A significant number of the most memorable deaths in the Yellowstone series often involve lesser characters. Intriguingly, the top death on our list was featured in just one episode.
In the year 2021, the Yellowstone prequel titled 1883, starring Tim McGraw, mirrored the style of the original series by including a total of six dramatic deaths in its narrative. This count falls slightly short of the eight fatalities seen in the original show.
Related: Yellowstone: Dutton Family Tree Updated After 1923 Season 2
The significance and predictability of characters played a crucial role in compiling this list. Characters who were not significantly important or had brief appearances were not given much consideration.
To clarify, even villains can occupy top positions. To illustrate, consider a renowned villain who ranked third among all time. Despite our prior knowledge of their demise, their death was still shocking.
In contrast to those who are fortunate, it’s tragically true that John Dutton (both versions), Elsa Dutton, and Jack Dutton, as well as friends from the Dutton family like Sheriff Haskell and Colby Mayfield, met their ends in their respective series. The passing of these characters is undeniably heart-wrenching; however, the emotional response to each death didn’t factor into our ranking process.
Just to make it clear, the upcoming list contains significant spoilers about deaths from one season of 1883, two seasons of 1923, and five seasons of Yellowstone. The next series might be titled Madison, while another prequel could potentially be set in 1944.
As that show begins, we’ll adjust this list as needed.
17 Most Stunning Yellowstone Franchise Deaths
17. Jamie Dutton, ‘Yellowstone’
In the final episode of Season 5 of Yellowstone, Jamie Dutton’s death had been seven years in the making. It was widely expected that Beth Dutton desired his demise, yet seeing it unfold was still shocking.
16. John Dutton, ‘Yellowstone’
In simpler terms, it was announced publicly that Kevin Costner wouldn’t reprise his role for Season 5 of Yellowstone. Given this, his character’s demise became unavoidable as Part 2 of the show’s final season unfolded.
15. Elsa Dutton, ‘1883’
Among the shocking deaths in the Yellowstone franchise, Elsa Dutton’s demise at the end of 1883 would have taken the top spot, if not for the fact that we witness her being fatally wounded by an arrow through the chest in the opening scenes of the prequel itself. The series then moves backward to depict James Dutton’s trek northwest, but the audience is well aware of what lies ahead.
14. Shea Brennan, ‘1883’
Captain Shea Brennan, a legendary franchise character, went through a prolonged depression throughout the entire season of “1883”. His unexpected suicide at the end, despite being a fitting conclusion, left viewers in shock. Though Brennan was aware of what lay ahead, the audience was not privy to this information.
13. James Dutton, ‘1883’ (Death Revealed During ‘1923’)
In a flashback sequence within Yellowstone, James Dutton is shown getting shot by cattle thieves in 1883, but it isn’t until the beginning of 1923 that we are certain he has died. The patriarch’s ending was not grandiose.
12. Margaret Dutton, ‘1883’ (Death Revealed During ‘1923’)
In the series ‘1923’, it turns out that Margaret Dutton passed away as well, and just like James, her demise was a surprise. We find this out through Elsa’s narration at the start of the show. After James had perished, Margaret met her end due to exposure and froze to death.
11. Claire Dutton, ‘1883’
Aunt Claire Dutton was a grumpy widow who was about to travel with the Duttons towards the northwest from Texas in 1883. Looking back, it seemed unlikely that she would have made it through the journey, but her suicide hinted at the major hardships that were yet to come.
10. John Dutton, ‘1923’
In Episode 3 of the first season of “1923”, John Dutton unfortunately passed away. If we had more insight into his character, he might be higher on this list. Unfortunately, his wife, Emma (who is Jack Dutton’s mother), does not appear on this list at all.
9. Ennis, ‘1883’
In the year of 1883, Elsa Dutton finds herself deeply in love with Ennis. It appears their journey would lead them to a lifetime together, until this storyline introduced a twist that tugged at our heartstrings. Tragically, Ennis meets his end halfway through the series, leaving an indelible mark on Elsa’s emotional state forever.
8. Donnie Haskell, ‘Yellowstone’
Sheriff Donnie Haskell, a frequent figure in Yellowstone, was generally amicable towards the Dutton family. However, his untimely demise at the end of Season 4 came as quite a shock. During a botched cafe robbery, John and Rip attempted to intervene but unfortunately, Donnie was struck by a stray bullet.
In reality, the death of the character was planned to allow actor Hugh Dillon to take on his role in Mayor of Kingstown.
7. Fred Meyers, ‘Yellowstone’
In the first season of the show “Yellowstone,” Fred Meyer played a minor role, but his demise had significant implications. He was the initial ranch hand we witnessed being escorted to what appeared to be a train station. The audience remained clueless about the unfolding events until Lloyd revealed that his acquaintance was getting on the “long black train” and subsequently shot him in cold blood.
6. Colby Mayfield, ‘Yellowstone’
In Season 5 of “Yellowstone,” Colby Mayfield attempts to rescue Carter from a wild horse, but ends up getting trampled instead. This unexpected exit of a cherished character on the show was hard to accept. It seemed as though his life had been tragically interrupted.
5. Roarke Moris, ‘Yellowstone’
In Season 3 of “Yellowstone,” Roarke Morris didn’t quite become a full-blown villain, but he was more of a nuisance. He even hired men to cause trouble for the Dutton family, so his actions required consequences. It was Rip who took care of the situation in a memorable scene that has become somewhat iconic – the snake in a cooler scene.
4. Alexandra, ‘1923’
If you caught the series 1883, you might have noticed that Alexandra’s journey bore a resemblance to Elsa Dutton’s. Heartache was an inevitable part of their stories. It was during the final episode, Episode 7, where we found that heartbreak. The emotional impact was as profound as any other in this series franchise.
3. Sarah Atwood, ‘Yellowstone’
As a movie enthusiast, let me share my thoughts: I’ve always seen Sarah Atwood as the antagonist, and history has shown that anyone who crosses paths with the Duttons is in trouble. That’s why she makes it to the top of my list. We all expected her demise, but when it unfolded midway through Season 5, Part B, it was a moment that left me speechless.
2. Jack Dutton, ‘1923’
The last two notable deaths on this list of remarkable deaths in the Yellowstone franchise are strikingly alike. Jack Dutton met an untimely end when Clyde ambushed him as he was heading towards Jacob and the others at the train station. Tragically, Jack didn’t even have a chance to draw his weapon.
1. Lee Dutton
In the premiere episode of “Yellowstone,” Season 1, one of the primary characters meets an untimely end, which established a dark tone for the series and its continuation. So, if you don’t want to experience emotional turmoil, steer clear of developing attachments.
Movie Theater Chains That No Longer Exist
ArcLight Cinemas
If you’re a film enthusiast who resided or traveled through Southern California between the start and end of the 2000s, chances are you’re familiar with (and now nostalgic for) the ArcLight Cinema. In an era when many cinemas considered a subpar movie-watching experience acceptable, ArcLight was ahead of its time, introducing numerous theater enhancements such as plush reclining seats, alcohol service, and unique pre-screening introductions by employees to ensure a quiet viewing environment. The ArcLight expanded from one L.A. location to around a dozen others, but none of their multiplexes have resumed operations since the movie theater industry was forced to close at the onset of the Covid pandemic. Rumor has it that their iconic Hollywood multiplex, which includes the famous Cinerama Dome, will reopen soon – however, not as the ArcLight Cinema as we once knew it.
Carmike Cinemas
Initially established by Carl L. Patrick, the founder of Carmike Cinemas, the theater chain was named after his sons, Carl Jr. and Michael. At its peak, their business was the fourth-largest in the nation, with screens across 41 out of 50 states. However, Carmike faced challenges by the turn of the millennium, went bankrupt once, only to bounce back. In the mid-2010s, it was purchased by AMC, subsequently becoming the leading movie theater chain in the United States.
Prior to its acquisition, Carmike introduced innovative concepts such as “The Hollywood Connection,” which merged a movie theater with a family entertainment center, featuring attractions like a mini golf course called “Caddy Shack” and an ice-skating rink named “Xanadu.” Additionally, the “C” filmstrip was an iconic movie theater logo.
Clearview Cinemas
From the 1990s to the 2010s, Clearview Cinemas operated numerous movie theaters across the New York City metropolitan area for a period of about 20 years. This chain, which included the renowned Ziegfeld Theater in Manhattan – one of the last single-screen movie palaces remaining in New York City, was taken over by another company, Bow Tie Cinemas, in 2013. Since then, Bow Tie Cinemas has closed most of their New York locations, with the unfortunate result that the Ziegfeld Theater, which ceased operations in 2016, has been transformed into an event space.
General Cinema
The iconic “GCC” logo, representing General Cinema Corporation, was shaped like an old-fashioned movie projector and was top-notch. For many years, General was one of the largest theater chains in the country, managing more than 1,000 screens. Towards the end of the last century, it faced financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy in the early 2000s. Despite this, I’d still appreciate a t-shirt bearing that logo.
Kerasotes Theatres
After a century and fifteen years in the cinema industry, the final Kerasotes Theaters shut their premises permanently during the summer of 2024. In its twilight years, it wasn’t a massive conglomerate, managing only a few cinemas, but its longevity was unmatched; various members of the Kerasotes family had overseen the business since its inception. The company was established in 1909 when Greek immigrant Gus Kerasotes opened his first nickelodeon in Illinois. Over time, they grew their presence across the Midwest, and in 2010, they sold several of their cinemas to AMC.
Loews Theatres
Raised in suburban New Jersey, my main cinema experience was at Loews theaters, a chain that took its name from founder Marcus Loew. In the 90’s, it was acquired by Sony, briefly became Sony Theatres, and then went through multiple acquisitions, mergers, and even bankruptcy in 2001. It eventually merged with AMC in 2005, but for a while, many of its theaters continued to use the Loews branding. For me, nothing has surpassed the catchy intro that played before shows at Loews in the 80’s and 90’s – “Thank you for coming to Loews, sit back and relax, enjoy the show!” remains unmatched.
Mann Theatres
Between 1973 and the early 2000s, the most renowned movie theater in Hollywood was famously called Mann’s Chinese Theatre, following the acquisition of Grauman’s Chinese by the Mann Theatres chain. However, Ted Mann, who led the company, sold it to Gulf+Western in 1986; eventually, private equity took over what remained of it, and gradually, its theaters either closed or were sold off to other chains. Fortunately, the Chinese Theatre continues to thrive, now known as the TCL Chinese Theatre.
Pacific Theatres
To clarify, ArcLight Cinemas was actually a subsidiary of Pacific Theatres, a larger cinema group. Established in 1946 and based in California, this company managed both traditional theaters and drive-ins across the Western regions. Regrettably, it ceased operations, including ArcLight Cinemas, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Later on, some of their locations were taken over by AMC.
Plitt Theatres
In the 1940s’ close, Hollywood studios were compelled to sell their cinema divisions due to a Supreme Court antitrust ruling. Paramount Pictures’ theater division became an independent entity before merging with ABC. A notable executive who worked for both companies, Henry Plitt, eventually acquired these theaters from ABC and rebranded them under his name. At one point, this company managed numerous movie theaters nationwide. Today, we know it as Plitt Theatres.
Starplex Cinemas
As a die-hard cinephile, it’s somewhat disheartening to reminisce about Starplex Cinemas, a name and font that screamed futuristic sci-fi, reminiscent of the iconic “Star Trek: The Next Generation”. It’s a pity this chain didn’t make it to the 24th century, where we’d all be catching movies in synchronous jumpsuits, munching on popcorn conjured by advanced replicators. Sadly, Starplex was gobbled up by AMC in 2015, leaving us with a less glamorous future.
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2025-04-08 16:57