Here at Outsider, we adore Yellowstone star, Ryan Bingham. And while the Walker actor continues to maintain a prominent role within the hit Western series—and boasts an equally successful career in music—Bingham’s character just isn’t among fans’ top favorites. Fortunately, the Yellowstone star is cool with it, and knows exactly why his character is not among viewers’ top picks.
Speaking with Taste of Country as we await the next all-new episode of season five, Ryan Bingham said his character, much like costar Kelly Reilly’s Beth Dutton, is caught between being the hero and the villain. Of fulfilling that kind of a role, he explained, “There’s a bit of a conflict there. He’s damned if he does and damned if he don’t. They’ve tried several times to send him down the line to the train station, and he always seems to bounce back and find a way out of trouble.”
In addition, Ryan Bingham knows that there is a certain sect of Yellowstone fans that would love to see his character dropped off at the train station. And while that does not include yours truly, the Yellowstone star nevertheless continues to keep a light-heartedness about him.
In a humorous remark to the outlet, he laughed, “Man, there’s a ton of people that want me to go to the train station for sure.”
Fortunately, Taylor Sheridan and the rest of Yellowstone‘s writers have not hinted at Walker’s death just yet. But be sure to catch Ryan Bingham in his anti-hero role again when the next new episode of the drama airs on Paramount Network on January 1st, 2023.
‘Yellowstone’s Luke Grimes & Ryan Bingham Knew Each Other Long Before the Show
If you follow Yellowstone behind the scenes, then you know the show isn’t only home to talented actors, but also to talented singers. We already know Ryan Bingham as one of the hit series’ repeat musicians, however, more recently, Kayce Dutton actor Luke Grimes has launched his own career in music. During an interview this past fall, Grimes revealed that while Ryan Bingham hasn’t had a huge impact on his newest career move, he did know the Walker actor long before coming to Yellowstone.
During the prior interview, Grimes spoke about his roots in country music, revealing that he’s been playing in bands since he was about 10 years old and actually got his start in the industry through church. Speaking about costar Ryan Bingham specifically, Luke Grimes continued, “I’ve actually known Ryan for a lot longer than I’ve been doing the show. We’re not the closest of friends, but I’ve just always known him around and always loved his music and been such a fan.”
More broadly, he added that he’s always been a “big fan of country music in general, whether that be the more well-known stuff that the masses know or the underground stuff – more in the Bingham vein.”
Taylor Sheridan Will Keep Ryan Bingham On Yellowstone Under One Condition
Well before he was causing controversy in the bunkhouse, coming to blows with Forrie J. Smith’s Lloyd, or serenading the already sorrow-filled with ever more heartbreaking songs on Taylor Sheridan’s “Yellowstone,” the actor behind the series’ reluctant ranch hand Walker, Ryan Bingham, had already made a name for himself on the country music scene.
In 2009–2011, the singer-songwriter took home Academy, Critics’ Choice Movie, Golden Globe, Grammy, and Satellite awards (alongside producer T Bone Burnett) for the song “The Weary Kind” from Scott Cooper’s “Crazy Heart,” a feat that led the Americana Music Association to name him Artist of the Year. Even before that, in 2007, the artist’s critically lauded album “Mescalito” (via BBC) had earned him a devoted following — one that’s grown exponentially in the years since.
By the time he joined the cast of “Yellowstone” in 2018, Bingham had already produced five studio and one live album (via Ryan Bingham). His musical achievements notwithstanding, the versatile artist is perhaps best-known (both outside of and within the country music scene) for his recurring role on Sheridan’s contemporary Western.
For fans of the series — even those who love to hate his character thanks to his antagonistic relationship with the beloved Rip (Cole Hauser) — he’s become an integral part of the narrative. For creator Taylor Sheridan, however, Bingham will have to impress more than just his fan base if he hopes to remain on the series.
Sheridan warned Bingham not to ‘suck’
In an interview with Wide Open Country, the charismatic crooner opened up about his road to the Dutton ranch, which began with Taylor Sheridan reaching out to him for some songs and ended with the prolific director deciding to write him into the show. “Once we met and started hanging out,” Ryan Bingham told the outlet, “he found out I grew up riding horses … So he said ‘Well, I oughta just write you a part in the show. … I’ll just write something small.’” That part — the Dutton-wary, guitar-sporting ex-con who’s just trying to keep himself out of trouble but can’t seem to catch a break — grew into a role that, to date, has seen Bingham star in a full 23 episodes. If he wants to continue his run on the series, however, Bingham will have to manage just one thing.
Quoting Sheridan to the outlet, Bingham said the director told him, “‘If you do good, I’ll keep you in there and if you suck we’ll just kill you off.’” Despite his character’s propensity to “suck” when it comes to staying out of trouble, it’s safe to say Bingham has done anything but. On the series’ popular subreddit, fans and haters of the character alike have to admit he’s done an incredible job, and as the “Yellowstone” star told Wide Open Country back in 2019, “I’m still in there so far. We’ll see how it goes.”