The 10 Most Shocking & Devastating Deaths In Taylor Sheridan’s “Yellowstone” Universe

The 11 Most Shocking & Devastating Deaths In Taylor Sheridan’s “Yellowstone” Universe (1)

LEFT: John Dutton (Yellowstone / Facebook) MIDDLE LEFT: Alexandra Dutton (1923 / Facebook) MIDDLE RIGHT: Colby Mayfield (Yellowstone / Facebook) RIGHT: Elsa Dutton (Yellowstone / Facebook)

Some Of These Deaths Were Truly Shocking

Taylor Sheridan has created a universe similar to the Marvel universe. Some fans even call his fiction worlds that interconnect the “Sheridanverse.” 

This universe of series that interconnects around one storyline includes Yellowstone, 1923, and 1883. The three series each follow the Dutton family in different eras of their lives. Fans fell in love with the Yellowstone cast and the extreme Dutton family, so Sheridan created a prequel titled 1883, which tells the story of the founding of the Dutton land.

Sheridan does not hold back in showing the challenging nature of each era, with 1883 addressing settling into the Wild West of America and the conflict between American settlers and Native American tribes.

1923 follows the next generation of Duttons as they navigate a world war, Ellis Island immigration, the establishment of the current-day American Midwest, and the modernization of America after the 1920s. 

Since the writer does not hold back, many of his beloved characters have died over the course of the show’s progression. We have compiled a list of some of the most devastating and shocking deaths that fans are still not over. 

(Trigger Warning: Besides the gruesome nature of this post, some characters commit suicide, and many are murdered.) 

Lee DuttonYellowstone

Lee Dutton with his father John. (Yellowstone / Facebook)

To begin this list, one of the show’s earliest deaths is Lee Dutton.

Lee Dutton was the oldest sibling in the Dutton family. His death was a shock and set the tone for the rest of the season.

Although fans didn’t have much time to grow attached to the character, his death was shocking because it’s rare for a series to kill off one of its main characters. It’s especially uncommon for this to happen at the very start.

Lee Dutton was killed during a dispute over cattle. He was shot, fell off his horse, and was quickly found by his brother, Kayce.

Kayce responded by killing his brother’s attacker in a quick shootout. Although Lee is mentioned several times throughout the series, it is rare. The character was used to set the tone of the show and propel the Dutton family into further violence.

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Jaime Dutton – Yellowstone

Jamie Dutton (Yellowstone / Facebook)

Although Jamie Dutton’s death might not be devastating to everyone, it was still shocking in some ways. The series had portrayed Jamie Dutton as an adversary to his sister Beth Dutton throughout the show.

Their feud began when Beth asked Jamie to take her for an abortion after she became pregnant with Rip’s child as a teenager.

During this event, Beth was rendered infertile, and she never forgave Jamie for his role in the ordeal.

It was obvious that only one of them would survive, as they constantly threatened each other, and tensions grew more dangerous with each season.

In the final episodes, Beth planned how she would kill Jamie and decided to start the final confrontation by showing up at his house with bear spray and crowbar.

Their brutal fight ended with Jamie’s death. Beth and Jamie fought until it looked like Jamie was about to kill Beth when suddenly Rip showed up and removed Jamie from Beth.

As he held him, Beth killed him with a knife.

Beth stayed at the scene when authorities arrived and claimed that Jamie had attacked her and ran off, but in reality, Rip disposed of the body. Watch a recap of the intense episode below.

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RELATED: Kevin Costner Was “Scared As Hell” To Start “Yellowstone”

Shea Brennan1883

Shea Brennan (1883 / Facebook)

Shea Brennan’s death in 1883 was both devastating and shocking in its own way.

The American guide had lost his wife and duaghter, and with them, his will to live.

His beloved wife had always wanted to see the ocean, so he decided to take one more group across the plains of America and head to the coast.

Throughout the series, you could see that he had contemplated suicide multiple times, but never went through with it. He hinted at plans to end his life once he got to California, he said that he would “sit on the beach and let her see it. That was her dream. Then I’m going to see her. That’s my dream”. 

He follows through with his plan to commit suicide and see his wife after spending time gazing out on the ocean.

It is still heartbreaking to see the tough-as-nails gunslinger choose that path. Watch one of his highlights from the series below.

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Pete Plenty Clouds – 1923

Pete Plenty Clouds with love interest Teonna Rainwater. (1923 / Facebook)

Pete Plenty Clouds’ tragic death in the Season 2 of 1923 was filled with devastation.

The original actor who played Pete, Cole Brings Plenty, passed away in 2024. The cast and crew mourned the actor’s death together while filming Pete Plenty Cloud’s death scene.

The character was recast with Jeremy Gauna, who appeared in the Season 2. Pete Plenty Clouds is Teonna Rainwater’s love interest in the Yellowstone prequel.

Teonna has been on the run since leaving her abusive boarding school and is being followed by a corrupt and vile priest, Father Renaud.

While Pete is on the run with Teonna and her father, he leaves them to get water during a scouting mission. He encounters the corrupt priest and the marshal, who are pursuing Teonna. They chase him and shoot the horse out from under him.

The final scene of the episode cuts to black as an old western shootout begins, leaving viewers wondering if Pete or the marshal was killed. However, early in the next episode, it is confirmed that Pete dies and is later avenged by Teonna.

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Ennis – 1883

Ennis (Yellowstone / Facebook)

Ennis’ death in 1883 was truly shocking.

He was Elsa Dutton’s first love, but his charismatic and lighthearted personality was suddenly cut short in a shootout.

1883 did not shy away from showing the tragic and brutal reality of the American West for settlers at the time. It was clear that lives could be ended quickly and dramatically, whether through natural disasters or gunfire. Just as it seemed Ennis and Elsa’s romantic story was about to take off, his life was taken.

Ennis was protecting his love Elsa when he was shot in the chest by a group of bandits.

Elsa witnessed Ennis’s death and then immediately killed his murderer. She mourns the loss of her love as her character matures quickly. His death was a huge turning point for the matriarchal character.

Watch one of his iconic scenes below.

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Colby Mayfield – Yellowstone

Colby Mayfield (Yellowstone / Facebook)

Colby Mayfield’s death in the series Yellowstone was truly shocking and devastating.

Colby was one of the ranch hands at Yellowstone Ranch; he was the romantic interest of Teeter and a steady presence throughout the series.

He died tragically when a wild, unbroken horse trapped Carter—who was not supposed to be in its pen—against a wall. Colby bravely stepped in for the young ranch hand and pushed him out of the stall, saving his life.

The horse delivered a swift kick, and Colby was killed instantly.

Fans could not believe the quick and seemingly random nature of Colby’s on-screen death. The horse was later put down, and viewers watched as Teeter mourned the loss of her love, Colby.

Watch the tragic scene below.

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Jack Dutton – 1923

Jack Dutton (Yellowstone / Facebook)

Jack Dutton’s death in 1923 was devastating and shocking for the Dutton family. Jack Dutton was a bit of a hothead and played the lovable young brother, where some of his decisions could be seen as foolish.

In his youthful bravado and confidence, Jack left early for the train station alone, where the final shootout between Donald Whitfield’s and the Dutton men was supposed to happen.

Along his route, he encountered two of Whitfield’s men, and instead of avoiding them, he got into a verbal altercation, admitting that he was their foe and the nephew of Spencer Dutton, who was on his way to save the ranch.

He goaded Whitfield’s men by saying that no one was a better fighter than him. The men shot him right there, ending his life in that could only be seen as a foolish death.

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John Dutton – Yellowstone

John Dutton (Yellowstone / Facebook)

John Dutton’s death was shocking because it was truly never supposed to happen. His death could have been planned for later in the series or even in another season—who knows what Taylor Sheridan had in mind for John Dutton.

But since Kevin Costner decided not to return to his role in the final season, Sheridan had to rewrite the series, and John Dutton was killed off in the first episode of season 5, part 2.

If you had known behind the scenes that Kevin Costner wouldn’t be returning, his death might not have been as shocking. However, if you watched the series without that knowledge, this could potentially be the most shocking and devastating death, as he was the patriarch of the family.

Many fans were disappointed that he was not returning and uncertain about Sheridan’s plans for the rest of the series.

John Dutton was killed by hired assassins paid by Sarah Atwood, who was in a relationship with Jaime. His death was initially believed to be a suicide. He died from a gunshot wound to the head.

Watch the moment when his kids find out about his death below.

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Alexandra Dutton – 1923

Alexandra Dutton (1923 / Facebook)

Alexandra’s death in 1923 was both devastating and shocking.

Alexandra spent the entire final season of 1923 fighting to make her way back to her love, Spencer, and once they finally reunited, she died the next day—heartbreaking.

Alex was making her way across the plains of America as a single woman, which would be dangerous in 2025 but was especially risky in 1923.

She endured being robbed, beaten, left alone, and humiliated after passing through Ellis Island, only to end up in a car with severe frostbite in the American plains.

Her two companions died from the cold, but she managed to survive just a little longer.

Her death was also quite confusing because she had severe frostbite that could have been treated with amputation, which might have saved her life. However, she refused the amputation, claiming that if she lost her limb, she wouldn’t be able to mother her son.

It seemed as if her mind believed the only options were either her dying or her son dying, and she chose for her son to live. Whether that was true or not remains unclear.

Spencer lived on and, because of his love for Alex, never married again.

Watch their reunion in heaven below.

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RELATED: The Ultimate Guide To Taylor Sheridan’s TV Shows: Casts, Full Breakdowns, And Release Dates

Elsa Dutton1883

Elsa Dutton during the final episode of 1883. (1883 / Facebook)

At the top of our list is Elsa Dutton.

Her death deeply touched fans of the series 1883, even though it was foretold at the beginning of the first episode. Throughout the entire series, viewers fall in love with this wild and passionate Elsa, who challenges her parents, falls in love, and even saves the rest of her family from a Native American tribe.

Elsa’s story is the foundation for the entire Yellowstone series. She was hit with an arrow during a fight between a Native American tribe and Elsa’s group of settlers as they made their way across the American plains. The tribe attacked the settlers because they believed them to be responsible for killing their women and children at home. However, it was just a miscommunication.

Despite her injury, Elsa managed to survive a few more days, knowing she wouldn’t make it.

The tragic journey of Elsa’s life and love is best summarized by the fact that her parents chose not to leave her behind, even just her body, and settled on the land where she was buried—land she had chosen herself in a final act of wild independence.

Elsa died in her father’s arms as they both wept, fulfilling the prophecy foretold at the start of 1883 and offering the audience insight into why the Dutton family fought so hard to hold onto that land for generations.

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Watch more of Elsa below.

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