Is anyone on “Yellowstone” having a better time than Cole Hauser?
The California native is living his dream of TV stardom on Paramount+ as Dutton Ranch brute Rip Wheeler, leading many to believe he is the real star of the Western drama by Taylor Sheridan. Barstool Sports host and personality Kevin Clancy, aka KFC, was one of many to make this claim in 2020, writing on Twitter: “Rip Wheeler has become one of the best on TV. Somehow, better than Costner.” Twitter user @zack_g92, in a May 2022 post, said: “Rip Wheeler is the best character in Yellowstone and isn’t even close.”
Between the character’s brutal “train station” moments to his emotional scenes with Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly), it’s easy to see why viewers are drawn to Rip and the performance Hauser gives. captivated. While Hauser is certainly well aware of his passionate fan base, what the “Dazed and Confused” and “Tears of the Sun” actor never realized until last year was that fans were even going as far as dressing up as Rip for Halloween.
Hauser calls seeing himself in the Halloween store ‘surreal’
For Cole Hauser, spotting a Rip Wheeler costume last year in a Halloween store was one of the most resonant moments of his career — it made him realize that the “Yellowstone” star How big has mine become?
“Seeing the Rip Wheeler costume was very surreal for all of us,” Hauser’s wife, Cynthia Daniel, recalled in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “It was an important moment,” she said, noting their attitude toward their children at the time. “It’s pretty cool,” Hauser added. “In a way, it’s an honor… and I would never trade it for anything in the world.”
Anyone interested in purchasing a Rip Wheeler costume — for Halloween or a simple costume party, for example — can find his signature black threads at Spirit Halloween stores or online. However, hats, gloves, pants, belts and shoes are not included, which likely won’t be a problem for “Yellowstone” fans. Just remember that you’re probably not the only one with that idea.
Chicago radio producer Shane Riordan wrote in a tweet last year: “My Halloween costume last night was Rip Wheeler of Yellowstone because that meant I could wear the same clothes I wear every day but wear add a cowboy hat”. Another user replied: “There were 6 Rips at the party I attended, including myself.”