The Yellowstone franchise would be nothing without the devastating deaths that mark the Dutton family’s story with tragedy. Danger and destruction surround the Dutton 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 devastating deaths within the Dutton family in Yellowstone, the fate of other characters can be just as sad regardless of how, when, or why they meet their untimely end. A tragedy at its core, Yellowstone's darker tones tug at the heartstrings consistently on screen.
Death plagues the characters in each of Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone shows, especially the prequels, 1883 and 1923. The tragic fates that Sheridan sprinkles into his series have even led to some of Yellowstone’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, and Yellowstone’s stories wouldn’t be the same without their misfortunes. Despite the fact that the deaths in the Yellowstone franchise can be tricky to handle, they're always rife with emotion.
15 Lee Dutton
Lee Dutton Dies In Yellowstone Season 1, Episode 1
Marking the first major character death in the Yellowstone franchise, Lee Dutton (Dave Annable) dies in the series premiere of Yellowstone. Lee dies when Monica’s (Kelsey Asbille) brother, Robert Long (Jeremiah Bitsui), shoots him in a confrontation between the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch and 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 character in Yellowstone series premiere, so watching him die was memorable, since the character’s death so early in the series was completely unexpected. Ultimately, Lee’s Yellowstone death isn’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 through Yellowstone's five seasons.
14 Robert Long
In Yellowstone Season 1, Episode 1
As one of the first Yellowstone deaths, Robert's reciprocal death to Lee's establishes the tragic cycle of violence that defines the show, and eventually the franchise. After Robert shoots Lee, Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) intervenes and tries to calm the situation. During the confrontation, Robert attempts to shoot Kayce, but Dutton avoids his shots and ultimately winds up shooting Robert multiple times in self-defense. Robert dies from his injuries, and Kayce killing a member of his wife's family changes things irrevocably.
While Robert's death was an early one for Yellowstone, the domino-effect of Lee and Robert both dying establishes Yellowstone's tone, and the show's overall attitude toward death. The franchise isn't afraid of killing its characters, or the wider impact that grief has on their stories. Robert's death is one of the most early consequential moments of the franchise, and shows exactly how far Yellowstone is willing to go.
13 Dirk 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-known Yellowstone Ranch hands. In Yellowstone season 2, Ray (Lane Garrison) and Blake (Ryan Dorsey), two meth dealers that Jimmy used to cook for, come after him for money.screenrant.com/lee-dutton-yellowstone-death-explained/, Dirk, who vouches for his grandson in the premiere and gets him the job on the Dutton Ranch.
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 vessel that 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, the Yellowstone Ranch cowboys get justice for Jimmy, murdering the men responsible for killing his last family member.
12 Colby Mayfield
Colby Mayfield Dies In Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 13
Colby Mayfield’s (Denim Richards) death in Yellowstone season 5 was 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).
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.
11 John Dutton Sr.
Dies In 1923 Season 1, Episode 3
An early death during 1923, John Dutton Sr.'s (Audie Rick) death is one of the defining tragedies of the prequel. As tensions between the Dutton family and Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn), a violent ambush finds the Dutton family trapped as they travel with no way to protect themselves. Despite being able to fight back against the ambush, John Sr. is fatally shot during the attack in a sudden, brutal moment that leaves the rest of the family vulnerable.
John Sr.'s death has a ripple effect that travels through the rest of 1923, as well as the rest of the franchise. As a sudden, difficult moment for the family, John Sr. losing his life in such an unexpected and brutal way brings the family's grief close to the viewers, and ultimately marks the beginning of an incredibly devastating chapter for the Dutton family as a whole.
10 Pete 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 the Yellowstone franchise. Teonna Rainwater’s (Aminah Nieves) love interest, Pete, died in a shootout with Marshal Kent (Jamie McShane), which was a massive cliffhanger at the end of 1923 season 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 tense Yellowstone moment, adding to 1923 season 2, episode 6’s bloodbath.
9 Evelyn Dutton
Flashback Death Shown During Yellowstone Season 1 Episode 3
Although Evelyn Dutton (Gretchen Mol) dies years before the beginning of Yellowstone, her death is one of the most important events of the entire franchise. Through flashbacks, viewers learn that Evelyn was horseback riding with Beth and Kayce when Beth lost control of her horse, who became frightened. As the chaos ensued, Evelyn's horse threw her to the ground and caused a fatal injury, leaving Beth and Kayce to pick up the pieces. As Beth went to get help, Kayce watched his mother die.
The tragedy alters the entire course of Yellowstone as viewers know it, and remains one of the show's saddest deaths because of its ultimate impact. The show repeatedly returns to Evelyn's death as a catalyst, combining a sudden tragedy with some incredibly lasting psychological consequences. For Beth alone, who blames herself for her mother's death for decades, the death is harrowing.
8 Alexandra Dutton
Spencer Dutton’s Wife Dies In 1923 Season 2’s Finale
Perhaps the most heartbreaking death in 1923 is Alexandra Dutton (Julia Schlaepfer), Spencer Dutton’s (Brandon Sklenar) wife. Alex Dutton dies of complications from hypothermia in 1923 season 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 the Yellowstone franchise’s most tragic because horrible things happened to Alex Dutton in 1923. 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 that Alex didn’t get to enjoy the fruits of her struggle was particularly heartbreaking.
7 Issaxche Rainwater
Marshal Kent Kills Teonna’s Grandmother In 1923 Season 1, Episode 6
Teonna’s grandmother experiences one of the saddest Yellowstone deaths in 1923 season 1, episode 6. Marshal Kent kills Issaxche Rainwater when he comes to her house looking 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 Kent of senselessly killing Indigenous people, prompted by his prejudice against them.
6 Emmett Walsh
Emmett Dies Peacefully During Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 6
Although Emmett Walsh (Buck Taylor) has a very different death than the majority of those on Yellowstone and its spinoffs, it remains one of the franchise's saddest for its impact. A death that isn't violent or difficult to handle, Emmett spends the day prior to his death doing what he loves most as he works alongside his fellow cowboys and rides the range. After dying peacefully in his sleep out beneath an open sky, Emmett passes having lived a life he loved purely.
Emmett's death is so emotional because it's a quiet, dignified passing. Rather than coming about because of conflict or violence, Emmett dies in a natural way after having a beautiful day. It's not the means to an end of a difficult situation, but instead, a natural moment that deeply impacts those who are left behind. The genuine grief surrounding Emmett's death is what makes it so tragic, as those who have to live without him are heartbroken.
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