Brecken Merrill, the American actor who plays Tate Dutton in the Paramount Network series Yellowstone, was born on 20 June 2008 and is 18 years old as of 2026. He began acting at age 8 and has since become a series regular in the Yellowstone spinoff Marshals, which premiered on CBS and Paramount+ on 1 March 2026.
Early Life and Family Background
Brecken Merrill was born on 20 June 2008 in the United States and currently resides in Newport Beach, California. He holds American nationality and is of White ethnicity, with both parents of Caucasian background. His father, Jesse Merrill, is an actor, entrepreneur, and CEO of Good Culture, a food and beverage company. His mother, Kristy Phillips, is a published author of new adult contemporary romance novels.
Brecken has two sisters: an older sister named Karis and a younger sister named Seren. He is the only son of Jesse and Kristy. The family lives together in Newport Beach, California.
Acting Career and Yellowstone Role
Merrill made his on-screen acting debut in 2018 when he was cast as Tate Dutton in Yellowstone, appearing alongside Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, and Kelly Reilly. Tate is the young grandson of ranch patriarch John Dutton and the son of Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) and Monica Dutton (Kelsey Asbille). The series premiered on his 10th birthday, 20 June 2018, making his performance notable at such a young age.
Merrill appeared in Yellowstone through its fifth and final season, which concluded in 2024. The Yellowstone cast was nominated for a SAG Award in 2022 for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Brecken told ET that landing the Tate role on Yellowstone is one of his "proudest moments."
Other Projects and Latest News
Beyond Yellowstone, Brecken appeared in This Is Us in 2022 as Teen Nicky Jr. In 2025, he starred in the indie feature film Lifeline as a young Steven Thomas. He is also set to appear in the comedy-drama We All Got Up to Dance as Emmett LeClair.
Variety reported in 2025 that Brecken would reprise his role as Tate Dutton in the Yellowstone spinoff Marshals. The series premiered on CBS and Paramount+ on 1 March 2026, with Brecken listed as a series regular. The show was renewed for a second season set to premiere on 4 October 2026. Marshals follows Kayce Dutton as he joins a specialised group of U.S. Marshals tasked with protecting Montana. Luke Grimes (Kayce Dutton), Gil Birmingham (Thomas Rainwater), and Mo Brings Plenty (Mo) also reprise their Yellowstone roles in the spinoff.
Net Worth and Social Media
Brecken Merrill is estimated to be worth several hundred thousand dollars as of 2026, though his exact net worth is not publicly verified. His primary income sources include acting fees from Yellowstone (2018–2024), acting fees from Marshals (2026–present) as a series regular, and modelling work via Paloma Model & Talent, which represents him.
He is active on Instagram under the handle @breckenmerrill, where he has accumulated over 104,000 followers. He uses the platform to share updates about his acting career and personal life.
Brecken Merrill's acting journey has been notable since his debut on American screens as Tate Dutton in Yellowstone in 2018. He has grown up in front of millions of viewers and continues his career with the spinoff Marshals, working alongside seasoned co-stars like Kevin Costner and Luke Grimes.
