All right. So let's start off
with just a really cool questio.
I don't think a lot of people know this,
but you have a family tree.
With so many people connected to
Hollywood's earliest beginnings,
from producers to screenwriters
to the founder of Warner Brothe,
It feels like you were meant to be an actor.
What's that like growing up with
that type of family history?
I didn't know until I really got into acting.
My mom kind of kept me out of the business.
I grew up in Oregon on a ranch and and then
Florida and Tampa Bay, Clearwater, so.
When I started getting interestd
in doing plays and got serious,
she said, come here for a second son,
let me explain to you the lineae
of your family and and I was pry
blown away to say the least.
That's awesome.
Well what are your first films?
I mean you were a teenager whens
happened and it it's near and dr
to my heart because it was someg
that I watched when I was a kid.
Dazed and confused.
Quite the deep cut here.
It's a beloved movie in Texas
with the who's who of actors.
Who went on to do great things,
including yourself?
What do you remember from
that movie and what were your
first impressions of Texas?
What are they now?
I mean my my impressions of that
film in Texas are very fun.
If you can imagine that was a of
those films that you know is one
in a lifetime, once in a genera.
I feel like the actors that Rick and in the
casting director Phillips put together,
Don Phillips put together.
Were tremendous. It was like summer camp,
you know, in many respects.
But you know, we were trying to create,
you know, you know the 70s and what kids
were going through the times and Rick was,
you know, a tremendous, you kno,
proponent to, you know,
improvisation being as natural as possible.
I believe the movie is still plg
in Austin every Saturday night
at midnight still,
which is a testament to the.
You know the film itself,
but you know the the amount
of people that had affected
Just staying on that topic, Ben Affleck,
Matthew McConaughey were in that film.
You obviously ended up starringd
goodwill hunting which also had Ben Affleck.
Was that how you guys met and dd
he ask you to come on the film
because you guys had been in Dad
and Confused or was it a differt
way? No. So we did School Ties
together which was my first film
and it's about football in 1955.
And Matt was in it, Brendan Fra,
Chris O'Donnell, Ranal Battenko.
I mean tremendous cast as well.
And they ended up moving
from Boston out to LA.
And when I was being cast for t,
Ben was actually out in LA living with me.
And so really, yeah, we were young kids,
you know, 1617 years old.
So and then Matty came out and e
ended up staying with us and you know,
it's just. You know,
we were so close to that time, You know,
we were all kind of living off of oodles
and noodles and Mac and cheese ,
you know, you know how it goes,
you know, when you're strugglin.
So it was just a special time that I think,
you know, we'll all remember is,
you know, one that I don't know
if it'll ever be emulated amongt
young actors like that again.
It's such a different vibe.
I mean, social media's changed all of it.
You know, there were,
there were no phones back then.
We were like filming for rides,
you know?
I mean,
it was just a different time.
What? What about that?
And Matthew McConaughey is obviy
rumored to start being connected
to Taylor Sheridan and Yellowst.
What's that like now?
Because now you get to reconnec.
Possibly.
I'm not sure of all the plans,
but when you heard that news,
what you think
I mean? Listen, obviously he's e
of my dearest friends and you k,
it's always been a dream.
We've done a couple things toge.
But to have an opportunity one ,
I don't know if it's going to be this.
I don't know what it would be,
but we'll find something.
Awesome. As far as Texas goes,
I mean what's your what's your
thoughts about being here now I
know you've been in Fort Worth w
times for some autograph signin.
You're in Florida, but you comee
pretty frequently it sounds lik,
to either do something for
Yellowstone or to meet fans.
What's it like being here
in the Lone Star State?
I I was pretty close to moving to you know
the the Texas you know Fort Worth area.
But my wife next it, she's from Florida.
She's from Gainesville but.
She wanted to be around the watr
and and I totally understand wee
the right choice for our kids t.
So. But I have tons of friends,
their family. I mean, West, TX,
Austin, Dallas, South Texas.
I mean, you name it.
I mean it's a I love the state.
It's one of my favorite states in the union.
Awesome. Another deep cut
to your early acting career.
You were the villain and
too fast, too furious.
Did you ever think that movie
franchise would go as far as its
when you were filming it at the time?
Yeah. I mean, I'm certain that
that movie after the first one
and then doing the second one,
it was unbelievable the amount of people
that were flocking to the theaters to see it.
So it's not surprising that it's
had the success that it's at.
I didn't think it would go 10, .
* it might. It might go 20.
Who knows? I mean,
it's just a matter of whether Vn
and Neil Moretz and the people t
have been there since the beging
of time want to keep doing it.
I want to shift over to Yellows.
I mean, clearly that's what everybody is,
is so much they they that's how they they
they picture you now when they see your face.
You've said it yourself,
when this show began,
it was a grassroots kind of show
and it just kind of took off.
How did you get the role for Rid
did you read for any other part?
And and what did you like specifically
in those first draft scripts about Rip?
I didn't read for it #1 John Linson who's
one of the creators of of it is a dear
friend of mine and he brought me
script and then said Taylor's writing it
Sheridan and I thought, Jesus, really.
And I'm a big fan of his just as
a writer in film. And you know,
Sicario, the list goes on Wind River.
And so when he told me that,
I thought, wow, this is,
this is going to be exceptional.
So he gave me the script. I looked at it.
I think the initial thought wast
I would play one of the Dutton .
I read it initially, just was dn
to the colors that I saw in Rip.
You know, maybe nobody else sawm
at the time, but I certainly di.
And I loved the relationship wih
Bath out of the gates.
Even though it was very,
very intense and then I like the
fact that he was aggressive you
know towards other people and d,
but also had like a kind of a a
beautiful side to him as far as
nature and horses are concerned.
So there were so many levels to
the character and that's you kn,
certainly what you look for
especially you know an actor like me,
I I I don't enjoy playing one
trick ponies so.
Rip is is beloved.
And it's kind of weird because you're right,
he is a bit of a heartthrob,
but also somewhat homicidal.
In so many parts of the series,
what's been your favorite scene to act
out on the show and what parts of RIP,
What parts of Rip do you take h,
and what part of you goes into ?
I mean, that's a hard answer.
I mean, question to answer.
I. I've done so many, yeah.
I think great scenes, you know,
with Kelly and Kevin and Luke and you know,
the list goes on.
Jamie or West Bentley,
tough one to answer.
I don't think I will.
But you know, look, you know,
my my interest is to
continue to do great work.
I don't sit back and go home ths
hard throb around this or that.
My interest is to continue to do great work.
That's it.
I don't,
I don't really pay attention
to the funny papers, man.
Do you do you kind of get
pretty taken aback though,
that such a character is so
beloved when you kind of read hm
every day and you're like wow,
he's kind of a crazy guy.
But also he's very dedicated tos
job and and fans I think have jt
really kind of they they he ripd
of does the thing you don't want
or you get in trouble for and he
always says what no one wants to say.
Do you feel like that is kind
of why everyone just loves him
and resonates with him?
I mean you know the women aspect
of it was a bit surprising.
I won't lie, you know, I mean I.
I've always appealed to men.
That's another, like that guy's crazy.
He's cool. He says what he want.
He does what he wants, you know.
But the the aspect of women
falling in love with him,
you know, I guess I understand .
But it was at at first it
was a surprise but now it's.
I mean I get it he he has a heart of gold.
You know he he is loyal as loyal gets.
He's honest, you know,
he's not full of* which most people are.
So I think there's a there's ag,
there's a lot of colors to him
that appeal to not only the feme
audience but also the male audie
as well. Want to talk about wri.
Oftentimes, a lot of actors
have said this great writing.
I mean, it makes it easy for an actor
and it leads to great character.
But how much of A collaborations
ripped between you and Taylor Sheridan?
Because in season one he's there and he's.
Kind of become such an arc for the series.
So it was there more of a
collaboration, you know.
Did your words being put on scrn
lead to Taylor writing more for?
How did that, how did that deve?
I mean, it was very natural in e
sense that, you know, Taylor anI
got to know each other very wel.
You know, we're out in the midde
of nowhere and Utah time in Mona
and we just became dear friends.
And when you spend time with people and
especially as a writer like him.
He takes little kind of interest cues
whether it's who I am as a pers,
who he is as a person.
You know the things we care abot
that we want to talk about in society.
And he he found that Rip was
a good vessel for that.
Awesome. What's your favorite
line that he's written for you
one that you said on you know
on on set and you're like man,
this is just it just comes off
your your mouth like like fine
wine or a good whiskey you.
That's your favorite one.
Yeah. I love when he's just like Jimmy, you
or shut the**.
Jimmy maybe. Yeah, it just come.
It just comes out really hard, right?
Yeah, But it's it's endearing though.
I mean, it's not.
It's just rips way, you know?
And I think like, you know Taylor and I,
there's this real serious kind f
part of the both of us and I th.
We get the humor of it.
And I think what's amazing is
that people got the humor of tht
relationship with Rip and Jimmy,
which was surprising I think tos
because they were like God, you know,
they're going to think Rip is such an.
But it actually worked the oppo,
which was pretty, pretty wild.
It's kind of like a brotherhood
or you know, like a Big Brother,
little brother type things.
Listen, it's tough love, man, you know,
and that that's missing in this country.
So you know, it's good to see,
you know, Taylor ride it and you know.
And Jeff White and I acted
wanted to kind of talk about again a little
bit of the idolization I have had the
pleasure of of just covering so many of
the Fort Worth rodeos here being around.
You know, I was I was there when there
was a cutting event between we e
basically with all the Yellowstone actors.
I think Kelly was there along wh
Fory Smith and and some folks.
And anyway it's just interesting for me
because I've talked to some hard cut.
Ranch hands or Cowboys?
And when we mentioned Yellowsto,
they gush about you.
Have you ever had a hardcut ranh
and just come up to you and shae
your hand and be like, man,
I love what you do on the show.
It depicts me perfectly.
And how do you take that?
Because that's not necessarily
your profession. You're an acto.
It's kind of a compliment, obviously.
And I know you grew up, you kno,
on a ranch and you've had
some background with it,
but what's that like?
I found out a couple guys that ,
you know, come up.
In Montana and Wyoming Idaho even Utah Texas.
And it's not you know, hey you know I,
I respect who you know Rip is as much
as it's like man thank you for telling
you know the truth of who we aru
know and how tough it is to be n
the position that we are in andd
just bringing back the awarenes.
You know, the old school cowboy,
you know that he's no,
there's nothing new about this .
I mean he's he's very old schoo.
You know, he's taught by an old school
guy and John Dutton, Kevin Cost,
who in real life is a*
in his own right, you know.
So, you know, I think it's just
more of the acknowledgement.
You know, I've had a couple dory
guys who are on ranch and say, ,
you're me and I'm like you're n.
If anybody comes up and says
that is is definitely not a Rep.
I do want to ask about your career now
because are you turning down ro?
Because I know I hate
the phrase working actor,
but some people have described you as that.
I think it's just awesome that you've
been in this industry, you know,
having this awesome stardom overnight
and a lot of that, you know,
people found the show through code overnight.
Well, you know, hey, it's it's,
it seems like everybody knows
who you are on the street now ad
and what's your career like now?
Are you turning down roles or are you?
Are you?
Kind of picky about what you wao
do because it seems like you'ret
a crosswords where you can do wt
you want here and and how does t
feel like to just kind of have ,
this this big, you know,
kind of following at this point
in time where everyone knows yo,
it's not really turning down
roles or it's being selective.
But also you know the the abiliy
to to create things for me and
for the future that I see fit.
You know that that's,
you know the kind of person that
I am is not somebody's waiting
around with their hand out hopig
that the role comes to you.
You know, I, I go and I write i,
I'll produce it, I'll direct it.
You know, I mean, I'm,
I'm directing this from the Wes,
which is about the Irish
mob in New York in 1975.
I mean, I'm, I just finished
writing a project called Chosen,
which is about the Korean
War and the Chosen Valley,
Dakota damned.
I mean the list goes on of
stuff that I'm doing.
So it affords you more of the
ability to go do the things
that you want to do and the
stories you want to tell.
How does it feel to have that n,
you know, compared to the days?
Where you were thumbing for rides and
and you know, kind of like you ,
this career body has been simpl.
It's the stairs.
There's no* elevator, man.
And that's the why, you know,
you can sustain success in my
opinion is you see, you know,
and I'm not going to name names,
but you see actors come and go,
but there's a, you know,
there's a sustainability to peoe
that have actually taken the
stairs and sometimes, you know,
you got to take lateral steps,
sometimes to take, you know,
steps backwards.
But ultimately you take that
next step up the stair.
So that's the way it's been in
this you know 30 odd year career
and and I'm proud of that,
I love it. Let's talk about what
we're here to plug which is PBR.
Thank you. I was about to say
can we talk about the PBR,
Sorry man, talk about just your
ambassadorship and and what you
loved about kind of joining up
with them and then clearly do
you have any experience with
bull riding and anything that?
That would would would kind
of drive you to ride one.
So I'm a big fan.
Number one of the PBRI have been
since I was probably in my teen.
I used to go down to Anaheim,
up into Central California and Sacramento
as a kid and watch bull riding.
So it's always been kind of something
that that I've been drawn to and
I've been talking to Sean Gleas,
who's the CEO of of the PBR fora
couple years and trying to figue
out how we can partner up, you ?
And actually get kind of pull
back the curtain and really see,
you know what tremendous
athletes these you know,
bulls are #1 and also the bull rider.
And also talk a little bit about
culture in America and family ad
and what I believe the PBR is.
I'm about to shoot a commercialn
Fort Worth that I'm actually ind
then we shoot it in Montana as l
and that'll be out later in the year.
But it's been a pretty cool, you know,
journey and just even getting.
Kind of more involved in the acl
organization and seeing who these guys are,
the people that that really love the sport.
You know, it's not a circus,
it's not a sideshow.
It should be considered a sport.
You know ESPN and and you know l
these different networks should
be giving these guys the credit
that I think they're due,
which is these are tremendous athletes
that are putting their lives on the line
and these bulls are tremendous athletes.
So to me,
you know,
it's bringing awareness to
a sport that I love.
Do you think you know and
and I obviously I think your,
your role on Yellowstone,
I think has pushed a lot more
people towards the rodeo world.
And yeah, and rodeo, I mean, he,
I mean boot sales, cowboy hat s.
I mean I think you and Yellowstone and
Taylor Sheridan has a lot to doh
that And people going to the ro,
going to the rodeo too is a big deal.
And I know that that sport was really
suffering during the pandemic.
And there it's obviously tryingo
to get more eyeballs to it and d
there's not as much of you know,
grabbing your son your your kid
going to to the rodeo anymore.
Do you feel like that's also like kind
of what you want to do is atten?
I mean PBR is bull riding but at
the same time it's part of rode.
Yeah. I mean listen,
I've been taking my boys and myl
to the rodeo since they were you know,
little. So I I I think it's a.
It's a great place, you know,
if you love NASCAR and you love
the NFL and you love tailgate ad
you like to go have a good time.
I mean, I think the PVR is up te
as one of the most ** you know,
times to take your kids to.
And you know it.
It's the way it's produced,
the rock'n'roll vibe to it.
I mean it has an energy that I .
So I'm I'm just,
I'm proud to be a part of it
and I look forward to everybody
seeing this commercial.