Main •
Ashton Kutcher as Colt Reagan Bennett, a former star quarterback for his high school football team who returns to his hometown after a fifteen-year absence to help his father and older brother on their family ranch while waiting for a tryout with a new semi-pro team in Denver. In the first episode, Colt reveals that he was the third-string quarterback for the
Florida State team that won the
National Championship in 1999. He pursued a professional career with little success, never finding regular playing time or stardom even on semi-pro teams, but hanging on in backup roles and on
practice squads. Colt is frequently the butt of jokes, particularly when it comes to his lack of ranching skills, sub-par intelligence, and unsuccessful pro football career. He is a
heavy drinker and has a habit of not using common sense, often acting before he thinks, but he is friendly and cares about other people deep down. Based on his various T-shirts and dialogue, it's implied Colt has played for the
Barcelona Dragons,
San Jose SaberCats,
Spokane Shock,
Orlando Predators,
Nebraska Danger,
Sioux City Bandits,
Iowa Barnstormers,
Green Bay Blizzard,
Minnesota Axemen,
Portland Forest Dragons and
Philadelphia Soul. Dialogue and team gear also indicate that he was a member of teams in
Canada, notably the
Ottawa Redblacks and fictional
Saskatoon Cold ("Like the
Miami Heat... only cold"). He has also played on teams in
Alaska and was a member of the
Buffalo Bills practice squad. He later marries Abby, his high school sweetheart, and they become the parents of a daughter they name Peyton. •
Danny Masterson as Jameson "Rooster" Ford Bennett (seasons 1–3), Colt's older brother. He has lived and worked on the ranch since Colt left to follow his football career, at times showing a bitter attitude for accepting the responsibility while Colt pursued his dream. Despite living in Colt's shadow, he is far more competent on the ranch and a more rational thinker. He has, however, been just as immature as Colt, drinking too much and slacking off. In the first half of part 5, Rooster gets into a rivalry with his ex-girlfriend Mary's intimidating boyfriend Nick, and in the second episode of Part 6, it is discovered that Rooster's motorcycle went off the side of a dangerous road; he is missing and presumed dead. •
Debra Winger as Maggie Bennett, owner of Maggie's bar, and Colt and Rooster's mother. Maggie is at first
separated and later
divorced from Beau and lives in a trailer behind the bar she owns. Maggie is a free-thinker, an environmentalist, and an avid
marijuana smoker. Much more patient and laid-back than Beau, Colt and Rooster often seek her company and advice on how to deal with problems, especially those concerning Beau. •
Sam Elliott as Beau Roosevelt Bennett, Maggie's ex-husband, and Colt and Rooster's father. A
Vietnam War veteran, he has worked the ranch since returning from the war and taking it over after his father died. He is a curmudgeon, constantly annoyed with everyone and everything. He has a strained relationship with Rooster and Colt. He hates modern amenities and is easily angered by Colt and Rooster's antics. Beau appears to be a
Republican with a soft-spot for
Ronald Reagan but at times seems to despise all politicians regardless of affiliation. •
Elisha Cuthbert as Abby Phillips-Bennett (seasons 2–4; recurring, season 1), a Garrison High School history teacher and Colt's high school sweetheart. As the series begins, Abby has been in a five-year relationship with Kenny Ballard and briefly becomes engaged to him. As the series progresses, she breaks off her engagement to Kenny to reconnect with Colt, ultimately marrying Colt and having a baby girl, Peyton, with him.
Recurring •
Barry Corbin as Dale Rivers, a hearing-impaired veterinarian and close friend of Beau's • Grady Lee Richmond as Hank McGinty, a regular Maggie's patron; also brother to Father McGinty •
Bret Harrison as Kenny Ballard, a
Courtyard by Marriott manager, former classmate of Colt and Abby, and Abby's ex-fiancé •
Megyn Price as Mary Roth, a
Cracker Barrel waitress and Rooster's love interest; she later has a relationship with Luke after Rooster disappears •
Kelli Goss as Heather Roth, Mary's younger daughter and Colt's brief love interest •
Molly McCook as Darlene Roth, Mary's older daughter •
Kathy Baker as Joanne, Beau's girlfriend (and later wife) following his divorce, and Mary's coworker at the Cracker Barrel •
Ethan Suplee as "Beer Pong" Billy Tompkins, a Sheriff's Deputy, and high school friend of Colt and Rooster's • Justin Mooney as Deputy Wilkerson, a former schoolmate of Colt and Rooster's with whom Colt has an antagonistic rapport •
Aimee Teegarden as Nikki, Heather's friend and Billy's fiancée •
Chasty Ballesteros as Tanya Showers, a weather reporter and Kenny's girlfriend following his breakup with Abby • Laura Vallejo as Maria, a Maggie's waitress •
Sharon Lawrence as Brenda Sanders, a widowed hairdresser who befriended Beau when he and Maggie separated • Dawan Owens as Rich, a Neumann's Hill employee who is briefly Rooster's supervisor •
Maggie Lawson as Jen, an engineer who wants to build a pipeline underneath the Bennett Ranch and Rooster's brief love interest •
Wendie Malick as Lisa Neumann, owner of the Neumann's Hill ranching corporation •
Dax Shepard as Luke Matthews, the son of Beau's late brother Greg who arrives after Rooster's disappearance •
Stephen Saux as Mike, a motel manager, first seen at the Thomas Rhett concert • Van Epperson as Father McGinty, a Priest who performs the wedding ceremony for Beau and Joanne and Peyton's baptism; also brother to Hank McGinty • Travis Case as Toby Henderson, Colt's high school classmate, who runs the neighboring Henderson Ranch • Josh Burrow as Nick, Mary's abusive ex-husband •
Casey Sander as Roger Hollister, Colt's neighboring rancher
Special guests •
Jon Cryer as Bill Jensen (seasons 1–2), a loan officer and former high school football referee •
Wilmer Valderrama as Umberto (seasons 1–2), a former Iron River ranch hand •
Martin Mull as Jerry, Maggie's sometimes acid-tripping attorney •
John Amos as Ed Bishop (seasons 1–2), a longtime family friend of the Bennetts and a Neumann's Hill employee •
Thomas F. Wilson as Coach Fitzgerald (season 1), the Garrison High School head football coach •
Debra Jo Rupp as Janice Phillips (seasons 2–4), Abby's mother •
Jim Beaver as Chuck Phillips (seasons 2–4), Abby's father •
Conchata Ferrell as Shirley (season 2) •
Lou Diamond Phillips as Clint (season 2), a traveling musician attracted to Maggie •
Kurtwood Smith as Sam Peterson (seasons 2–4), neighbor of the Iron River Ranch who sells his ranch to Colt and Rooster •
Nancy Travis as Karen (season 3), Maggie's estranged sister •
Joe Firstman, Pearl Charles,
Kurt Neumann, Bukka Allen, Sam Hawksley and
Thomas Rhett all make cameo appearances Valderrama, Rupp and Smith had all previously worked together on ''That 70's Show'', alongside Kutcher and Masterson. Cryer, Ferrell and Lawson had all previously worked together on
Two and a Half Men, alongside Kutcher. ==Episodes==