Yellowstone’s Luke Grimes Says Although Fans Feel 'Cheated' by John Dutton’s Death, 'It Was Always the Plan' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Luke Grimes; Kevin Costner in ‘Yellowstone’.Photo:Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty;Paramount Network

Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty;Paramount Network

John Dutton’s tragic fateinYellowstonewas predetermined, according to starLuke Grimes.

“There’s been some negative reactions,” Grimes says of fan’s response to the show’s Nov. 10 return, which featured Costner’s character found dead from a fatal gunshot wound in the final minutes.

“I think they feel sort of cheated. And what I would say to that is, I think we were all lucky to have Kevin on the show as long as we did,” he continues. “It was always the plan for him to have to go away for the story to really ramp up, and that was the story. You lose a patriarch of the family. Can the kids do it on their own?”

Luke Grimes attends ‘Yellowstone’ panel on January 4, 2023 in New York City.Eugene Gologursky/Getty

He compares John’s death to greats likeKing Lear,The GodfatherandSuccession.

“I think originally he was supposed to die much earlier. So, in a way, they got way more of John Dutton than they were going to originally get,” Grimes says. “I would keep that in mind.”

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TheTrue Bloodalum notes that the shock value of the character’s death adds to the authenticity of the drama series. “If it happened in such a shocking, quick way, that’s how life works, right? I mean, when you lose people, it’s sometimes not how you planned and not when you think it’s going to be,” he explains.

Grimes plays Kaycee Dutton — John’s youngest son — inYellowstone, which follows the Dutton family and the conflicts they face while maintaining the legacy of their ranch empire.

From left: Cole Hauser, Luke Grimes and Kevin Costner in ‘Yellowstone’.Cam McLeod/Paramount Network/Courtesy Everett Collection

Cam McLeod/Paramount Network/Courtesy Everett Collection

Costner, 69, portrayed the patriarch for five seasons from 2018 until the Nov. 10 episode. He chose to exit the hit show before its intended conclusion, telling PEOPLE in a June interview that “the scripts weren’t there.”

As the finalYellowstoneepisodes air, Grimes is also busy promoting his debut album.

Ahead of performing at the famed Grand Ole Opry for the first time, he tells PEOPLE that “music has always been a big thing” in his life. “I think for anyone who grows up in church, you’re seeing live music two or three times a week,” he says.

The actor adds that his parents enjoyed country music and it was “really big in our household.”

“It was always really important. It was always a big, big thing. And I never really thought that it would be something I tried to do professionally,” Grimes says. “I can’t believe I am trying to do it professionally, to be honest. It still doesn’t feel real to me.”

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YellowstoneairsSundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Paramount Network.

source: people.com