TLDR: Garrett Randall is a recurring character on Yellowstone introduced in Season 3 as Jamie Dutton’s biological father. He was convicted of murdering his wife in 1980 and spent thirty years in prison.
After reuniting with Jamie, he orchestrated the assassination attempts on John, Beth, and Kayce Dutton using a former cellmate named Riggins.
When Beth discovered the truth and gave Jamie three options, Jamie chose the third one.
He shot and killed his own father at the end of Season 4. Garrett Randall is played by Will Patton.
Yellowstone introduced a lot of villains across its five seasons. Most of them wanted the Dutton land. Garrett Randall wanted something more personal.
He wanted John Dutton dead, his biological son in power, and the family that adopted that son dismantled. The fact that he spent thirty years in prison and still had the patience to build toward all three says everything you need to know about the character.
Who Is Garrett Randall?
Garrett Randall was introduced in Season 3, Episode 7, when viewers discover he is Jamie Dutton’s biological father. Jamie was born Michael Randall.
When Garrett was arrested in 1980 for murdering his wife Phyllis, his infant son was left without a parent and was subsequently adopted by John Dutton and his wife Evelyn.
Garrett’s explanation for killing Phyllis is delivered directly to Jamie: he came home to find her using drugs and, believing he was saving his son from that influence, beat her to death.
He presents this as an act of love. The show does not ask viewers to accept that framing, but it does allow Garrett to make the case, which is what makes him a compelling villain rather than a cartoon one.
He served thirty years at the Montana State Prison. When he was released, he had a cattle ranch waiting and a son he had never known.
The Assassination Plot and the Cellmate
By the end of Season 3, it becomes clear that Garrett was behind the coordinated assassination attempts on John, Beth, and Kayce Dutton. The weapon he used was a former cellmate named Riggins, who organized the attacks on his behalf. The attempts failed. John survived. Beth survived. Kayce survived.
Jamie discovered his father’s involvement and said nothing. He chose to protect Garrett rather than warn his adopted family, which tells you where his loyalties stood at that point in the story. It did not stay hidden for long.
Beth’s Three Options
Beth found out the truth about Garrett’s role in the assassination plot and confronted Jamie with it. She gave him three choices. Rip Wheeler would be told, and he would handle it his way. Jamie and Garrett would be turned over to law enforcement. Or Jamie would kill his father himself.
This scene is one of the more quietly devastating moments in the show. Beth is not asking Jamie to choose between his biological father and his adopted family.
She has already made the choice for him. She is only asking which mechanism he prefers.
How Garrett Randall Dies
Jamie drives out to Garrett’s ranch at the end of Season 4.
The two talk. Garrett tells his son he is not a bad man and that he loves him. Jamie says he loves him too.
Then Jamie produces a gun from behind his back and shoots his father, killing him instantly.
Beth was watching from a distance and photographed the killing, which she then used to ensure Jamie’s permanent loyalty.
The scene does double work: it closes Garrett’s story and begins the next chapter of Jamie’s. He is now a murderer who Beth controls with a photograph. That dynamic runs through the rest of the series.
Who Plays Garrett Randall?
Garrett Randall is played by Will Patton, a veteran character actor born in Charleston, South Carolina, on June 14, 1954. He has been working steadily in film and television since the early 1980s.
His film credits include Remember the Titans, Armageddon, and No Way Out. On television he has appeared in The Client List, Swamp Thing, and Outer Range.
Patton brought a particular quality to Garrett that the role required: the ability to make a man who murdered his wife seem like someone his son could genuinely love.
The character only worked because the performance was credible. Patton made it credible.
Who is Garrett Randall on Yellowstone?
Garrett Randall is Jamie Dutton’s biological father, introduced in Season 3 of Yellowstone. He was convicted of murdering his wife Phyllis in 1980 and spent thirty years in prison. After reconnecting with Jamie following his release, he orchestrated the assassination attempts on John, Beth, and Kayce Dutton using a former cellmate named Riggins. He is played by Will Patton.
How does Garrett Randall die on Yellowstone?
Garrett Randall is killed by his own son Jamie at the end of Season 4. After Beth discovered Garrett’s role in the assassination plot against the Dutton family, she gave Jamie three options. Jamie chose to kill his father himself. He drove to Garrett’s ranch, told him he loved him, and shot him. Beth photographed the killing and used it to control Jamie for the remainder of the series.
Who plays Garrett Randall on Yellowstone?
Garrett Randall is played by Will Patton, a veteran character actor born on June 14, 1954, in Charleston, South Carolina. His other credits include Remember the Titans, Armageddon, No Way Out, and the series Outer Range.
Why did Garrett Randall want John Dutton dead?
The show never explicitly reveals the full history between Garrett Randall and John Dutton. Garrett’s stated motivation was to place his biological son Jamie in control of the Yellowstone ranch and remove the Dutton family from power. His deeper personal grievance against John Dutton is implied but left partially unexplained, which is part of what made the character compelling across Seasons 3 and 4.
