‘Yellowstone’ Spin-off ‘1923’ Pays Tribute to Late Star Cole Brings Plenty in Season 2 Debut

The Season 2 premiere of 1923 paid tribute to the late Cole Brings Plenty, who made his acting debut portraying Pete Plenty Clouds in the first season of the critically acclaimed Yellowstone spin-off. A photo of the actor dressed in costume as his character was displayed on a sepia-toned “In Memoriam” title card at the beginning of the episode (as seen below).

Brings Plenty was found dead in April 2024 at the age of 27. Reports at the time indicated that the actor had gone missing after being sought by police in connection to an alleged domestic violence incident. The actor’s uncle, Mo Brings Plenty, who plays fan-favorite character Mo in Paramount’s hit drama Yellowstone, later shared a statement from Brings Plenty’s father, Joe, on Instagram, confirming his son’s death while also expressing gratitude for everyone’s “prayers and positive thoughts” during the search for his offspring.

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‘1923’ Stars Sebastian Roché & Brian Geraghty Dive Into Season 2 of the ‘Yellowstone’ Prequel

Sebastian Roché & Brian Geraghty dish on Season 2 of ‘1923,’ coming Feb. 23, 2025.

“I am deeply saddened to confirm that my son, Cole, has been found and is no longer with us. We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone for the prayers and positive thoughts you sent for Cole. We would also like to thank everyone who came to walk beside us as we searched for my son and provided the resources we needed to expand our search areas. I learned this week how many people knew the goodness in Cole’s heart and loved him. During this incredibly difficult time, we ask for privacy as we process our grief and figure out how we move forward. Please know we appreciate you and appreciate your understanding.”

Who Plays Pete in ‘1923’ Season 2?

Cole Brings Plenty "In Memoriam" title card in the Season 2 premiere of 1923 — Paramount+

The role of Pete in 1923 is now portrayed by Jeremy Gauna, who previously starred as Warrior in 1883, another Yellowstone prequel. The decision to recast the role was supported by cast members, as Aminah Nieves, who plays Teonna Rainwater, recently told TV Insider that she felt it was the “best” way to honor the late actor. She also commended Gauna for stepping into the role with “such grace” despite the challenging circumstances.

“I could have easily gone into this with a lot of resentment and with a lot of hate and a lot of pain. And it’s not to say that I didn’t at first, but there comes a moment where you have to really think about the person that Coco was. And he’s my brother. We talked every day about this. He lives on and with us every day. He was so excited and so happy to be a part of something of this magnitude. I could have sat there and been sad, or I could have sat there and honored him in the best way and uplifted Jeremy Gauna too for coming here and holding all of that weight, which it’s an extreme weight to hold and to come in and take over for Coco. And he did it with such grace.”

Season 2 of 1923 picked up where the first season ended, with Teonna on the run after killing an abusive nun at an Indian residential school. She is not alone in her journey, as she continues to travel south with her father, Runs His Horse (Michael Spears), and her love interest Pete, trying to stay one step ahead of the ruthless Father Renaud (Sebastian Roché) and the merciless Marshal Kent (Jamie McShane) in what looks set to be a deadly game of cat and mouse.

You can catch up with all the latest drama from the Dutton family saga with the Season 2 premiere of 1923, which is now streaming on Paramount+. A new episode will be released weekly every Sunday, leading up to the eighth and final episode on Apr. 13.