in a few notable projects, likeSons of Anarchy, where he played David Hale, and got quite a bit of experience in front of the camera. He’s also used that experience in his own shows, as he’s become one of manyrecurring actors in Sheridan’s shows. Over the years, Sheridan has had small roles in four of his own movies and shows.
Most of Sheridan’s shows include big casts filled with prominent actors, so his cameos can often fly under the radar. For example, thecast ofLandmanincludes Billy Bob Thornton, Jon Hamm, and Demi Moore, and Sheridan is exceptionally skilled at securing big names to star in his projects. His shows also feature sprawling stories that require massive casts, however, so there’s usually room for him to play a small side character. Sheridan seized those opportunities to play side characters four times already, and they’ve put him in a wide range of situations.
4Cowboy In Hell Or High Water
Taylor Sheridan’s first cameo in one of his own projects came all the way back in 2016, for his second feature film,Hell or High Water.InHell or High Water, Sheridan plays an unnamed cowboy who was moving his herd across the road when Texas Rangers Marcus (Jeff Bridges) and Alberto (Gil Birmingham) were trying to get by. In a brief conversation, the cowboy explained that a fire had started from the nearby highway, and lamented the fact that cowboys were still dealing with the same problems they’d been facing since the 19th century.
Chris Pine And Jeff Bridges’ 7-Year-Old Western Is A Reminder That Yellowstone’s Taylor Sheridan Needs To Make Another Movie
One of Taylor Sheridan’s best movies, Hell or High Water, is a reminder that the Yellowstone writer makes great films and he needs to do another.
Sheridan’s role inHell or High Wateris by far his smallest in any project. The cowboy was only on screen for about a minute, and he simply rides off after telling the Rangers about how he can’t get his kids to become ranchers like him.Small as the cameo is, however, Sheridan was likely the perfect person to play a cowboy inHell or High Water. He owns a ranch in real life, and he has actual experience as a cowboy, which added a level of authenticity to the small but memorable scene.
3Charles Goodnight In 1883
Sheridan’s Character Helped Save Shea & Elsa From Bandits
Hell or High Watermay have been the first time Taylor Sheridan played a cowboy, but it was far from the last.In theYellowstonespinoff1883, Taylor Sheridan played Charles Goodnight, a rancher who helped Shea (Sam Elliott) and Thomas (LaMonica Garrett) fend off a gang of bandits. After killing the bandits, Charles compliments the Comanche warriors who fought alongside him and prays over the dead. It’s a short appearance - he’s only in a few minutes of two episodes of1883- but Charles Goodnight is certainly among Taylor Sheridan’s best characters.
Taylor Sheridan’s Upcoming and Potential Series and Movies
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Mayor of Kingstown Season 4
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Anyone who’s seen1883can instantly see one of the things that makes Charles Goodnight stand out: his massive beard. On top of the bushy facial hair, Charles is also unique for another reason; he’s based on a real person.In real life, Charles Goodnight was a rancher who established a number of trails through the Western frontier, and he even invented the chuckwagon, which was used throughout the era of Westward Expansion. Interestingly, he also won’t be the last real person Taylor Sheridan writes about, as hisupcoming filmEmpire of the Summer Moonis set to adapt a portion of Comanche history.
2Cody Spears In Lioness
Sheridan Played An “Old Soldier” Who Did Mercenary Work With Joe In Lioness
Taylor Sheridan doesn’t just write about cowboys, and he also doesn’t just play them either.InLionessseason 2, Sheridan began playing Cody Spears, an older mercenary who did wetwork with Joe (Zoe Saldaña) on occasion. Cody told Joe to “beware the old soldier,” as anyone who can survive long enough to grow old in a profession like mercenary work is a dangerous person. Cody ended up helping Joe in recovering a kidnapped U.S. senator from Mexico, and he also returned in the finale ofLionessseason 2 to provide covering sniper fire for the QRF team.
Even though Cody was supposed to be an old soldier,Lionessproved that Sheridan could still play an action hero if he ever decided to write an action thriller.
Cody Spears was a unique character for Sheridan both because he wasn’t a cowboy and because he had so many action scenes. In his other appearances, Sheridan typically does more talking than shooting, though he does have a few fights in1883.InLioness, however, Sheridan is almost constantly shooting assault rifles or snipers, getting involved in high-speed car chases, or blowing up tanks. Even though Cody was supposed to be an old soldier,Lionessproved that Sheridan could still play an action hero if he ever decided to write an action thriller.
1Travis Wheatley In Yellowstone
Travis Got A Big Role In Yellowstone Season 5 & May Star In A Spinoff Show
Taylor Sheridan’s most prominent self-created character to date was as Travis Wheatley inYellowstone, and it may lead to an even bigger role in the future.Travis was a traveling horse trainer and trader who often did business with John Dutton (Kevin Costner) at the Yellowstone ranch. InYellowstoneseason 4, he even took Jimmy (Jefferson White) under his wing and taught him how to be a real cowboy. Then, inYellowstoneseason 5, Travis got an even bigger role than ever before, which may have set up a newYellowstonespinoff show.
Yellowstone Series Finale Ending Explained
Screen Rant breaks down the epic, bittersweet, and definitive ending of Taylor Sheridan’s flagship Neo-Western series, Yellowstone.
Travis came from the Four Sixes Ranch in Texas, which is based on the same ranch Taylor Sheridan owns in real life.Sheridan also confirmed6666, a new spinoff show centered around Jimmy’s time at the ranch.Given Travis' connection to the ranch and the fact that Sheridan owns the land filming will take place on, it’s safe to assume he’ll have a large role in the show, when and if it’s completed. Additionally, based on the speed and frequency with whichTaylor Sheridancreates new shows, it’s only a matter of time until he has another chance to make a cameo appearance.
