By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-10 13:17:21 | Updated at 2024-12-25 17:05:54
2 weeks ago
If you thought that Yellowstone star Gil Birmingham looked familiar, it's most likely because he appeared in the wildly popular teen movie franchise The Twilight Saga.
The actor, 71, currently stars as Thomas Rainwater in Taylor Sheridan's acclaimed TV series.
But before he took on the role of leader of the Broken Rock Reservation, Gil played Jacob Black's dad Billy in franchise – and he appeared in all five movies.
The Twilight Saga film series, starring Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan and Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen, were based on the books by Stephenie Meyer.
Shapeshifting werewolf Jacob was played by heartthrob Taylor Lautner.
The first movie, Twilight, was released in 2008, followed by New Moon in 2009, and Eclipse in 2010.
The fourth film, Breaking Dawn – Part 1, came out in 2011, with the final chapter, Breaking Dawn -Part 2 hitting theaters one year later in 2012.
In the movies, Billy is confined to a wheelchair due to complications from diabetes.
Yellowstone star Gil Birmingham played iconic character in popular teen movie franchise
He was Jacob Black's dad Billy in The Twilight Saga film series. Jacob (pictured with Gil in Twilight) was played by Taylor Lautner
His son, Jacob, is a werewolf of the Quileute tribe who transforms into a wolf for the first time when he's just 16.
While Jacob can phase into a wolf, Billy was never able to because there were no vampires around when he was young.
Speaking about his role in the franchise in 2021, Gil said: 'It was primarily centered on the vampires, and I think the [Native American] representation was a little less than I might have hoped for, as there was even more so in the books.
'But I'm still happy to be a part of it.'
In 2022, Gil was shocked to find out that his onscreen son Taylor, 32, was getting married.
'He is? And he didn't tell me?' the actor told E! News.
He jokingly added to the publication that he was going to 'roll right into that wedding in my wheelchair.'
Taylor married model Taylor Dome in November 2022 at Epoch Estate Wines in California.
Gil appeared in all five movies (pictured with Lautner in 2008)
The Twilight Saga is a series of romance fantasy films based on the book series Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Gil has played Thomas Rainwater in Yellowstone since it premiered in 2018
Gil has starred in the Western drama Yellowstone since it premiered in 2018.
The show is currently airing the second half of season five, which follows the aftermath of Kevin Costner's exit as John Dutton.
Last month, Gil said he was proud that the Indigenous characters on the series were equals to any of the others leads.
Speaking to Decider, he said: 'I am proud that the show took the opportunity to present Indigenous characters in the present day as having agency, intelligence, and resourcefulness.'
It's not just Gil from the Yellowstone cast who has a surprising history.
Jennifer Landon, who plays foul-mouthed, pink-haired Teeter on the smash hit series, is far from a west Texas wildcat in real life.
The 41-year-old actress is actually from Malibu and is the daughter of Little House on The Prairie star Michael Landon, who was also on the series Bonanza.
