Luke Grimes, who brought Kayce Dutton to life on Yellowstone for seven emotionally-charged seasons, has spoken candidly about saying goodbye to the series that has profoundly shaped his life and career. In interviews, he described the experience of wrapping filming on the final episodes as “very heavy,” admitting that even weeks after finishing, he still finds himself grappling with the fact that this chapter of his life has come to an end. Newsweek+2Esquire+2 For Grimes, Yellowstone was more than just a job: it became a creative home, a place where he built deep relationships with cast and crew, and a role that pushed him to grow in unexpected ways. Newsweek+2Esquire+2

On his Instagram, Grimes posted a poignant tribute to Kayce: “End of an era. Goodbye Kayce. You are a better man than I. To my Yellowstone family, thank you for the experience of a lifetime.” PopCulture.com The photo accompanying the caption—him alone by a glowing campfire—conveys a quiet sense of reflection and gratitude, a moment of closure for both the character and the actor. Good Housekeeping He expressed deep appreciation for the community he found on set, describing his castmates as a second family and saying he’ll miss the camaraderie and the shared mission of telling this powerful story. Esquire+1

In reflecting on the show’s final season, Grimes praised the writers—particularly creator Taylor Sheridan—for crafting an ending that felt “perfect” and “very, very profound.” People.com+1 He revealed that reading the final script reconnected him deeply with Kayce’s journey, reminding him why he took on the role in the first place. Esquire He also stressed how important it was for the story to have a definitive conclusion, saying he preferred a “proper ending” to letting things drag on indefinitely. Esquire

That said, Grimes isn’t completely closing the door on his connection to the Yellowstone universe. He’s set to reprise Kayce Dutton in an upcoming CBS spinoff titled “Y: Marshals,” where his character joins a unit of U.S. Marshals in Montana. Esquire+1 Even though he called saying goodbye to the original series “bittersweet,” Grimes expressed excitement about what’s next, describing the spinoff as a “fresh chapter” for Kayce. Esquire

Grimes also shared that working without Kevin Costner in the final season changed the dynamic on set. While he didn’t dwell on any behind-the-scenes tension, he admitted that filming was noticeably “easier” without the central conflict that had been tied to Costner’s role. Fox News+1 For Grimes, the final season wasn’t just the end of a show—it was a deeply personal journey, filled with reflection, growth, and ultimately, a sense of completion.

Despite the end of Yellowstone, Grimes remains deeply proud of what he’s achieved through the role of Kayce Dutton. He called the project “special” and said he doubts he’ll ever work on something that means more to him. Newsweek His heartfelt farewell—both publicly and privately—underscores just how much the series impacted him, and how much he values the relationships, memories, and growth it fostered.

As he rides off into his next adventure—both in the new spinoff and in his evolving career—Luke Grimes’ goodbye to Yellowstone feels less like a simple farewell and more like a meaningful transition: closing one meaningful chapter while preparing to begin another.