“Yellowstone” Pays Tribute to Wilford Brimley: Why the Show Honored a Western Legend
A moving tribute to actor Wilford Brimley appeared in a season 3 episode of the hit series “Yellowstone,” despite the fact that Brimley never actually appeared on the show. The gesture, which aired just weeks after Brimley’s passing in August 2020, sparked curiosity among fans and highlighted the profound respect the show’s creator, Taylor Sheridan, and team held for the veteran actor.
“Yellowstone,” created by Taylor Sheridan, has become a cultural phenomenon, spawning numerous spin-offs and captivating audiences with its modern take on Western storytelling. As such, even a brief acknowledgment within the show carries significant weight. The tribute in question, featured in the season 3 episode “Meaner Than Evil,” read: “In loving memory of Wilford Brimley; A cowboy, an artist, and a damn good friend.”
A Career Spanning Decades
Wilford Brimley, known for his roles in classics like “The Thing” and “Cocoon,” enjoyed a career that stretched back to the late 1960s. Beyond his mainstream success, Brimley cultivated a strong connection to the Western genre. His early work included a minor role in the 1969 John Wayne film “True Grit,” and he continued to appear in Western-themed projects throughout his career, including television shows like “The Oregon Trail,” “How the West Was Won,” and “Walker Texas Ranger,” as well as films such as “Rodeo Girl,” “Tender Mercies,” “Billy the Kid,” and “Crossfire Trail.”
However, Brimley’s talent extended far beyond the Western landscape. He delivered memorable performances in films like “The Natural” and “In & Out,” and collaborated with acclaimed director Sydney Pollack on “Absence of Malice.” According to sources, Brimley was known for his professionalism and ability to navigate Hollywood without creating animosity.
Why the “Yellowstone” Tribute?
The question remained: why honor Brimley on a show he wasn’t involved with? The answer, it appears, lies in a simple acknowledgment of a life well-lived and a career worthy of respect. “Put plainly, Sheridan and everyone else behind ‘Yellowstone’ clearly felt that Brimley, through his body of work, had earned that tribute,” one analyst noted. “They simply wanted to pay their respects to a legendary actor, and understandably so.”
The tribute gained added significance as season 3 of “Yellowstone” is considered the show’s highest-rated season to date. While some viewers briefly confused actor Barry Corbin with Brimley in a later season, this was unrelated to the initial tribute and occurred after Brimley’s death, adding to the confusion. Ultimately, the gesture served as a heartfelt acknowledgment of a deserving actor’s legacy.
Fans can revisit the entire series with “Yellowstone: The Complete Series” available on Blu-ray or DVD from Amazon.
