Brecken Merrill is a young American actor who became famous for playing Tate Dutton in the hit TV series Yellowstone. He started this role in 2018 when he was only about ten years old. Since then, millions of fans around the world have watched him grow up right on their screens. His natural acting skill and his ability to handle emotional scenes at such a young age made him one of the most loved young actors on television today.
Bio Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Brecken Merrill |
| Date of Birth | June 20, 2008 |
| Age | 17 years old (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | United States of America |
| Nationality | American |
| Height | 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
| Father | Jesse Phillips |
| Mother | Kristy Phillips |
| Siblings | Karis Merrill (sister), Seren Merrill (sister) |
| Profession | Actor, Model |
| Famous Role | Tate Dutton in Yellowstone |
| Debut Year | 2018 |
| Management | Paloma Model and Talent |
| Favourite Sports Team | Seattle Seahawks |
Early Life and Family Background
Brecken Merrill was born on June 20, 2008, in the United States. He grew up in a creative and supportive family. His father, Jesse Phillips, is an actor, an entrepreneur, and the CEO of a food and beverage company called Good Culture1. His mother, Kristy Phillips, is an author who writes new adult contemporary romance novels. Growing up in a family that values creativity clearly helped Brecken find his passion for acting at a very young age.
He has two sisters named Karis and Seren. His older sister Karis is also an actor, which shows that the arts run strong in their family. Brecken later attended a performing arts school in South Hadley, Massachusetts, where he continued to build on his skills. He currently lives in Newport Beach, California.
How Brecken Merrill Started Acting
Brecken made his acting debut in 2018 when he was cast as Tate Dutton in Yellowstone. He was just ten years old when he first appeared on screen alongside some of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, and Kelsey Asbille. Getting such a big role at such a young age was a huge opportunity, and Brecken made the most of it.
He has shared in interviews that Kevin Costner was a big role model for him on set. In one story, Brecken accidentally called “cut” during filming, and Costner responded seriously as he would with any adult actor. Costner also asked Brecken during a cold outdoor shoot whether acting was truly what he wanted to do. That conversation helped Brecken understand that acting was not just a hobby for him but a real passion and career.
His Role as Tate Dutton in Yellowstone
In Yellowstone, Brecken plays Tate Dutton, the son of Kayce Dutton and Monica Dutton-Long. Tate is also the only grandson of John Dutton, played by Kevin Costner, who is the central figure of the Dutton family and the owner of the largest cattle ranch in Montana. Tate’s character goes through many difficult and emotional moments throughout the show, and Brecken handled every scene with great skill.
Yellowstone ran for five seasons from 2018 to 2024, and Brecken appeared in all 53 episodes of the series. The show aired on the Paramount Network and became one of the most watched drama series in American television history. Watching Brecken grow from a small child into a teenager throughout the show was a special experience for fans who followed the series from the very beginning.
Other TV and Film Roles
While Yellowstone was his main project for several years, Brecken also took on other acting roles during breaks from the show. In 2022, he appeared in two episodes of the popular NBC drama series This Is Us, playing the character Teen Nicky Jr. in Season 6. He shared in an interview with Tresa Magazine that filming This Is Us was very different from Yellowstone because it was shot on the Paramount lot in Los Angeles, while he was used to filming outdoors in places like Utah and Montana.
In 2025, Brecken appeared in a thriller film called Lifeline, where he played a character named Steven Thomas. The film is about a suicide hotline operator who receives a disturbing call from someone who claims to know everything about him. The movie also stars Josh Stewart and August Maturo. This role showed that Brecken is ready to take on more serious and complex characters beyond his role in Yellowstone.
Brecken Merrill in Marshals (2026)
After Yellowstone ended in December 2024, Brecken did not step away from the Dutton universe. He is set to reprise his role as Tate Dutton in the new CBS series called Marshals, which premiered on March 1, 2026. The show is a spin-off of Yellowstone and follows Kayce Dutton, played by Luke Grimes, as he becomes a U.S. Marshal in Montana.
Other familiar Yellowstone faces also return in the show, including Gil Birmingham as Thomas Rainwater and Moses Brings Plenty as Mo. Marshals is a procedural drama that explores family, duty, and the challenges of law enforcement in the American West. Brecken’s continued presence in this new chapter of the franchise shows how important the Tate Dutton character remains to the story.
Modelling and Social Media Presence
Apart from acting, Brecken is also a model. He is represented by Paloma Model and Talent, a well-known talent agency. His look and screen presence have made him a natural fit for modelling work alongside his acting career. As a teenager in the public eye, he has also built a following on social media, where fans keep up with his latest projects and personal updates.
He is known to be a big fan of the Seattle Seahawks, the NFL football team based in Seattle, Washington. As of early 2022, he was also reported to be the youngest actor on the set of Yellowstone, a fact that many fans found impressive given how well he performed in his scenes.
Conclusion
Brecken Merrill is one of the most talented young actors working in American television today. From his debut as Tate Dutton in Yellowstone at just ten years old to his continued role in the spin-off series Marshals in 2026, he has shown real growth and dedication to his craft. With more projects on the way, including the upcoming film We All Got Up to Dance, his future in the entertainment industry looks very bright.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is Brecken Merrill?
Brecken Merrill is a young American actor best known for playing Tate Dutton in the TV series Yellowstone. He was born on June 20, 2008.
2. How old is Brecken Merrill?
As of 2025, Brecken Merrill is 17 years old.
3. What is Brecken Merrill’s role in Yellowstone?
He plays Tate Dutton, the son of Kayce Dutton and Monica Dutton, and the grandson of John Dutton. He appeared in all 53 episodes of the show.
4. Is Brecken Merrill related to Kevin Costner in real life?
No. Brecken and Kevin Costner are not related in real life. They only played family members on screen in Yellowstone.
5. What is Brecken Merrill doing after Yellowstone?
He is currently starring in Marshals, a Yellowstone spin-off on CBS that premiered in March 2026. He is also set to appear in the film We All Got Up to Dance.
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