Spoiler Alert for Yellowstone season 5, episode 9, “Desire Is All You Need”
Yellowstoneseason 5, part 2, is off to a colossal start, and its opening episode pays tribute to Billy Klapper, who has a cameo in the premiere. InYellowstoneseason 5, episode 9, the show finally addresseswhat happens to John Dutton III after Kevin Costner left. Beth (Kelly Reilly) and Kayce (Luke Grimes) find John’s lifeless body in the premiere, and while the scene is staged as a suicide, they don’t believe it. The dramatic opening scene answershowYellowstoneseason 5 explains Costner’s absence as John Dutton, then flashes back to six weeks earlier.
InYellowstoneseason 5, episode 8, half the cowboys are heading to Texas to look after the herd in greener pastures following the Duttons discovering that brucellosis was infecting their cattle.Yellowstoneseason 5, part 2’s opener shows Rip (Cole Hauser) and the other lucky cowboys from theYellowstoneseason 5 casttraveling down to The Lone Star State. In Texas, Rip has a run-in with a legendary craftsperson, making him reflective and emotional. The scene includes an important cameo inYellowstoneseason 5, part 2’s premiere.
Billy Ray Klapper Is A Legendary Spur-Maker
Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2, Pays Tribute To Billy Klapper
The end ofYellowstoneseason 5, episode 9, flashes the tribute"In loving memory of Billy Klapper"in its conclusion. For those who are wondering what the dedication means, it is to pay tribute to legendary spur maker Billy Klapper. As was in the real-world, Klapper was one of the few remaining craftsmen in his field who applied traditional artistry to crafting spurs. According toSummer Stampede, a Western art and gear show featuring Klapper’s work, he made 200 pairs of spurs yearly from more than 680 unique patterns and could accommodate custom designs.
Why Yellowstone Had No Choice But To Do That Kevin Costner’s John Dutton Twist
Yellowstone’s return doesn’t waste any time explaining John Dutton III’s fate. Sad as it may be, the show didn’t have a choice about the matter.
According toCarmichael Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory, Klapper died a few short months ago, on July 12, 2025, with his daughters by his side. The spur and bit maker Adolph Bayers trained Klapper. He crafted his first pair of spurs in 1966 and was well-regarded within the cowboy and ranching communities. Klapper died after six decades of spur-making, andYellowstoneensured his iconic legacy. His obituary reads:
Billy will be remembered as a good man, a friend to all, and a most of all a true cowboy. He is going to be deeply missed by his family and friends. Billy put the “western” in western heritage for years and now he is a part of the heritage.
Klapper Plays Himself In Yellowstone Season 5, Episode 9 (Filmed Before His Death)
Yellowstone Season 5, Part 2, Features A Billy Klapper Cameo
TheYellowstoneseason 5, part 2, premiere features Billy Klapper as himself. Rip encounters Klapper as he runs an errand for Lloyd (Forrie J. Smith), who ordered something from the artisan years ago. When Rip enters the small shop, with finely crafted pieces of steel and tools in every nook and cranny, he sees something that catches his eye. Rip marvels about a pair of spurs crafted from a single piece of steel, remarking that he didn’t know they made them like that anymore. The remark calls attention to Klapper’s dying craft and how highly it is revered.
By honoring Klapper with a cameo and tribute, Taylor Sheridan’s Neo-Western epic gives the craftsperson a well-deserved nod.
Klapper tells Rip he can take the spurs inYellowstoneseason 5, episode 9, and when the foreman tries to pay the bit maker for them, he kindly declines payment. Later, Rip holds the spurs at the 6666 ranch, and another cowboy spots them. They share remarks about their value and howKlapper’s craft is finite since he has no apprentice to pass his methods down to. By honoring Klapper, Taylor Sheridan’s Neo-Western epic gives the craftsperson a well-deserved nod. Sheridan’s series calls attention to the cowboy’s dying art, and paying homage to Klapper’s legacy aligns with that.
Sources:Summer Stampede,Carmichael Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory
Yellowstone
Cast
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on June 08, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
