Yellowstone Creator Taylor Sheridan Played Two Different Characters In The Same Franchise

Taylor Sheridan’s Humble Beginnings: From “Counter Guy” to Cowboy Kingpin of Paramount

Taylor Sheridan may now be a household name among fans of gritty modern Westerns, but like every Hollywood success story, his journey to the top was anything but immediate. Before penning hard-hitting screenplays like Sicario, Hell or High Water, or shaping the vast cinematic universe of Yellowstone, Sheridan was just another struggling actor trying to find his break in Hollywood—often one small role at a time.

Many fans are aware of Sheridan’s more recent cameos within his own creations, such as his memorable role as horse trainer Travis Wheatley in Yellowstone or his appearance in the prequel 1883 as real-life cattleman Charlie Goodnight. These roles allowed Sheridan to flex his love for Western lore and horsemanship while continuing to shape characters within a world of his own making. His presence on screen, while subtle, adds an intriguing meta-layer for fans who enjoy connecting the dots between creator and creation.

But his tendency to pop up in multiple roles within the same universe actually started decades before he became a modern-day auteur. Long before the Stetsons and showdowns, Sheridan’s face flashed across television screens in the mid-’90s, when he landed blink-and-you-miss-it appearances on two interconnected shows—Party of Five and its short-lived spin-off, Time of Your Life.

In the widely beloved Party of Five, which aired from 1994 to 2000 and followed the trials of five siblings navigating life after the tragic loss of their parents, Sheridan played a minuscule role. He appeared as “Counter Guy” in the show’s fifth season, episode 24. With just a line or two and little narrative importance, it was the kind of part that filled résumés and rent payments for young actors trying to make it in Hollywood.

The main cast of Party of Five included future stars like Neve Campbell, Matthew Fox, and Jennifer Love Hewitt—names that would soon dominate teen dramas and box office hits. Yet Sheridan, in his fleeting screen time, remained a quiet background figure amid a show that would become a launching pad for many.

Still, the actor-turned-writer wasn’t quite done with that universe. In 1999, Jennifer Love Hewitt’s character, Sarah Reeves Merrin, was spun off into her own series, Time of Your Life, following her journey to New York City in search of her biological roots. The show had ambition and even brought on rising stars like Jennifer Garner, but it never quite found its footing. It was canceled after 12 episodes aired, with seven more eventually trickling out years later in 2021.

Sheridan returned here too, this time as a character named Connor in episode nine. Much like his appearance in Party of Five, the role was small and the impact minimal—but it served a purpose. It gave Sheridan on-set experience, industry exposure, and perhaps more importantly, a clearer view of where he did and didn’t want his career to go.

These early forays into acting, though modest, were stepping stones to something much bigger. Rather than remain confined to supporting roles, Sheridan made the bold pivot from acting to screenwriting—a transition that would prove pivotal. His breakthrough came with the raw, politically charged thriller Sicario (2015), followed by the Oscar-nominated Hell or High Water, and then Wind River, which he also directed.

But it was the creation of Yellowstone that truly cemented his legacy. The series, starring Kevin Costner, ignited a new wave of popularity for television Westerns, and Sheridan didn’t stop there. With spin-offs like 1883 and 1923, he effectively created a generational saga—and he keeps appearing in it, as if leaving behind breadcrumbs of his former self for eagle-eyed viewers.

His screen presence may have started with “Connor” and “Counter Guy,” but today, Taylor Sheridan represents something far greater: the rare creative who successfully crossed from being in front of the camera to mastering what goes on behind it. His story is a testament to persistence, reinvention, and the power of storytelling—whether it starts in a New York diner or on the dusty plains of Montana.

Taylor Sheridan’s Humble Beginnings: From “Counter Guy” to Cowboy Kingpin of Paramount Taylor Sheridan may now be a household name among fans of gritty modern Westerns, but like every Hollywood success story, his journey to the top was anything but immediate. Before penning hard-hitting screenplays like Sicario, Hell or High Water, or shaping the vast…