Before meeting his father, he watched him on television. Their final reunion did not result in a picture-perfect friendship; rather, it left him living alone on a moored yacht, following a goal that few believed in. Decades later, he is the face of one of television’s most recognizable cowboys.
He’s now renowned as a dedicated family guy and Yellowstone’s strict enforcer. With his calm passion and authoritative presence, he’s become a fan favorite on one of television’s most popular series. However, behind the celebrity is a significantly more convoluted story. Long before he walked on a Hollywood set, he was a fatherless child who moved from town to town, desperate to break into an industry that offered him nothing for free. This is the true story of Cole Hauser.
Childhood was spent between ranches and restlessness. Cole was born on a ranch north of Santa Barbara, and his early recollections were right out of a Western—riding horses, traversing broad pastures, and growing up surrounded by the grit and openness of the land, according to Men’s Journal.
At the age of four, he and his mother relocated to a 1,500-acre ranch in Eugene, Oregon. Armed with a BB pistol and an adventurous attitude, he subsequently recalled it as the best moment of his life.
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His mother, a self-proclaimed gypsy and hippie, had a restless existence, moving the family when Cole was still a child. This time, they relocated to Clearwater, Florida, which he previously acknowledged he “wouldn’t wish on anyone.”They eventually went to California, where, at the age of twelve, he wandered into an acting class—not because he loved the profession, but rather, as he honestly stated, “There were good-looking girls, and you do a few plays.”
But then something unexpected occurred: he caught the bug.
His blood ran deep in Hollywood, but it was not his destiny. When Cole revealed to his mother his intention to pursue acting professionally, she unexpectedly revealed her maiden name: Warner. He, like Warner Bros., descended from Hollywood nobility. However, that name did not open any doors. His mother made it harder by insisting he work for the life he wanted. She sent him on a five-hour bus excursion from his hometown to Los Angeles for auditions. He’d arrive, walk to the casting studio, spend a few minutes in the room, and then turn around for the five-hour drive home.
After undergoing this routine several times, she divulged another family secret: his father was also an actress. His father was none other than Wings Hauser. Cole had never met him. He didn’t even know who he was until he was nine or ten years old and saw him on television.
“I waited for the film to finish and noticed Wings Hauser [in the credits]. So I went into my mom’s room and said, “Hey, Mom.” I recently watched a man on TV named Wings Hauser. She glanced at me and said, ‘Wow!’ And I said, “Yes, I saw this person.” And she says, ‘Yeah, well, let’s speak about it.
Cole eventually met his father when he was fifteen years old and came to Los Angeles to live with him, wanting to become closer to the profession. The reunion was difficult. His father was dealing with major substance misuse difficulties and couldn’t provide a stable environment. Cole instantly understood that he was on his own.
A teenager living on a boat and chasing a dream
Rather than a Hollywood condo or a family home, Cole found himself living alone aboard a moored PT boat in Marina del Rey. Many adolescents would have struggled. He prospered. “That was a wonderful time because it meant freedom,” he later reflected. While balancing auditions and odd jobs, he secured his first major break in the 1992 film School Ties, starring alongside future stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. He was so fresh to the industry that Freddie Francis, the famed cinematographer, personally tutored him on site, showing him how to hit his marks and block shots.
His career progressed gradually after that.
Becoming a rip-wheeler
After years of playing rough, intense characters in films such as Dazed and Confused, Good Will Hunting, and 2 Fast 2 Furious, Cole was cast as Rip Wheeler in Yellowstone.
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He didn’t simply draw on boyhood recollections of riding horses in Oregon to portray the hard-edged yet passionately devoted ranch foreman. He plunged himself into training, learning to rope and ride as if he had lived his whole life on the farm. His performance impressed reviewers and fans alike, including his father. Cole replied, “Absolutely,” when asked if his father was proud of him. “Yeah, he’s a huge fan of the show and is obviously very proud of what I’ve done in it.” As it turned out, his family’s connection to the West was stronger than he had thought.
A Family Legacy in Montana.
Years after Yellowstone aired, Cole and his eldest son journeyed to Montana to investigate their family history. They unearthed a heritage that dated back to the early days of American history. His great-great-grandfather, Samuel T. Hauser, not only contributed to the Lewis and Clark Expedition but also served as Montana’s first governor.
“I’ve always had this love for the state but didn’t really know why,” Cole remembered. “It makes so much sense now.” I mean, my family has been around since the dawn of time.” Cole now understands the value of legacy, having become a father himself. He built his profession on guts, perseverance, and self-reliance, which he now instills in his own children.
And, while Rip Wheeler may be his most well-known character, his greatest accomplishment is the life he constructed despite all obstacles.