Unveiling the Shocking Secrets of the Dutton Family Tree: A Jaw-Dropping Exploration You Won’t Believe! Dive into the twisted roots and hidden scandals of the Dutton dynasty in this exhaustive breakdown. From unexpected betrayals to long-buried mysteries, every branch reveals a new surprise. Are you ready to uncover the dark truths and dramatic turns that shaped this iconic family? Click to find out now!
This story contains spoilers for the 1923 season 2 finale.
Yellowstone fans, the answer is finally here. Before the 1923 finale, there was a glaring hole in the Dutton legacy. Namely: Who is John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) grandfather? John Dutton Sr.’s (James Badge Dale) shocking murder in 1923’s first season blew a hole in the family tree for three years, which fans spent wildly theorizing and speculating. Then, 1923 season 2 narrowed our search down to two names: Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar) and Jack Dutton (Darren Mann). Thankfully, the mystery is solved.
In 1923 season 2, we catch up with the two most likely candidates. Jack, John Dutton Sr.’s only son, is murdered in episode 6 following a run-in with Clyde (Brian Konowal). He’s married to Elizabeth (Michelle Randolph), who found out earlier in the season that she’s pregnant. Though Jack is gone, she remained one of the only Dutton wives to carry on the family legacy. That is until Spencer married Alexandra (Julia Schlaepfer). The British upper-class adventurer also revealed that she is pregnant in the season 2 premiere. Then the finale changes everything.
As you can tell, Yellowstone doesn’t always make it easy to figure out what’s going on. Sometimes we travel back in time for a limited series set in 1883 or 1923. Other times, it can feel like the sheer number of Duttons isn’t that far off from House of the Dragon’s multitude of Aegons. Need some help piecing together this whole Yellowstone extended universe? We’ve got you covered.
James and Margaret Dutton
Emerson Miller//Paramount
James and Margaret Dutton.
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Played by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill on 1883, James and Margaret are the original patriarch and matriarch of Yellowstone’s Dutton family. A Tennessee farmer, James fought for the Confederate Army in the Civil War before making his way out west with his family. Margaret was an Army nurse. Though their caravan was heading to Oregon, James and Margaret settled in Montana after the death of their daughter, Elsa (Isabel May). Elsa was the main narrator of 1883 and appears via voice-over in 1923 and Yellowstone’s season 5 finale. James and Margaret also had two sons, John Sr. and Spencer.
Jacob and Cara Dutton
James Minchin//Paramount
Jacob and Cara Dutton, Yellowstone, 1923
The starring couple of 1923, Jacob and Cara Dutton are portrayed by Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. Whatever the story, Jacob arrived to lead the family ranch after James and Margaret passed in the 1890s. Jacob and Cara don’t have any children themselves, but Jacob is James’s brother. He’s also commissioner of the Livestock Association—a position the Duttons have apparently held ever since. They looked after James and Margaret’s son, John, until his death in 1923 season 1. Now they’ve retired to let Spencer run the ranch. Meanwhile, Cara helps raise little John Dutton Jr.
Claire Dutton
Emerson Miller//Paramount
Claire Dutton, Yellowstone.
Claire (Dawn Olivieri) is James and Jacob’s sister. She traveled with James’s caravan in 1883. After her daughter, Mary Abel, is killed outside Fort Worth, she tragically takes her own life. Olivieri was later recast as Market Equities’ Sarah Atwood in Yellowstone season 5.
John Dutton
James Minchin//Paramount
John Dutton, Yellowstone, 1923.
Well, after 1923’s shocking third episode, we now know why we hadn’t seen much of John and Emma Dutton (Marley Shelton). John was the lead ranch manager before his death at the hands of sheepherder Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn). Following John Dutton Sr.’s death, the connection to Kevin Costner’s John Dutton became a bit muddied, especially since John and Emma were not shown to have had a second son on 1923. The season 2 finale put all that theorizing to rest.
Jack Dutton
Paramount
Jack Dutton, Yellowstone, 1923.
Jack was the firstborn son of John and Emma Dutton. He worked with his great-uncle, Jacob, on the Yellowstone ranch in 1923. He also married Elizabeth Stratford (Michelle Randolph), who revealed that she was pregnant in 1923 season 2. However, Elizabeth moves back to Boston following Jack’s death with no mention of her pregnancy. Is there a Dutton in Boston that fans need to know about?
John Dutton II
Paramount Network/Paramount+//Paramount
John Dutton II, Yellowstone.
Appearing as an old man in Yellowstone flashbacks, John Dutton II is the father of John III (Kevin Costner) and Spencer’s son. The 1923 season 2 finale revealed that Alex gives birth to a premature John Dutton Jr. right before her death. According to Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, there may be some more room for John Dutton II stories in future spin-offs set in 1944, when he would have been in his 20s.
Spencer Dutton
Paramount
Spencer Dutton, Yellowstone, 1923.
Spencer is John and Elsa’s brother on 1923. He was apparently born sometime after James and Margaret settled in Montana but was not featured as a baby on 1883. At some point, he left to fight in World War I before finding himself in Africa. When the situation worsens for the Duttons back on the ranch, Spencer embarks on a dangerous journey across America to save his family. He and his late wife Alex are John Dutton II’s parents and John Dutton III’s (Costner) grandparents.
John Dutton III
Paramount
John Dutton, Yellowstone.
Finally! Played by Kevin Costner, John Dutton III is the head of the family throughout Yellowstone. He’s the eventual governor of Montana and a father of four: Lee, Beth, Kayce, and (the adopted) Jamie. His wife, Evelyn, died in a horseback-riding accident. He was the patriarch of the Dutton ranch until his tragic death in Yellowstone season 5.
Lee Dutton
Paramount Network/Paramount+//Paramount
Lee Dutton, Yellowstone.
Lee (Dave Annable) was John Dutton III (Costner) and Evelyn’s first child. He was killed in the first season of Yellowstone. Lee was shot during a confrontation with the neighboring Broken Rock Reservation.
Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler
Paramount Network/Paramount+//Paramount
Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, Yellowstone.
Beth (Kelly Reilly) is John Dutton III’s only daughter. She is a ruthless businesswoman and the wife of Rip Wheeler—the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch’s current manager. Beth will do whatever it takes to protect her family and has made a sworn enemy of her adopted brother, Jamie. Rip, though he married into the family, was a wayward boy whom John took under his wing. Beth and Rip also take care of a pseudo-adopted teenager named Carter, who works in the horse stables.
Jamie Dutton
Paramount Network/Paramount+//Paramount
Jamie Dutton.
Jamie (Wes Bentley) was the adopted son of John and Evelyn but was later disinherited after several legal battles and double crosses. His adoption was kept hidden from him until he met his biological father, Garrett Randall. Randall allegedly killed Jamie’s birth mother when Jamie was just a baby. After a turn at the end of season 4, however, Jamie is forced to kill Randall and partly rejoin the Dutton clan. Matters take an even larger turn for the worse in season 5 when Jamie becomes implicit in John Dutton’s murder. In the season 5 finale, he dies in a fight with Beth. Jamie also has a secret son, Jamie Jr., with his old campaign manager, Christina.
Kayce and Monica Dutton
Paramount+//Paramount
John’s youngest son, Kayce (Luke Grimes), originally had a difficult relationship with his father after he left the family to marry Monica Long-Dutton, a teacher on the Broken Rock Reservation. The two eventually reconciled. Kayce now lives with Monica in their own home with their son, Tate. In the Yellowstone season 5 finale, Kayce takes the responsibility from his late father and sells the ranch to Thomas Rainwater (Gil Birmingham).
Tate Dutton
Paramount Network/Paramount+//Paramount
Tate Dutton, Yellowstone.
Tate, Kayce and Monica’s teenage son, is learning how to be a real cowboy. As it stands, he is the youngest member of the Dutton family. While Paramount’s plans for the future of Yellowstone currently remain unknown, his family ranch now belongs to the Broken Rock Reservation. Still, there may be a way for Tate and his family to continue to work the ranch in their honor.
