Ian Bohen plays ranch hand Ryan on Yellowstone, the popular Paramount Network drama. It may be a serious show, but the bunkhouse boys sure seem to have some fun, and Ryan is typically in the middle of all of it. While John Dutton (Kevin Costner) technically runs the show, it's the ranch hands who get their hands dirty on and off the Yellowstone Ranch. The group adds some needed humor from time to time, giving us a glimpse of what hard work it takes to manage the massive Dutton property.
Ryan is by far one of the most trusted ranch hands. He's been toiling away there for years, also working as a livestock agent under John and Kayce, helping protect the Duttons' secrets and surrounding Montana ranchers. But what about the man behind Ryan? Bohen is an experienced actor who's appeared in everything from popular series like Mad Men to early Taylor Sheridan projects ahead of his stint on Yellowstone. If you've never thought about looking into the man behind the ranch hand, it's a great time to learn more about the actor who brings this beloved character to life.
Who is Ian Bohen?
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Ian Stuart Bohen is one of those guys you've seen in nearly everything on TV. For instance, he played Peter Hale on Teen Wolf, and is recognizable from Superman & Lois, Chicago P.D. and more. A California native, Bohen kicked off his acting career in 1993 with a role in the short film Delivering and continued to amass roles from there.
Beyond that, he's appeared in heavy- hitters like Mad Men, Prison Break, CSI: Miami, Breakout Kings, and Chicago P.D., which (coincidentally) fellow Yellowstone actor Jefferson White is also starring in as we speak.
Starting back with Sheridan's lesser-recognized directorial debut, Bohen appeared in the horror film Vile. After Sheridan started writing and directing his own films down the line, he cast the actor in Wind River before bringing him in as Ryan on Yellowstone.
Bohen explained in an interview with Pop Culturalist that it's been really exciting being in Sheridan's orbit for his many projects.
"In this business, commonly people say it's who you know, and it's a bit wrong. It's actually who knows you. Like anything else, you want to work with people that you enjoy, you get along with, and you can collaborate with. You look forward to going back to work with them. So to have people that will say "yeah, I want this guy on my team" feels great. It's good for everything that we make, and I hope to continue it. It's been a huge advantage, and I hope to continue it."
Working with Kevin Costner
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The hit Paramount Network series was not the first time Bohen got to share the screen with the one and only Costner. In the early '90s, Costner followed up his groundbreaking western Dances With Wolves with Wyatt Earp, which followed the legendary Wild West lawman's life and family through the historic shootout at the O.K. Corral. In the early years of the film, Bohen appeared as the young Earp. They never technically appeared in a scene together, but maybe they at least met before the Yellowstone set.
Yellowstone and beyond
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Landing Yellowstone after working with Costner was a major milestone for Bohen, even among all his years of experience. It was a natural fit, too, as he had firsthand experience with the types of activities ranch hands would regularly perform. In an interview with Vegas Film Critic, Bohen explained that as a child, he spent summers out at his grandfather's ranch, where he learned all about riding horses and what it takes to be a real ranch hand.
"I was fortunate, my grandfather had a livestock ranch in Wisconsin. So, I would spend my summers there months at a time from probably when I was eight or nine," said Bohen.
"So, I've been riding since then. You know, I'm very comfortable on a horse. I learned how to team rope with my uncle years ago in Montana, oddly. And that was something we were asked to do here [on Yellowstone]. So, it was very convenient not to have to teach me some of those things."
It's been exciting watching Ryan grow over the seasons, and we're all curious, of course, about what's coming in the future for him. In an interview with TV Insider, Bohen opened up about what he'd love to see down the line for his character. Based on the fight between Walker and Lloyd, it seems like love in the bunkhouse leads to some seriously juicy drama. We fully support his desire for Ryan to join in on the fun.
"I'd like to have a love interest and to watch him be a person detached from the ranch and not just an arm of that entity. Who is he as a man? How does he talk to people and what does he want and think about as opposed to just sort of a soldier? That would be interesting to me, and I hope I get a chance to look into that."
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