Cole Hauser never expected Rip Wheeler to become a fan favorite on Yellowstone. The 49-year-old actor, who portrays the ruthless yet loyal ranch foreman on Paramount Network's hit western drama, initially believed viewers would reject his character's darker elements.
"It surprised the s--- out of [creator] Taylor Sheridan and I, at first," Hauser tells PEOPLE, discussing the widespread appreciation for Rip while promoting his Free Rein Coffee Company. The character's journey began as a troubled youth seeking refuge at the Dutton Ranch after killing his abusive stepfather. Under John Dutton's (Kevin Costner) guidance, Rip evolved into both a skilled cowboy and the ranch's enforcer, often handling violent confrontations with unwavering resolve.
What makes Rip particularly compelling—and perhaps unsettling—is his normalcy, according to Hauser. "He's like normal people. And I think that's what's the scariest part," the actor explains, describing his character as "that kind of animal." This duality in Rip's nature created an unexpected dynamic with viewers, especially women, who found themselves drawn to his character despite his violent tendencies.
"At first, to see women coming up and saying, 'Oh my God, I love your character.' I was thinking, 'What's wrong with you?'" Hauser recalls with amusement.
However, his understanding deepened as the show's popularity grew, recognizing that audiences were captivated by the classic "bad boy" appeal combined with something more nuanced.
The Evolution of a Complex Character
Throughout Yellowstone's run, Rip Wheeler has emerged as more than just another television antagonist. His character arc demonstrates the delicate balance between unwavering loyalty and calculated brutality, traits that have resonated deeply with the show's growing audience. "What makes [Rip] special is that he has an unbelievable heart too," Hauser emphasizes. "His loyalty is to not only the Dutton family, but to Beth [Dutton (Kelly Reilly)]."
This complexity has allowed Hauser to explore the full spectrum of human emotion within a single role. The relationship between Rip and Beth Dutton has become particularly central to the character's development, showcasing his capacity for deep love alongside his more violent tendencies. It's this combination that Hauser describes as "the best of both worlds to play."
Crafting the Character's Legacy
The success of Rip Wheeler as a character can be attributed to both Sheridan's nuanced writing and Hauser's thoughtful portrayal. "You look for colors in characters, and Taylor, in the last five seasons, has given Rip those wonderful colors," Hauser reflects, acknowledging how the role continues to evolve and challenge him as an actor.
What started as a character that both creator and actor believed would be "so hated" has now morph into one of television's most compelling characters. It is worth noting how exactly Hauser’s character of Rip Wheeler captured the audience’s attention; morally ambivalent characters seem to be accepted by the viewers when they're written and performed with authenticity and depth.
While Rip Wheeler is one of the reasons why the world of Yellowstone’s viewers is forever expanding, he is also a product of the ever-evolving television superhero genre, or, in this case, super anti-hero genre. His character proves that in the modern era of prestige TV, audiences are ready and willing to embrace characters who exist in the moral gray areas, as long as their actions are grounded in relatable human emotions and motivations.
Rip Wheeler’s rise in popularity also points to the fact that these are economically beneficiary times for our industry as audiences are in fact bored of conventional heroes and villains in characters and instead are looking for complexity, and such characters challenge the depictions. Hauser brought realism and care into the role which made Rip Wheeler grew and stopped being just an image of a bad guy to an iconic character changing the landscape of the prestige television era.
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