These Are The 1883 Cast's Actual Partners
If you're a fan of Paramount Network's hit show "Yellowstone," you likely love its first spinoff, too. The prequel, "1883," follows "Yellowstone" main character John Dutton's ancestors as they traverse the Wild West to eventually settle in Montana.
Starring well-known faces like Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and Sam Elliott, the series gives viewers a glimpse into the Dutton family's origin story, as well as American history. Series creator Taylor Sheridan even filmed in remote areas of Texas and Montana during drastic weather to create a historically accurate show, according to The New York Times. "That's why so many actors are drawn to Taylor's writing because he is portraying the story in a way that was lived," Hill told Entertainment Weekly. "You learn how to pick a tree, squat down, and do your business."
Fans invested in the ups and downs of "1883" characters might naturally wonder about the lives of the talented actors portraying them. Here are the "1883" cast's actual partners.
Sam Elliott's wife is actress Katharine Ross
Sam Elliott, who plays cowboy Shea Brennan on "1883," isn't the only star in his family. Elliott is married to Academy Award-nominated actress Katharine Ross, who's known for her roles in "The Graduate" and "The Stepford Wives."
Elliott and Ross began dating after working together on the 1978 film "The Legacy," but that wasn't the first or last time the couple has been on screen together. In 1969, Elliott and Ross both acted in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." The pair later appeared in 2017's "The Hero," in which Ross played the ex-wife of Elliott's character. "I think we just like making movies and having that creative experience together is the best," Elliott told the Los Angeles Times about working with his spouse, whom he married in 1984. "It's just fun. It's a whole different kind of energy to go home with some you're working with rather than go home to somebody who isn't working."
The Hollywood couple has one daughter, Cleo Elliott, who is a musician — a profession they gladly support. "They're just happy I don't want to be an actor," she joked to The Malibu Times.
1883 couple Faith Hill and Tim McGraw are married in real life
Sam Elliott isn't the only "1883" actor who has worked with his spouse on set. Country music couple Tim McGraw and Faith Hill both star in the "Yellowstone" prequel, appropriately playing husband and wife duo James and Margaret Dutton. Although McGraw and Hill live and work together, and even celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary during filming, they surprisingly don't rehearse together. "We have made it a point not to work on our scenes together until we're on set," Hill told People. "It's important that we react to one another naturally as characters, not as husband and wife."
While this isn't the first acting gig for McGraw or Hill, the pair is most known for their hit songs. The recording artists fell in love when they toured together in 1996, according to Us Weekly. Since then, the country music legends have had three joint tours and three daughters, who are now all adults.
LaMonica Garrett's spouse works in real estate
Actor LaMonica Garrett portrays Thomas in "1883," the cowboy opposite Sam Elliott's Shea Brennan. Thomas also happens to be one of television's only cowboys of color, which is why Garrett takes his role as a Black cowboy seriously. "One in every four cowboys back then was African American but you wouldn't know that by watching television and film," Garrett told Wide Open Country, "so being responsible and being the one that's bringing this character to light, I wanted to do as much research as possible and it helped me throughout this series."
Garrett, a California native who also appeared on "Sons of Anarchy" and "Designated Survivor," is married to his longtime partner Mina Ivanova Garrett. According to her Instagram, Garrett's wife works as a luxury real estate agent in Los Angeles. In April 2019, the couple commemorated their second wedding anniversary with a photo from their beachside wedding. "Marrying you and sharing the past 12 years together has been one of the best blessings in my life and I thank God for you every day," Mina captioned the Instagram post. The pair have two children, and their kids even visited Garrett on the "1883" set while he filmed in Texas.
Eric Nelson's wife, Sainty, is a huge Yellowstone and 1883 fan
Before "1883," Eric Nelsen made his way into television on soap operas such as "Guiding Light" and "All My Children." Now, "Yellowstone" fans can catch him in the series' prequel playing Ennis, the love interest of the Dutton family's daughter, Elsa.
Offscreen, Nelsen has a real-life love interest of his own — his wife, producer and actress Sainty Nelsen. Nelsen's wife is also responsible for introducing him to "Yellowstone." "It's interesting because my wife was a massive fan and she kept saying, 'Watch the show, watch the show, watch the show,'" Nelson told Wide Open Country. Although Nelsen didn't watch immediately, he eventually got "hooked," telling Wide Open Country, "Before '1883' was even a thing in my mind, I was a mega-fan, as was my entire family."
Luckily Nelsen's wife, who happens to have three Daytime Emmy Awards, also ended up becoming an "1883" fan. "No words to describe how INCREDIBLE this series is," she captioned an Instagram photo of the couple at the show's premiere. "I am still shook to my core. It's next level."
Tom and Rita Hanks have been married since 1988
While not officially a part of the "1883" cast, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson have both appeared on the show. First, Hanks guest-starred on the show's second episode as a general during a Civil War flashback. In January 2022, Variety announced Wilson would guest star as a storekeeper named Carolyn.
While fans might have been surprised to see the two on the show, those familiar with the Hollywood couple might know they're actually friends with "1883" stars Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. "I knew that there was this part in there, and I gave him a call said, 'Hey, would you be interested in showing up doing a cameo in this show that we're doing?'" McGraw told CinemaBlend about his friend Hanks. "And he goes, 'Tell me when to be there,' and he just showed up."
Hanks and Wilson met while filming "Volunteers" in 1985 (when Hanks was still married to his first wife and the mother of his first two children). After Hanks' divorce in 1987, he married Wilson in 1988 and would later have two more children. "I won't deny that providence was part of us finding each other," Hanks told O, The Oprah Magazine in 2001. "But our relationship isn't magic — the way it's shown in movies. In real life, our connection is as concrete as me sitting here."
Billy Bob Thorton married his longtime partner
Like Tom and Rita Hanks, movie star Billy Bob Thornton has also guest starred on "1883." He portrays Marshal Jim Courtright, which is based on a historical figure of the same name (via Taste of Country).
When you think of Thornton, you might think of his high-profile relationships throughout the years. The actor has been married six times, including his infamous marriage to actress Angelina Jolie. In October 2014, Thornton secretly married his girlfriend Connie Angland. Thornton explained the couple's decision to wed after dating for 12 years during an interview on "The Late Late Show with James Corden." "Our daughter is 11," Thornton told host James Corden. "And you know, we did it for her really, because after a while it's like 'Why aren't my mommy and daddy married after 12 years?'"
After many short-lived marriages, Thornton admitted he was apprehensive about walking down the aisle again. However, Thornton and Angland eventually exchanged vows privately at their home and publicly announced their nuptials in 2015 (via Us Weekly).