Brecken Merrill

Brecken Merrill, born smack dab in the middle of June 2008, is that kid you probably recognize if you’ve ever binge-watched Yellowstone. He’s the one who plays Tate Dutton—yeah, the ranch kid with more drama than most adults. Yellowstone dropped in 2018 and, honestly, it’s been a wild ride ever since. The show? Cattle, cowboys, family feuds that make your own look tame, and oh yeah, Brecken right in the middle of it. He’s not just some background extra; the kid’s got real screen presence—like, you actually care what happens to him, which is rare for child actors in these gritty dramas. But Brecken didn’t just stop at Yellowstone. Nope. He popped up in This Is Us too, which, if you’ve got a heart, probably made you cry at least twice. The show’s all about family, time jumps, and emotional gut punches, and Brecken fits right in, bringing that same vibe—maybe a little less dirt and horses, but just as much heart. Fast forward to 2025, and he’s in Lifeline, which, okay, hasn’t even dropped yet but people are already talking. Supposedly it’s got a twisty plot and Brecken gets to stretch those acting chops even more. He’s got this way of playing characters that makes you forget you’re watching someone act. Maybe it’s because he basically grew up on set, or maybe he’s just got that “it” factor. Either way, not bad for someone barely out of middle school. You get the sense he’s just getting started, too.