Yellowstone's Luke Grimes Was Impressed By Brecken Merrill's Acting Skills Despite His Young Age
"Yellowstone" follows the legacy of the Dutton family and their fight to carry that legacy from one generation to the next. As Kayce (Luke Grimes), Beth (Kelly Reilly), and Jamie (Wes Bentley) help their father John (Kevin Costner) keep up the family ranch, they're also training the next generation to take over the family's land, and it's up to Kayce to show his son Tate (Brecken Merrill) the ropes — while making sure he doesn't grow up too fast.
Merrill has been a part of the cast since the show's first episode, bringing plenty of laughs and heart to the small screen. The adventurous young Dutton is not one to shy away from conflict, famously fighting a snake in Season 1, Episode 3, "No Good Horses." His dad Kayce and mom Monica (Kelsey Asbille) do their best to keep Tate out of harm's way as he explores the world around him. All the while, patriarch John seeks to form a bond with his grandson, teaching him how to build a campfire along with other life skills.
The now-teenager is one of the youngest members of the "Yellowstone" cast, working alongside established actors like Kevin Costner who have long lists of credits to their names. And Merrill is a cast member that many look forward to working with, including Grimes, who finds Merrill's acting skills to be quite impressive.
Grimes said Merrill is different from other kids that he's worked with before
In an interview posted on the official "Yellowstone" YouTube channel, Luke Grimes praised Brecken Merrill's work and demeanor on set. "I've worked with kids in the past that are tough and it's hard to keep them on track or keep them focused. And he's actually really good," he said. Merrill's TV mom Kelsey Asbille added that it's a lot of fun working with Merrill on set. "My scenes with him are probably my favorite," she shared.
This is not Merrill's first experience on a family drama. "This is Us" fans may recall his role as a teen version of Nicky, Jr. in Season 6, Episodes 17 and 18. While the Pearson family's story was full of football, the Dutton family is all about horseback riding and big adventures outdoors. And it's those adventures that help to make this job a fun one for Merrill. "Riding horses, fighting a snake, it has been a great experience," Merrill said, adding that he's taken horseback riding lessons during the show's run. Season 5 of "Yellowstone" is currently airing on Paramount Network.