Actor James Jordan: ‘Yellowstone,’ ‘1883,’ and Other Taylor Sheridan Roles Explained
Taylor Sheridan‘s success as a storyteller owes a lot to casting. And clearly, Sheridan found a performer he likes in actor James Jordan.
When 1883 Season 1 passed the halfway point, Shea Brennan and Thomas searched for a cook and a new cowboy to accompany them on the trip. That’s when actor James Jordan added another Taylor Sheridan production to his resume. Since then, Jordan has become Sheridan’s most frequent collaborator.
Who is the cook in ‘1883’?
It’s no secret that the immigrants traveling with Shea Brennan have been struggling throughout the journey. The group has not even left Texas yet and their numbers have dwindled considerably. Immigrants are becoming widowed and orphaned, and Shea and Thomas notice that many are struggling to take care of themselves.
The duo decides that hiring a cook is necessary for the immigrants’ survival. At a trading post, Thomas meets with a man who is credited only as “Cookie.” Although Cookie at first has a lot of questions about the journey he agrees to the job and is even chuckling to himself by the end of his conversation with Thomas.
Every James Jordan role in a Taylor Sheridan show
Although Jordan only appeared briefly in 1883 Episode 6, it seems like he will become an important part of the show, and perhaps a bit of comic relief. Jordan is credited on IMDb in the next three episodes of the series. Though the outlet isn’t always the most reliable, it makes sense that Cookie will be present with the group for the rest of the season.
Fans of Taylor Sheridan’s work probably recognized the actor playing Cookie. Jordan has appeared in more than one TV show created by Sheridan. Jordan shows up in quite a few episodes of Yellowstone as Livestock Agent Steve Hendon. He also portrays Ed Simmons in Sheridan’s Mayor of Kingstown.
Jordan also plays a main role in Lioness as Two Cups, a member of the Lioness program’s QRF. In 2024, the actor debuted as petroleum engineer Dale Bradley in Sheridan’s series Landman.
Interestingly, Jordan had a part to play in the mystery drama television series Veronica Mars. Sheridan appeared on the same show, not as a writer but to portray Danny Boyd.
Finally, Jordan played Pete Mickens in Wind River, a film directed by Sheridan. Jordan also had a role in Those Who Wish Me Dead, a film for which Sheridan wrote the screenplay.
Actor James Jordan’s other notable roles
Jordan has done quite a bit of work with Sheridan, but he has quite a few other acting credits as well. According to IMDb, Jordan has made appearances in popular TV shows including CSI: Miami, True Blood, and Fargo. He also had roles in the feature films The Endless, Destroyer, Certain Women, Message From the King, and Seberg.
