Taylor Sheridan is a 54-year-old American actor, director, producer, and one of the co-creators of Yellowstone, the hit American neo-Western drama T.V. series, alongside John Linson. Yellowstone premiered on Paramount Network on June 20, 2018, and stars seasoned actors like Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Kelly Reilly, and Wes Bentley.
Besides being the creator of the hit show, Sheridan also portrayed a character in the series, which has been nominated for several awards, including the Hollywood Post Alliance Awards for Outstanding Sound – Television (2019), Location Managers Guild Awards for Outstanding Locations in Contemporary Television, and the Cinema Audio Society Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Television Series – One Hour, and most notably won the latter award in 2022. This article focuses on exploring the identity of Taylor Sheridan, the mastermind behind the creation of the hugely successful series.
Who Is Yellowstone Creator Taylor Sheridan?
Taylor Sheridan is a 54 year-old American filmmaker and actor born on July 17, 1969, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Not much is known about members of his birth family, but several sources have indicated that his father worked as a cardiologist.
In the same vein, not much is known about his mother, even though we can confirm that she was originally from Waco, a city in the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. His parents had more children, but we have yet to confirm how many more children they had besides him. Furthermore, every sign points to the fact that they prefer a life away from the spotlight.
He is one of Hollywood’s prominent creators, having made his mark as an actor, writer, producer, and executive director. He is riding a wave of writing acclaim, which he calls his storytelling horse. Sheridan insists he will ride it out as long as the creativity still flows in him.
Where is Taylor Sheridan From?
Even though he was born in North Carolina, Taylor Sheridan is originally from Fort Worth, Texas, which is where he was also raised. However, the Chapel Hill-born entertainer spent a fair amount of time in Cranfill Gap, Texas, a fact which certainly explains a lot of the misconceptions that he is a native of the city located in Bosque County in central Texas. He attended and graduated from R. L. Paschal High School in his hometown before proceeding to Texas State University.
Sheridan did not complete his studies at the aforementioned university. To put it plainly, the Yellowstone co-creator dropped out of school for reasons that have yet to be explicitly made clear to the media and the general public. After dropping out of school, Sheridan moved to Austin, where he initially earned a living to support himself by mowing lawns and painting houses.
His search for another job took him to several places, including a shopping mall where he met a talent scout who gave him the opportunity to go to Chicago and actively pursue an acting career. That decision has since led to him being one of the most notable names in the American entertainment industry. He ran with it and did not only become an actor. He currently wears many hats in the filmmaking business. He is an actor, producer, writer, and director.
Is Taylor Sheridan A Real Cowboy?
Yes, Taylor Sheridan is a real cowboy, and he has his mother to thank for that. Several sources reveal that when the filmmaker was just eight years old, his mother insisted on them buying a ranch in Cranfills Gap to enable her children to experience the kind of peaceful feeling only the freedom of nature could provide.
Taylor Sheridan learned all about how to be a cowboy in his childhood during the regular visits he took with his family to the Ranch in Cranfills Gap. His cowboy pedigree is further solidified by the fact that his first real job, which he took when he was only 14 years old, was at a cattle ranch just a few miles from Cranfills Gap. He was reportedly rewarded with a bunk and $400 per month for the duration of his time there.
Being a true cowboy at heart, Taylor Sheridan is raising his son to appreciate the lifestyle and the intricacies that come with it. He once admitted in an interview that he does not know any other way to live, and he likes it just like that because he had tried city life during the early days of his career and still prefers the tranquility of a ranch and its sprawling grounds.
Does Taylor Sheridan Ride Horses?
Yes, Taylor Sheridan is quite adept at horseback riding. During an interview with Quarter Horse News, the actor revealed that horseback riding is one of his favorite hobbies. He further revealed in the interview that his often grueling schedule has not stopped him from engaging in his favorite pastime. He said he is lucky that he gets to do that every day.
The actor who owns, trains, rides, houses, and provides all the horses for the Yellowstone series admits that horses have played a pivotal role in his life. He also specified the fact that his horseback riding days began in his youthful days. That admission alone most likely explains why he is so good at it.
Does Taylor Sheridan Own the 6666 Ranch, and Where Is It Located?
Yes, Taylor Sheridan represents the investment group that bought the 6666 Ranch or Four Sixes Ranch in May 2021 for over $320 million. The actor, who admitted to growing up in love with the legendary Ranch, partly located in King County, Texas, and Hutchinson County and Carson County, acknowledged the purchase as a dream come true.
According to him, getting one of the horses from the Ranch elevated your status in the community because of how well-trained they were. In 2019, he visited the last owner before him, the late Anne Marion, then 81 years old, to convince her to let him feature her Ranch on his show, Yellowstone. It was a fruitful endeavor because the Ranch was featured on the show before Sheridan became the owner.
Marion died a few months after Sheridan’s visit, and the actor got a call that the property was on sale per the wishes spelled out in Marion’s last will and that he could become the owner if he could part with $350 million. His $200 million overall production deal renewal with Paramount Global, coupled with collaboration with some investors, funded the purchase of the property and made him the new owner.
The 6666 ranch has a unique history that began with the purchase of the 266,000-acre Ranch, which encompasses three separate properties and is reportedly bigger than the entire city of San Antonio, by Samuel “Burk” Burnett in 1870. He bought the Ranch from the previous owners, the Louisville Land and Cattle Company.
The Ranch became known as the 6666 or the Four Sixes Ranch after Burnett purchased it. It was initially touted that he had won the Ranch at a card game with a hand of four sixes, hence the name of the Ranch. However, both Burnett and his descendants have debunked this myth.
The reality remains that the Ranch got its name from the 6666 brands Burnett used on the first 100 herds of cattle he bought and raised on the Ranch. The Ranch remained in the Burnett family until the death of his great-granddaughter Anne Windfohr Marion in February 2020. She had inherited the Ranch in 1980 and lived on the property with her fourth husband, John L. Marion, until her death.
Some would point out that the history of the Ranch is closely linked to the account of the Yellowstone ranch as portrayed in the series. However, Sheridan has not clearly stated whether the story of Yellowstone is based on the ownership and descent of 6666 through the different members of Anne Windfor Marion’s ancestors.
What Is Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone Character?
Taylor Sheridan portrays the character of Travis Wheatley in Yellowstone. For clarity, the aforementioned character is a veteran horse trainer and rodeo competitor whose services are often employed by the show’s main character, John Dutton portrayed by veteran Hollywood icon Kevin Costner.
Given his heavy workload, which has seen him allegedly pen every single episode of Yellowstone and its spinoffs, as well as being the creator or showrunner of other series like Tulsa King and Mayor Of Kingstown, it may seem a bit much for him to also take on the responsibilities of playing the character of Travis Wheatley in the series.
However, Sheridan’s Yellowstone is renowned for its authenticity, and he did not want to water it down in any way. the actor revealed that he took on the role of Travis Wheatley because he could not find another actor who had the requisite skills to pull off the character of Travis convincingly. It also gave the actor a unique opportunity to showcase his horse-riding skills. He has since appeared as Travis Wheatley in nine episodes of the Yellowstone series.
Did Taylor Sheridan Write Yellowstone?
Yes, Taylor Sheridan is part-writer of the Yellowstone series. Going by how much experience and knowledge he has about ranching and the filmmaking process, it’s easy to see why he was a big part of the writing process for the series.
The prevailing theory has always been that Taylor Sheridan wrote every single episode of Yellowstone himself, but several sources have debunked that theory. There is no doubting the fact that he wrote the majority of the episodes, but some writers contributed to the show as well.
However, it must be stated that Taylor Sheridan’s in-depth knowledge of the Western genre, as well as a desire to keep the flow of authenticity that the show had come to become associated with, strengthened his resolve to write most of the series by himself. Even though he shared the responsibility of writing Yellowstone, he took it upon himself to write its prequel 1883.
Is Taylor Sheridan in 1883, and What Is His Character?
Taylor Sheridan made a guest appearance in 1883, a prequel series to Yellowstone. Given that 1883 was set about 100 years before the events of Yellowstone took place, it should come as no surprise that Sheridan portrays a different character to the character of Travis Wheatley that he portrayed in Yellowstone.
In 1883, Sheridan played the role of Charles “Charlie” Goodnight, a real-life cowboy and rancher. Sheridan’s character was also a Texas Ranger. It would take a well-informed person to recognize the fact that the actor played some active role in the series because even the most hard-core fans of Yellowstone would have found it difficult to recognize Sheridan as the actor behind the character of Charlie Goodnight.
This is because even though both characters were seasoned headers, they were very different in appearance. In 1883, Goodnight spotted a full beard that hid most of his facial features, making it rather impossible to recognize that it was Sheridan. The character of Wheatley, on the other hand, was clean-shaven. As earlier indicated, Sheridan’s appearance in 1883 was limited to just two episodes, which notably included collaborating with the main characters to fight off some cattle rustlers.
Did Taylor Sheridan Create Sons of Anarchy?
Taylor Sheridan portrayed the character of David Hale in the FX TV series Sons of Anarchy, but he is not the show’s creator. That honor and privilege belong to American screenwriter, director, producer, and actor Kurt Leon Sutter. Sheridan’s character, David Hale, is the deputy chief of the Charming Police Department, who earned the nickname Captain America.
His first appearance came in the episode titled Seeds, while his last appearance came in the episode titled SO, where he was murdered while trying to stop a van of shooters. Sons of Anarchy premiered on September 3, 2008, and ran for seven seasons, coming up to a total of ninety-two (92) episodes. Its finale aired on December 9, 2014.
The series was relatively successful and earned positive reviews from fans and critics alike. Among the many review sites that rated it, the lowest rating it received was 68/100, which came in the first season. Subsequently, it grew famous and received bigger ratings, with the highest being 86/100 during the second season.
List of Taylor Sheridan’s Movies and TV shows
As an Actor
- 1995 – Walker, Texas Ranger as Vernon (1 ep)
- 1996 – Her Costly Affair as Chris
- 1997 – Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as Corporal WInters (1 ep)
- 1999 – Party of Five as Counterguy (1 ep)
- 2000 – Time of Your Life as Conor (1 ep)
- 2001 – V.I.P. as Dave (1 ep)
- 2001 – Bad News Mr. Swanson as Charlie
- 2002 – Strong Medicine as Tucker (1 ep)
- 2003 – The Guardian as Tim Dohanic (1 ep)
- 2003 – White Rush as Tug/Douglas
- 2003 – 10-8: Officers on Duty as Shooter (1 ep)
- 2004 – Star Trek: Enterprise as Jareb (1 ep)
- 2004 – NYPD Blue as Tim Lewis (1 ep)
- 2005 – C.S.I.: N.Y. as Joel Banks (1 ep)
- 2005 – C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation as Evan Peters (1 ep)
- 2005 – 2007 – Veronica Mars as Danny Boyd (5 eps)
- 2010 – Sons of Anarchy: Happy Ending Roundtable as Deputy David Hale
- 2008 – 2010 – Sons of Anarchy as Deputy David Hale (21 eps)
- 2011 – NCIS: Los Angeles as Navy Captain Jennings (1 ep)
- 2016 – Hell or High Water as Cowboy
- 2018 – 12 Strong as Brian
- 2018 – 2021 – Yellowstone as Travis/Travis Wheatley (8 episodes)
- 2022 – 1883 as Charles Goodnight (2 eps)
As a Director
- 2011 – Vile
- 2017 – Wind River
- 2021 – Those Who Wish Me Dead
- 2021 – Mayor of Kingstown (2 eps)
- 2021 – 1883 (1 ep)
- 2018 – 2021 – Yellowstone (11 eps)
As a Writer
- 2015 – Sicario
- 2016 – Hell or High Water
- 2017 – Wind River
- 2018 – Sicario: Day of the Soldado
- 2019 – – The Last Cowboy (18 eps)
- 2021 – Without Remorse
- 2021 – Those Who Wish Me Dead
- 2021 – 2022 – 1883 (10 eps)
- 2018 – 2023 – Yellowstone (53 eps)
- 2022 – – Tulsa King (10 eps)
- 2022 – 2023 – 1923 (9 eps)
- 2021 – – Mayor of Kingstown (20 eps)
- 2023 – – Special Ops: Lioness
As a Producer/Executive Producer
- 2019 – – The Last Cowboy (Executive Producer, 18 eps)
- 2021 – Those Who Wish Me Dead (Producer)
- 2021 – Pure Grit (Executive Producer)
- 2022 – 1883: The Road West (Executive Producer)
- 2021 – 2022 – 1883 (Executive Producer, 10 eps)
- 2018 – 2023 – Yellowstone (Executive Producer, 47 eps)
- 2022 – Tulsa King (Executive Producer, 10 eps)
- 2021 – – Mayor of Kingstown (Executive Producer, 12 eps)
- 2022 – 2023 – 1923 (Executive Producer, 7 eps)
- 2023 – – Special Ops: Lioness (Executive Producer, 7 eps)
What Is Taylor Sheridan’s Net Worth?
Taylor Sheridan’s net worth is currently estimated to be about $70 million. This recent figure is a huge leap from his previous $20 million pre-2022. The actor and filmmaker has made north of $200 million throughout his career in the entertainment industry.
Since making his debut as an actor in the 1990s, his career has steadily progressed to the point where his impact is significantly felt in Hollywood as a whole. Aside from his work in the entertainment industry, Sheridan earns a notable portion of his relatively sizable net worth from breeding and showing quarter horses on his ranches.
Beyond the fact that he has been a part of some very successful movie franchises, his recent involvement in the purchase of some parts of the four-sixes Ranch is a major contributing factor to the leap in his net worth. After announcements were made that Yellowstone was coming to an end, questions were raised about the hefty sum Taylor Sheridan charged Paramount and 101 Studios (who jointly produced the show) to film the show on his Ranch.
He allegedly charged $50,000 weekly and has been renting the Ranch to other producers for other productions. Executives of both companies eventually spoke up to say they understand that filmmaking can be expensive, and they are comfortable with the arrangement they have with Sheridan.
How Much Does Taylor Sheridan Make Per Episode of Yellowstone?
According to several verifiable sources like celebrity net worth, Taylor Sheridan made $250k for each of the 9 episodes he featured on Yellowstone. However, other sources say he earns as much as $1.3 million per episode of the show. With this huge disparity, it is easy to see that the $1.3 figure is the overall money he makes as the creator of the show, an actor, director, and for the use of his Ranch, among many other things.
The relative growth and enviable success of the show, which received a mixed response from critics following its premiere, is largely responsible for the significant sums the actor and some of the other big names on the show raked in throughout the show. Sheridan’s total pay is only rivaled by the lead actor Kevin Costner, who allegedly made $500,000 per episode of season one and later $1.3 towards season 3 and onwards.
Where Does Taylor Sheridan Live?
Taylor Sheridan currently resides in Weatherford, Texas. After leaving his home state at the beginning of his entertainment career, the actor and filmmaker bounced around several big cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, all in a bid to give his career in the industry a boost.
Since practically taking over Hollywood with his numerous critically acclaimed shows like Yellowstone and Tulsa King, he has returned to his home state in Texas, where he conducts his affairs. When asked about his daily routine on the Ranch, Sheridan said he wakes up early, rides his horse, moves cattle, and does other ranch stuff. This is where he draws inspiration, works out many of his ideas, and solves storytelling problems.
Sheridan admits that he is overworked as he currently has five shows running, but he is not complaining since he had waited a long time to get to where he is now. Hence, he prefers the tranquility he gets on the Ranch to help him organize his thoughts and pen down each show to his best ability.
What Is Taylor Sheridan’s Height?
Taylor Sheridan stands at a relatively imposing 5 feet 10.5 inches (179 cm). That places him just about an inch taller than the average American actor, who stands at just over 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm).
Even though his height is right around the average, there is some disparity when you compare it to the heights of his Yellowstone co-stars. Sheridan is a few inches shorter than Kevin Costner, who is the tallest actor on the show at 6 feet 1 inches (185.4 cm). Other cast members who are taller than him include Moses Brings Plenty (Mo) at 6 feet 1 inches (185 cm), Cole Hauser (Rip Wheeler) at 6 feet ½ inches (184.2 cm), and Luke Timothy Grimes (Kayce Dutton) at 5 feet 11¼ inches (181 cm).
However, Taylor Sheridan is also taller than others like Kelly Reilly (Beth Dutton), who is 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm), Denim Richards (Colby Mayfield), who is 5 feet 10 inches tall, and Forrie J. Smith (Lloyd Pierce) who is 5 feet 8 inches tall.
Other aspects of his physical features and body measurements include a body weight of about 75 kg, as well as black hair and black eyes. His workout is mostly covered by his daily routine of work at the ranch. He’s said he does not need a gym to keep fit.
