Yellowstone’s Rip Wheeler actor, Cole Hauser, has had quite the career in Hollywood. While he may not be a member of the Dutton family on the Paramount Network drama, he has become a central figure in the show since day one. As Cowboy Rip Wheeler, Hauser has captured the hearts of viewers and has even become a beloved love interest for Beth Dutton, played by Kelly Reilly. Hauser’s acting credits go way beyond Yellowstone, with notable roles in films such as Rogue, 2 Fast 2 Furious, ER, and A Matter of Justice. However, his biggest movie to date is the iconic Good Will Hunting, which received numerous Oscar nominations and won Best Original Screenplay in 1997.
In Good Will Hunting, Hauser portrays Billy McBride, a friend of the mathematics genius Will Hunting, played by Matt Damon. Damon not only starred in the film but also co-wrote it alongside his friend Ben Affleck, who portrays Chuckie Sullivan, Will’s loyal friend. Hauser’s character spends his spare time drinking with Will and his friends when he’s not working as a janitor at MIT. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Hauser has worked with Damon and Affleck. He previously appeared in School Ties and later acted with Affleck in Dazed and Confused.
It’s clear that Damon and Affleck have a deep admiration for Hauser and his talent. On The Bill Simmons Podcast, Affleck revealed that his wife, Jennifer Lopez, introduced him to Yellowstone and praised the romance between Hauser’s character and his on-screen wife. Damon added that he always found it surprising that Hauser wasn’t a bigger movie star, considering his immense talent. Affleck agreed, describing Hauser as a “pure, raw talent.”
While Hauser has been playing the role of Rip Wheeler since 2018, Yellowstone is coming to an end with its final episodes set to premiere in November as part of season five, part two. As for Hauser’s future projects, it remains uncertain at this time. However, fans can continue to enjoy his captivating performance on Yellowstone, which is available to watch on Paramount Network.
