1923 Cast & Character Guide

Summary

• 1923
  features a star-studded cast including Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, bringing the characters to life in a dark time in Montana’s history.
• The show introduces new characters to the Dutton family tree and includes memorable villains, exploring the hardships faced during this era.
• The well-selected cast adds to the sweeping and rich Western story, with each character playing a crucial role in the establishment of the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the U.S.

The star-studded cast of 1923 brings the characters of the second Yellowstone spinoff to life, with the ensemble boasting an incredible roster that includes Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren. Set in a dark time in the history of Montana, 1923 sees the Duttons struggling to keep their ranching empire afloat in the face of both natural and manmade obstacles. Amid the Great Depression, Prohibition, a cattle theft epidemic, and a host of other challenges, 1923 explores how the Duttons somehow pull through and establish the largest contiguous cattle ranch in the U.S. by the time Yellowstone begins.

Like 1883 before it, 1923 adds many new characters to the Dutton family tree. Of course, the Dutton family is known for facing their share of enemies, and the 1923 cast also includes some of the most memorable villains in the franchise to date. Some characters in 1923 are more-or-less disconnected from the future of the Dutton ranch too, and have their own stories showing the hardships other people and cultures faced during this brutal era of American history. All of the 1923 characters come together to add to the sweeping and rich Western story, with an impeccably well-selected cast.

Jacob Dutton

Played By Harrison Ford

Character: Jacob Dutton is played by Harrison Ford in 1923. Jacob took over the ranch after the deaths of Yellowstone Dutton Ranch founders, 1883‘s Margaret (Faith Hill) and James Dutton (Tim McGraw). Apart from turning the ranch into a small empire, Jacob and his wife, Cara Dutton, raised James and Margaret’s kids, Spencer and John Dutton Sr., as their own. Though he is weakened by an early assassination attempt in the series, Jacob remains the strong center of the Dutton familyand the one they all look to for guidance.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Actor: 1923 cast member Harrison Ford is one of the most iconic Hollywood actors in history. He became a household name with his breakout role as Han Solo in Star Wars and cemented that status with the Indian Jones franchise. He recently had his final adventure as Indy in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Beyond his two most beloved franchises, Ford has starred in Blade Runner, The Fugitive, Air Force One, and Witness for which he was nominated for an Oscar. He will next be seen joining the MCU as Thunderbolt Ross in Captain America: Brave New World.

Cara Dutton

Played By Helen Mirren

Character: Harrison Ford is joined in the 1923 cast by Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton, and there’s a reason why Jacob refers to his wife Cara as “the boss.” While Jacob leads the ranch’s cowboys, Cara is in charge of the day-to-day operations on the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. When her family is attacked, Cara steps up to take control, fight back against their enemies, and continue to protect her loved ones at any cost.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Actor: A screen veteran with over 100 movies and series under her belt prior to joining the cast of 1923, Dame Helen Mirren won an Oscar for The Queen and received nominations for The Madness of King George, Gosford Park, and The Last Station. Mirren has also appeared in The Long Good Friday, Shazam!: Fury of the Gods, and was recently part of the cast of Fast X as well as narrator of Barbie.

Spencer Dutton

Played By Brandon Sklenar

Character: Spencer is the youngest son of James and Margaret Dutton, and is played in the 1923 cast by Brandon Sklenar. After fighting in the Great War, Spencer Dutton moved to Namibia to become a successful hunter. The first season of 1923 follows Spencer’s perilous journey back home after learning about the dire situation he finds himself in. It remains to be seen how quickly Spencer makes it home in season 2 of 1923.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Actor: Actor Brandon Sklenar is a relative newcomer who has certainly found his breakout role in 1923. He had a small but memorable appearance in the limited series The Offer as Burt Reynolds. He has also had small roles in Adam McKay’s Oscar-winning Vice and the World War II movie Midway. He will next be seen alongside Blake Lively in the anticipated romance It Ends with Us.

Jack Dutton

Played By Darren Mann

Character: The fiery Jack Dutton, played in the 1923 cast by Darren Mann, is the son of Emma and John Dutton Sr. Jack and a dedicated cowboy who is set to marry his fiancée, Elizabeth. Notably, Jack is the only member of the third generation of Yellowstone‘s Duttons in 1923. He has a youthful arrogance that makes him feel invincible, but he is also smart enough to stop and listen to the more experienced relatives around him.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Actor: Canadian actor Darren Mann is another newcomer who looks to have a bright career ahead of him. Before 1923, Mann had memorable roles as Baz in season 6 of Animal Kingdom and Luke Chalfant in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. He also appeared opposite Oscar winner Morgan Freeman in the thriller The Minute You Wake Up Dead in 2022.

Elizabeth Strafford

Played By Michelle Randolph

Character: Elizabeth Strafford is dead-set on marrying Jack Dutton, even though he seems more interested in herding cattle than marriage. Nonetheless, Jack and Emma’s relationship is a crucial chapter in the ranch’s history and could reveal more about the Yellowstone timeline and how 1923‘s Duttons are connected to Yellowstone‘s first family. Though she comes from a family very different from the Duttons, she chooses to stay with them rather than flee once the violence begins.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Actor: 1923 cast Michelle Randolph as Elizabeth, a decision that worked well for the series. A relative newcomer to the screen, Randolph also appears in House of the Witch and A Snow White Christmas. She is set to join another Taylor Sheridan series with Landman opposite Billy Bob Thorton, Demi Moore, and Jon Hamm which began filming in early 2024.

John Dutton Sr.

Played By James Badge Dale

Character: Spencer’s big brother, John Dutton Sr., is the eldest son of James and Margaret Dutton. He is portrayed in the cast of 1923 by James Badge Dale. John, who was just a little boy in 1883, grew up to be a capable cowboy in 1923 and a good father to Jack. Sadly, he is an early casualty in 1923 as John is killed when the Duttons are ambushed by Banner Creighton and his men.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Actor: James Badge Dale is an actor who has made an impressive career in both movies and television. After getting his start on shows like 24, Dale went on to appear in films like the MCU’s Iron Man 3, Brad Pitt’s horror movie World War Z, and the Oscar-winning Martin Scorsese crime movie The Departed. One of his most prominent roles was in the cast of The Pacific as Robert Leckie. He will next be seen in Jeremy Saulnier’s crime movie Rebel Ridge.

Emma Dutton

Played By Marley Shelton

Character: Marley Shelton’s 1923 character Emma Dutton is the wife of John Dutton Sr. and the mother of Jack. Emma also assists Cara in running the ranch when the cowboys are away. Following John’s death, Emma falls into a deep depression and struggles to find a reason to carry on. Sh’s a character who highlights the deep loss that the Dutton family suffers over the course of their legacy in America. The final few episodes of 1923 seasn 1 show how the family also has to contend with the harsh realities of their lifestyle as she pulls herself together.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Actor: Actor Marley Shelton is a notable horror movie actor with roles in Grindhouse, The Perfect Getaway, and in the Scream franchise as Judy Hicks. She also appeared in Dwayne Johnson’s adventure movie Rampage, Oliver Stone’s W, and Sin City.

Zane Davis

Played By Brian Geraghty

Character: Similar to Rip Wheeler on Yellowstone, Zane is a loyal ranch hand who works at the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. Although Brian Geraghty’s 1923 character is not a Dutton, he acts and is treated as though he’s part of the family, implying he’s been working at the ranch for years. Outside of the ranch, Zane is a family man who lives a peaceful life with his wife and children, who becomes targeted by the enemies of the Dutton family.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Actor: Brian Geraghty starred in the Best Picture winner The Hurt Locker, played opposite Denzel Washington in Flight, and was in Sam Mendes’ Jarhead. He has appeared on all three of the One Chicago series as Sean Roman. More recently, Geraghty has had notable television roles as Ronald Pergman in Big Sky and as Colin Murphy in The Fugitive.

Teonna

Played By Aminah Nieves

Character: While fans knew the series would focus on a new generation of the Dutton family, many were unprepared for 1923‘s most shocking storyline based of real events. Teonna, played by Aminah Nieves, is an Indigenous American stuck in a Catholic boarding school where she suffers abuse from nuns and priests. Much of the season deals with her escape and fight for freedom as she is hunted by her sadistic abusers. Conversations around Teonna hint that she could be related to Yellowstone‘s Thomas Rainwater, chief of the Confederated Tribes of Broken Rock, and that her fate in 1923 will reveal more about Thomas’s family history.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Actor: Cast member Aminah Nieves is still early on in her career, with her only other notable appearance before 1923 being in Blueberry. In the same year she debuted in 1923, Nieves appeared in a segment in the horror anthology movie V/H/S/99.

Alexandra

Played By Julia Schlaepfer

Character: Alexandra, played by Julia Schlaepfer, is a woman who meets Spencer Dutton abroad. As a rich and affluent woman engaged to someone in her own class, Alexandra and Spencer seem like they are from two different worlds. However, they quickly form a bond, with Alexandra leaving her fiancé for Spencer and joining him on his journey back to the Yellowstone ranch. Alexandra is taken out of her comfort zone during her travels with Spencer as she encounters one danger after another. However, with each harrowing experience she encounters, her love for Spencer becomes clearer.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Actor: American actor Julia Schlaepfer is probably best known for playing the character of Alice Charles in Netflix’s comedy-drama The Politician opposite Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Platt. Her career has been largely focused on television projects with appearances in Madam Secretary and American Horror Stories. She also appeared in the Manson Family movie Charlie Says, which starred Matt Smith as Manson.

Banner Creighton

Played By Jerome Flynn

Character: Portrayed in another captivating performance by Jerome Flynn, 1923‘s Banner Creighton is an immigrant and sheepherder who is fighting with the local ranchers for grasslands. In Paradise Valley, Banner is one of the few people willing to butt heads with Jacob and Cara. When he decides to take more drastic measures against his new enemies, Banner finds some powerful allies who also want to see the Duttons removed from the land.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Actor: English actor Jerome Flynn is best known for playing Bronn, the nefarious yet likable sellsword who formed a bond with both Tyrion Lannister and his brother Jaime, in Game of Thrones. Flynn also appeared in as villain Berrada in John Wick: Chapter 3, the Oscar-nominated animated movie Loving Vincent, and was in the Black Mirror season 3 episode, “Shut Up and Dance”.

Donald Whitfield

Played By Timothy Dalton

Character: As 1923 is a story about the Duttons, it wouldn’t be complete without a villain tough enough to take on this family, which is where Donald Whitfield comes in. Donald is a foreign land developer seeking to take over not just the Dutton ranch, but the entire valley — with a little help from Banner Creighton. He is a man who is after power by any means and shows how greed gives way to some more sadistic habits as well. This only adds to his chilling villainous presence in the show.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Actor: Younger 1923 audiences may know Timothy Dalton from Doom Patrol, Penny Dreadful, and The Crown. However, in the world of cinema, Dalton is best known for playing James Bond in The Living Daylights and License to Kill. He has also appeared in The Rocketeer, Hot Fuzz, and the Toy Story franchise as Mr. Pricklepants.