“Yellowstone” actor Cole Hauser recently stated that he was surprised by the interest in his character “Rip Wheeler,” particularly from female fans of the show. Rip is depicted as a hardened ranch foreman who doesn’t tolerate any backtalk or excuses from the other workers.
For background in the show, Rip was found as a child by the owner of Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner. Wheeler was raised on the ranch, where he would grow into his bad boy persona, eventually executing grisly acts of violence on the family’s adversaries and keeping the workers in line.
Hauser noted that it “surprised the s— out of [creator] Taylor Sheridan and I, at first,” when they learned that Rip had become a fan-favorite character in the Yellowstone community. Furthermore, Hauser found it worrisome that his character appealed to “normal people.”
“And I think that’s what’s the scariest part,” the actor explained. “He is just that kind of animal.” However, Hauser noted that the rougher characters he has portrayed in his career “don’t really play themselves as bad guys.”
According to Hauser, he was particularly surprised that women were so drawn to Rip. He explained the affinity from female fans of the show as appealing to the “bad boy kind of thing they love.” “At first, to see women coming up and saying, ‘Oh my God, I love your character.’ I was thinking, ‘What’s wrong with you?’” he told the outlet before noting that his perspective shifted after seeing the enchanting “bad boy kind of thing that they love.”
Despite the rough and tough persona that Rip embodies, he explained that the character actually has a heart. Throughout the show, Rip has demonstrated loyalty to the ranch and the Dutton family in various ways. “What makes [Rip] special is that he has an unbelievable heart too,” Hauser said. “I mean, his loyalty is to not only the Dutton family, but to Beth and his kindness, other than wanting to kill people at times, is just, to me, it’s the best of both worlds to be able to play.”
The actor further explained that portraying the emotional side of Rip has kept him invested in the show throughout its five seasons. “You look for colors in characters, and Taylor, in the last five seasons, has given Rip those wonderful colors,” Hauser added.
The first half of the final season of “Yellowstone” aired in November 2022 before the rest of the episodes were postponed from the Hollywood actors and writer’s strike. Reportedly, the second half of the fifth season will resume in November 2024.
According to “Yellowstone” star Ian Bohen, who plays Ryan, a cowboy on the Dutton ranch, recently informed fans that the highly anticipated finale is well worth the long wait. “The fans are going to get the [best] conclusion that could possibly be written,” the actor said. “Everything will land in a way that is perfectly set. A lot of shows just kind of finish… and they don’t satisfy you. This will be completed in a way that it will make sense.” Watch a “Best of Rip Wheeler” compilation below:
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.
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