The tagline for Yellowstone Season 5 Part 2, “generations of blood have led to this,” perfectly encapsulates the sprawling Dutton family saga. From Yellowstone to its compelling prequel series, 1883 and 1923, viewers have been immersed in the Duttons’ multi-generational journey on their Montana ranch. 1883 charted their arduous trek from Tennessee to Big Sky Country, 1923 depicts their fight for survival during the harsh Great Depression era, and Yellowstone showcases the contemporary struggles of preserving their ranching legacy.
With 1923 Season 2 now streaming on Paramount+, fans are eagerly anticipating the resolution of a major mystery: the identity of John Dutton II’s parents. To help navigate the intricate web of Dutton family ties within the Yellowstone universe, we’ve compiled a comprehensive family tree graphic.
As you delve into the Dutton lineage, you’ll notice some gaps in the family portrait. For instance, John Dutton III’s mother remains unnamed and unseen in Yellowstone. Despite her lack of screen time, we know she bore John III a second child, Peter, who tragically passed away shortly after birth, a detail revealed in Yellowstone Season 5 Part 1.
Interestingly, Dawn Olivieri, known to Yellowstone audiences as the cunning Sarah Atwood, also appears in 1883. In a twist, she portrays Claire Dutton, sister to James (Tim McGraw) and Jacob Dutton (Harrison Ford), long before her adversarial role against the Duttons in Yellowstone.
Charting the Dutton Family Saga
Dutton family tree photo
Visual guide to the Dutton family tree spanning Yellowstone, 1923, and 1883 series.
1923 focuses on the generation into which John Dutton II, the father of John Dutton III, was born. Season 2 of 1923 is expected to unveil the circumstances of his birth and the identities of his parents. An older John Dutton II makes a poignant appearance in Yellowstone, portrayed by the late Dabney Coleman.
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1883 lays the foundation of the Dutton Yellowstone Ranch, with Elsa Dutton (Isabel May), daughter of James (McGraw) and Margaret Dutton (Faith Hill), playing a pivotal role in their settlement in Montana. Her younger brother, initially known as John Dutton in 1883 (Audie Rick as young John, James Badge Dale as adult John in 1923), later becomes John Dutton I in 1923. This name change implies the lineage would continue with a namesake. However, John Dutton I and his wife Emma (Marley Shelton) are not John Dutton II’s parents.
Season 1 of 1923 hinted that John Dutton II’s parentage could stem from either Jack (Darren Mann) and Elizabeth Dutton (Michelle Randolph), the son of John and Emma, or Spencer (Brandon Sklenar) and Alexandra Dutton (Julia Schlaepfer), Elsa and John I’s younger brother. Given 1923’s narrative emphasis mirroring 1883 by focusing on the character poised to significantly shape the Dutton legacy, and with Spencer and Alex’s storyline driving the plot more intensely than Jack and Elizabeth’s, speculation leans towards Spencer and Alexandra as John Dutton III’s grandparents. Consequently, in our family tree, John II is placed under Spencer and Alex, indicated by a grey line signifying presumed, but yet unconfirmed, parentage.
Continue exploring the Dutton family history with our graphic as the saga unfolds.
1923, Streaming Sundays, Paramount+
