Why Ellis Steele From Yellowstone Looks So Familiar
"Yellowstone" is one of the most popular television shows currently airing. The Western drama continues to break record after record as it expands into a franchise comprising of multiple prequels and spin-offs. The Paramount Network show follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton (Kevin Costner), as they work to maintain and protect their ranch from developers.
Ellis Steele is among several antagonists attempting to purchase the Dutton's land. The Market Equities representative works alongside the ruthless CEO Caroline Warner (Jacki Weaver), who aims to buy out Montana landowners and build a massive airport. Although Steele isn't as vicious as Warner, he's a cold businessman who doesn't care about the ranching industry. The recurring character is portrayed by John Emmet Tracy through Seasons 3 and 4.
Tracy is a prolific theater, film, and television actor from the Midwest who has been working in the entertainment industry for more than three decades. He's done a bit of everything, from performing at the legendary Shakespeare's Globe theatre to voicing Thomas Jefferson in "Assassin's Creed III."
Here's where you might've seen Tracy before he joined the cast of "Yellowstone."
John Emmet Tracy has starred in countless TV shows
Like many actors, John Emmet Tracy's early on-screen career began with guest spots on TV shows. His first role was in a 2005 episode of "The Dead Zone," a science-fiction drama. Following this, he starred in dozens of popular shows, including "Smallville," "Psych," and "The Killing." He also had the recurring role of Nick in the short-lived comedy "Always a Bridesmaid."
In an interview with My Devotional Thoughts, Tracy spoke about his numerous appearances on TV shows over the years. He explained that he enjoys the challenge of working with so many new people and added that each show offers something unique. However, he revealed that his favorite roles of this sort have been in "Supernatural" and "Olympus."
Tracy portrayed Mercury, the Roman god of messengers, in Seasons 5 and 14 of the hit show "Supernatural," while he portrayed Pallas in the Greek mythology-inspired fantasy series "Olympus."
"Both were complex characters with many layers to work with," he told the outlet. "Both were created by excellent writers, and both offered a mix of challenge and reward as a performer."
He played Enzo Lambert in iZombie
Following minor appearances in various short films and made-for-TV movies, Tracy starred in the 2012 slasher film "American Mary" and the 2014 drama "If I Stay." One of his most noteworthy roles, however, came later with the supernatural crime drama "iZombie." The CW show follows Liv Moore (Rose McIver), a doctor-turned-zombie who gains the bizarre ability to solve murder cases by eating victims' brains.
Starting in Season 4, Tracy played antagonistic inspector Enzo Lambert. The quirky character is a zombie enthusiast who is best remembered for his over-the-top French accent. In an interview with Fansided, Tracy explained that the script told him to go for an exaggerated mix of Inspector Jacques Clouseau from "The Pink Panther" and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen.
The recurring character was initially meant to appear in just one episode but was brought back to infuse more comedy into the series. Lambert's villainous arc was filled with twists and turns before his death in the Season 5 series finale, "All's Well That Ends Well."
He was August Cartwright in Batwoman
In an interview with the Vancouver Sun, Tracy joked that he always gets cast as villains in films and TV shows because he has an "evil face." Before being cast as a city-slicking villain in "Yellowstone," the actor starred as Dr. August Cartwright on The CW's "Batwoman." The superhero series follows Kate Kane/Batwoman (Ruby Rose) as she fights crime in Gotham City.
Cartwright, a sociopathic villain also known as Caterpillar, poses as plastic surgeon Dr. Ethan Campbell (Sebastian Roché) until he's found out by a revenge-seeking Kane in the explosive Season 1 episode "Off With Her Head." His early demise was significant for the show, as it saw Batwoman breaking Batman's no-killing rule. "Batwoman" aired for two more seasons and is likely to return for a Season 4.
Following this, Tracy starred in the Hallmark mini-series "Matchmaker Mysteries" before landing the role of Ellis Steele. It's unknown whether or not the actor will return for Season 5 of "Yellowstone," though it's clear that Market Equities isn't going away for the Dutton family just yet.