Yellowstone season 5’s latest casualty shares his reaction to his character’s devastating fate. The acclaimed neo-Western drama, created by Taylor Sheridan, has captivated viewers since its premiere on Paramount Network in 2018, following the Dutton family’s struggle to protect their massive Montana ranch from threats at every border. With a stellar ensemble cast, including Kevin Costner, Kelly Reilly, Wes Bentley, and Cole Hauser, Yellowstone is a modernized perspective on classic cowboy tropes.

In an interview with Screen Rant, Denim Richards shared his thoughts on Colby’s tragic death in Yellowstone’s most recent episode. Colby, attempting to save young Carter (Finn Little) from a disobedient horse, is fatally kicked numerous times in a painful moment that left viewers and characters alike reeling. Colby marks the third death of Yellowstone season 5, part 2 after patriarch John Dutton (Costner) and villain Sarah Atwood (Dawn Olivieri). Reflecting on his time with the show, Richards said:

You have a myriad of emotions that come. But at the end of all of it, you realize that everything good ends, and you just have to appreciate the journey. As I’ve kind of said, I feel like this has been very much an exercise in what you want your career path to look like, and an opportunity to be around tremendous people. I’ve learned so much about the craft and the art and professionalism and business and because of, not only Taylor, but with 101 Studios, and with Paramount.

I met so many of them, and have such a great relationship. So, to be on a show that is a once-in-a-generational type of show, of course, is a phenomenal thing, and no matter what happens, no one can ever take that away. So, it’s been such a beautiful ride, and I’m excited, because the fans have received it in such a tremendous way. We have some of the most loyal and very patient fans, so for the show to still be getting the numbers and the reception that it’s getting, even after our 18-month layoff, is pretty amazing.

Richards also delved into the challenges of keeping Colby’s death a secret and how it affected him on and off set:

I learned about it in May so it’s been a while, a couple months now, of holding that in. And, of course, it becomes a little bit challenging at times when you are doing upfronts and interviews, and everybody’s talking about, like, “Oh, so, Colby and Teeter, are they finally gonna get together in this?” Everybody has their own theories about how something’s gonna go down. And you’re like, “Anything’s possible!” [Laughs]

You kind of have to be very general about it, but for us, as artists, we all talk, and we share the information that we feel is pertinent, and that needs to be shared, because outside of the characters, we really exist. We’ve all gotten so close over the last six, seven years, so you have conversations, but at the end of it, we’re all professionals.

We understand that Taylor has invested so much time, energy and effort, as well as Paramount, 101, and finances, into creating this show. Nobody wants to sell them short, or the audience short, by leaking something. So it definitely made sense, because you wanted everybody, you wanted all these moments, to land with the full gravity.

You didn’t want somebody to have heard about the potential that Colby could die back in September. That, I feel like, would kind of take some of the tinge off of that possibility of what it was. So I think it was just kind of part and parcel of the course.

On balancing his role as an actor and his personal connection to Colby, Richards reflected on how he managed his emotions, grateful for the perspective the experience allowed him to gain:

Yeah, again, it’s one of those things where you’re always kind of navigating this tightrope between the who and the do, right? You have the character, and then you have you, as the individual, and you’re kind of always walking and threading that needle, because it feels, often, that they intertwine, because you’ve been a part of it for so long.

So, on the one hand, you have, obviously, the emotions of the ups and the downs, and the this and the thats, and then once you kind of deduce everything down and reduce it, you kind of realize you’re paid to serve a story. That’s ultimately our job as artists is to serve a story that is bigger than us. We’re not standing on a stage doing a monologue, it’s not the Denim Richards monologue, and everybody’s just here to do that. It’s a part of a larger theme and a larger narrative.

you know, it sounds funny when you’re hearing it, but oftentimes, for artists, it feels, because we are so well taken care of, that oftentimes, if you don’t have a high level of introspection, it’s very easy to get kind of very myopic in your approach, and myopic in your thinking, that it’s like, “It’s all about me, and it’s about how I feel.” It’s like, “No, it’s a much larger thing.”

So, I think that once you get past that, you just do what you have to do, and you deal with your emotions in a professional way, hopefully.

And again, like I said, I think this has really just been a stress test to how I feel like I want to handle my career, and if we’re going to have a long and fruitful career, like I’m hoping we will be able to have, there’s chances are this won’t be the the last time that something like this happens. Maybe those stakes will be even higher, and you’ll have to, hopefully, handle it with the same level of professionalism.

Finally, Richards talked about his involvement in filming Colby’s final scene, revealing the mindset he worked to embody:

They definitely brought a stunt guy in, but I did pretty much all of it. Everything that was there that they showed, I did all of them, everything that was in the cut, it was all the stuff that I was doing.

But it is exactly as you said, because we do get so tied to the character, you always are like, “No, if the character’s gonna die and feel something, let it be me.” And then you have this moment where you’re, like, “Right, but if your character gets hit in the head from this horse by accident, Denim Richards also gets hit in the head by this horse, and that’s no longer noble. So, let’s be a little bit smart.” [Laughs]

What Colby’s Death Means For Yellowstone
The Ranch Hand’s Accident Reflects The Harsh Realities Of Ranch Life

Colby’s death in Yellowstone season 5 adds to an already staggering body count in recent episodes, which includes Costner’s John Dutton, whose death was partially driven by behind-the-scenes drama and the departure of the renowned actor. Last week then saw the death of corporate shark Sarah Atwood, who had put a target on John’s back.

This trail of significant deaths underscores the stakes for the remaining Yellowstone characters as they navigate the fallout of these losses. Colby’s death serves not only as a heartbreaking end for a beloved character, but also as a catalyst for the emotional arcs of those left behind. Teeter (Jennifer Landon), Colby’s partner, must now cope with the grief and guilt of losing a loved one, while Carter faces the weight of responsibility and the trauma of witnessing Colby’s final moments.

The show’s use of death as a narrative device reinforces its themes of survival, sacrifice, and the harsh realities of ranch life. “He’s a cowboy. Suffering’s the job,” Teeter had said. Each loss compounds the precariousness of the Dutton family’s fate as the group continue to pick themselves up after John’s death, all the while figuring out ways to get money fast to save the farm. Ultimately, Colby’s heroism in saving Carter reflects the deep bonds that have formed among the ranch’s cowboys, even in the face of tragedy.

Our Take On Colby’s Death In Yellowstone
A Pivotal Moment In The Western’s Final Season

Colby’s death is a gut-punching moment for Yellowstone’s final season. Denim Richards brought warmth and relatability to Colby, making his loss especially hard for viewers to process. Teeter’s heartbreak and Carter’s guilt are likely to resonate in the episodes to come, providing opportunities for the two to come together in solace. Colby’s sacrifice, though devastating, is a fitting tribute to his role as a loyal and selfless cowboy. As Yellowstone nears its conclusion, Colby’s death reinforces the western TV show’s commitment to exploring the fragility of life and the strength of those left to carry on.