1923 Main Characters Explained: Meet the Cast

Another Yellowstone prequel is coming out just now, called 1923. The show follows the second and third-generation Duttons, who are running the Yellowstone Ranch in Paradise Valley, Montana, during the Great Depression and Prohibition. 

Although it’s a sequel to the first Yellowstone spin-off series, 1883, and a prequel to Yellowstone itself, not many recurring characters appear in any of the shows. So, if you want to know more about the characters in 1923, you’re in the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about the cast of 1923 before you get into the show!

Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford)

Portrayed by Harrison Ford, Jacob Dutton is the patriarch of the Dutton family in the show 1923. After James Dutton passed away (portrayed by Tim McGraw in another Yellowstone spin-off series, 1883), Jacob Dutton took over the Yellowstone Ranch with his wife, Cara.

He took in John and Spencer Dutton, James’ children, and raised them as his own on the ranch. Jacob is the lead figure in the 1923 series, as he leads the ranch through some of the hardest times in American history, including the Great Depression, Prohibition, and the advance of Westward Expansion.

Cara Dutton (Helen Mirren)

If you don’t love Helen Mirren, I’m sorry, but I can’t be your friend. The absolute royalty of Hollywood joined the cast in 1923 as Cara Dutton, Jacob Dutton’s wife and one of the main characters of the series. 

If Yellowstone had Elsa, Beth, and Margaret Dutton as the strong Dutton women behind powerful Dutton men, that role will be been filled by Cara Dutton in 1923. She is the matriarch of the family, and she knows what kind of a sacrifice it takes to marry into the family, which she shares with Elizabeth Strafford (we’ll get to her later).

John Dutton Sr. (James Badge Dale)

John Dutton Sr. is, essentially, the only character that appears in both the 1883 and 1923 series. He is the son of James Dutton (Tim McGraw in 1883), who was only a teenager when his parents passed away, and Jacob took him in in 1894.

In 1923, however, he is a grown man and Jacob Dutton’s right hand on the ranch. He has a brother, Spencer, a wife, Emma, and a son, Jack. The story will likely revolve around his son more, but seeing how close John and Jacob seem to be, he will surely be an important figure in the series.

Emma Dutton (Marley Shelton)

Marley Shelton will portray Emma Dutton, John Dutton Sr.’s wife, making her the great-grandmother of John Dutton III – Kevin Costner’s character in Yellowstone. Emma will fill in that kind, loving mother figure for Jack, but it’s still unclear how big of a role in the series she’ll play.

Jack Dutton (Darren Mann)

Apart from Jacob and Cara, another highly important figure in the show will be Jack Dutton, portrayed by the talented young Darren Mann. Jack is the son of John and Emma Dutton and the grand-nephew of Jacob and Cara. We already heard praise about his performance in 1923, even before the series premiered, so I’m really excited to see his character develop.

Jack is a guy that’s very dedicated to the family business and doesn’t shy away from doing what it takes to keep everything afloat (much like John in the Yellowstone series). There are several other connections that can be made between Jack and John Dutton III, but it remains to be seen how the story unfolds.

What we do know is that Jack is soon to be married to Elizabeth Strafford and that Cara will talk to Liz to help her understand what it means to marry into the Dutton family and how her life will change afterward.

Spencer Dutton (Brandon Sklenar)

It’s unclear just how important Spencer Dutton will be in the show, as he is away from the family ranch – at least at the beginning of the show. Spencer is John Dutton Sr.’s younger brother, also taken in by Jacob and Cara after their parents died.

He is a World War I veteran who chose to stay abroad, and he is seen in the first episode of the show in Africa, joining a big game hunt. We know that he’ll also meet Alexandra while abroad, a British woman whose intentions are yet unclear. Alexandra will be portrayed by Julia Schlaepfer.

Elizabeth Strafford (Michelle Randolph)

Elizabeth Strafford, also known as Liz, is the wife-to-be of Jack Dutton, John and Emma’s son. She is described as a feisty and capable young woman that loves Jack and quickly learns just how much sacrifice is needed to marry into the Dutton family. It seems that she will have a loving relationship with Emma, her future mother-in-law.

Zane Davis (Brian Geraghty)

Every ranch needs a reliable ranch hand that’s not eager to get power – he is there to do his job and do it brilliantly. In Yellowstone, that character was Rip Wheeler, who is often seen as John Dutton’s right hand (apart from Lloyd, who’s been on the ranch for over 30 years).

That character in 1923 will be Zane Davis, portrayed by Brian Geraghty. From what we know so far, it seems that Zane will be Jack Dutton’s best friend and one of the most reliable workers at the Yellowstone ranch.

Donald Whitfield (Timothy Dalton)

There always has to be somebody who wants to see the Dutton family and their ranch crash and burn. And, usually, it’s somebody who has a neighboring property. In 1923, that role will be filled by the legendary Timothy Dalton, portraying Donald Whitfield.

Whitfield will likely be the primary villain of the first season of 1923, but how far the feud between him and Jacob Dutton will go remains to be seen. Still, I absolutely love the dynamic due between Dalton and Ford. Adding Helen Mirren, Brandon Sklenar, Darren Mann, Sebastian Roché, and others makes the cast in 1923 the best in the entire Sheridanverse, in my opinion.

Father Renaud (Sebastian Roché)

Sebastian Roché will portray the religious leader figure in 1923, named Father Renaud. He is also the headmaster of a nearby school for Native American Indians in Montana. Sister Mary, portrayed by Jennifer Ehle, is an Irish Nun who works closely with Father Renaud at the school and seems to be his right hand.

Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves)

Teonna Rainwater will be portrayed by Aminah Nieves as a student at the nearby government boarding school in Montana. It’s unclear how big or important her role will be, but seeing that she will appear in all eight episodes of the season (according to IMDb), I’m sure her role will be significant.

Banner Creighton (Jerome Flynn)

I have loved Jerome Flynn ever since his roles in Game of Thrones, and Love, Vincent. He appeared in 1923, but not in such a positive role. In fact, it seems that Banner Creighton will be one of the main adversaries of the Dutton family, much like Timothy Dalton’s Donald Whitfield. You didn’t think the Duttons would only have a single enemy, did you?

Other cast members and roles

That’s about it when it comes to highly important roles in the series – at least that we know so far. There are other recurring characters that will play a part in the story, though.

Leenah Robinson will portray Baapuxti, a Native American student at Father Renaud’s school, whereas Kerry O’Malley will take on the role of Sister Alice. We’ll see Robert Patrick portraying William McDowell, the sheriff of Gallatin County and a friend of the Duttons, while Tim DeKay will appear in a recurring role as Bob Strafford, Liz Strafford’s father.

Peter Stormare will portray Lucca, an older, wise sailor who spent decades in the open waters, while Amelia Rico joined the cast as Issaxche, a Crow woman who’s hoping to reunite with her family.

Jacques Schembri will play Jimmy Cricket, a mobster from Birmingham who will have an encounter with Emma Dutton, while Alexandra Grossi portrays Catherine Walsh – a woman who is quickly killed by a leopard in Kenya.

Other characters include Caleb Martin as a cowboy named Dennis, Brian Brown as Jasper, Brian Konowal as Clyde, Jane Carlson as Lady Arthur, the Countess of Sussex, and others. Interestingly, Isabela May returned after her role in 1883, where she portrayed Elsa Dutton. In 1923, however, she returned only as a narrator.