‘Yellowstone’: Denim Richards Breaks Down Colby’s Dramatic Horse Scene, His Love Story With Teeter and the Cowboy Gear That He Took From Set

As a fan of “Yellowstone”, I was deeply saddened to see Denim Richards‘ character, Colby Mayfield, meet his untimely end on the show. However, speaking with Denim, it became clear that his life experience off-screen is as rich and diverse as his on-screen persona. From his roots in Africa to his successful career in Hollywood, Denim’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary.

⚠️ Attention: The following content reveals plot points from the 12th episode of Season 5 of “Yellowstone,” titled “Counting Coup,” which aired on Paramount Network on December 1st. Proceed with caution if you wish to avoid spoilers.

Pour one out for Colby.

The beloved cowboy character, played by Denim Richards, consistently brought life to the “Yellowstone” bunkhouse. His performance was filled with an effortless charm. Simultaneously, he developed a blossoming romance with Teeter (Jennifer Landon). Unfortunately, this romance was tragically ended when Colby met his untimely end in yesterday’s episode. In a valiant finale, he sacrificed himself to save Carter (Finn Little) from a rampaging horse that eventually proved fatal due to repeated kicks. Here, I had the opportunity to chat with Richards about his reaction upon learning of his character’s demise, preparing for his last romantic scene with Landon, and the delight he experienced while acting alongside Kelly Reilly’s Beth.

When did you first find out that Colby was going to die?

The incident occurred in May. I was on my way back from Dallas, having attended the U.S.-Africa Business Summit, when I received a call. It was a heartfelt and considerate conversation with Christina [Alexandra Voros], who is simply an incredible person to work with. If anyone has the chance to collaborate with her, they would undoubtedly agree that she’s incredibly warm, kind, and professional. As an artist, you experience a whirlwind of intense highs and lows because sometimes it feels like we’re balancing both our characters and ourselves. A significant portion of our identity is connected to this duality. She reassured me, “I’m here if you need anything.” Fortunately, things never reached a critically low point.

How did you prepare for your final phone call with Jennifer, knowing it’d be Colby and Teeter’s last big moment together?

In a more casual and straightforward manner:

I’m sure there are so many, but is there one favorite memory you have from filming the show?

We had this scene where it was the first time Kelly’s character comes into the bunkhouse and has a moment with Carter (Finn Little) and Rip (Cole Hauser) and we’re all around the bunkhouse. It was this massive day, there were 13 or 14 of us all in the bunkhouse. It was really beautiful to get these kinds of opportunities with people you don’t get to engage with, because Kelly’s character is doing these other things. So that was a beautiful moment. In between that, we played poker around the table. I remember we had like a lightning strike that had happened, so we had to shut down for over an hour. Ryan Bingham is playing his guitar, and we’re teaching Kelly how to play some type of poker. In those moments, you sit there and go, “Man, we could do this forever.” It’s those types of moments that I will always cherish.

Is there something you wish you could have done in the series that you didn’t have a chance to do?

Instead of dwelling on hindsight’s benefits, I’ve strived to cultivate myself as an artist and professional by embracing each moment sincerely. The goal is to find joy in the journey rather than being overly attached to the end result, since we invest a lot of effort and frequently don’t achieve the desired outcome. For instance, we might work hard but not secure the exhibition or the performance opportunity. If you equate your self-worth with the success of booking something, I believe it leads you towards a very bleak path.

“I believe a major factor behind this show’s success is that even as it gained prominence, the artists involved managed to set aside their egos and personal feelings in favor of serving the story. Coming from relative obscurity in 2017 and now speaking with you all – who would have imagined?

Your character had a very noble death, but “Yellowstone” has a history of killing people off in wild ways. Do you have a favorite?

Despite not being certain if anyone perished in it, I find myself drawn back to Season 2, where we let loose a bull in a saloon and subsequently got involved in an enormous brawl. Quite the spectacle! There have been numerous instances of craziness throughout, and I believe this underscores the straightforward nature of Colby’s demise, as it reflects the authenticity of life in the cowboy world. It appears that Taylor attempted to incorporate more of this genuine simplicity in this season, emphasizing that while Colby’s death may seem straightforward, it mirrors the true essence of what life can be for a cowboy.

Did you have a watch party last night for your last big episode?

Instead of stating that you didn’t watch the entire show, you could say: “I didn’t see the whole thing; instead, I caught snippets of it later on. Ever since May, though, this specific moment has been constantly replaying in my mind, and it’s been quite an emotional journey for me personally. The anticipation leading up to this season was immense, with countless people predicting that Colby and Teeter would finally connect. I felt that the actual event would have been too overwhelming for me. However, when I logged online and saw the numerous reactions, I realized just how significant it truly was.

Upon viewing the film, I recognized the masterful way Taylor seamlessly wove together this intricate narrative. It served as a poignant farewell if indeed it was one. However, for me, it felt like just another workday. It pushed my limits, much like a stress test. If you intend to create such impactful pieces over a long career, you’ll likely encounter a few more of these emotionally taxing projects. My current goal is to maintain an air of professionalism and grace amidst the emotions, lest I find myself shedding tears in every interview.

Have you started to incorporate any cowboy gear into your normal wardrobe?

To be honest, while I do appreciate the cowboy way of life, it’s not truly Denim’s lifestyle. Instead, you’ll find me wearing a lot of African clothing. Sometimes, I’ll sport cowboy boots too. It’s amusing because whenever I go out, people often ask me about my hat or can’t believe it’s really me due to my unique style. However, every item of clothing I wore on the show is with me. The picture you saw on Instagram was taken in my office, and all those items are still there.

You have your feature debut as a writer and director, “The Forgotten Ones,” set as your next project. What can you reveal about that?

We’re incredibly thrilled with ‘The Forgotten Ones’, although we’re still uncertain about its distribution details at this moment. It’s a captivating historical piece set in an intriguing era, distinct from the unfortunate demise of Colby Mayfield on Paramount’s top-rated series, ‘Yellowstone.’ [laughs]

This interview has been edited and condensed.

2024-12-03 00:47