Kevin Costner taught me to be “a gentleman on the set” of Yellowstone

Cole Hauser and Kevin Costner are closer than ever as they saddle up for Season 5 of Yellowstone.

Created by Taylor Sheridan, the western drama examines how John Dutton, played by Costner, deals with life as governor of Montana and the unexpected challenges that role brings to his family of ranchers. The hit series, which has garnered surprising fans like Drake, has been airing since 2018. The new season started on Sunday.

Hauser told Fox News Digital that he and his TV father-in-law have bonded over the years.

“[What surprised me about Costner is] what kind of person he is,” said the 47-year-old about the 67-year-old. “In front of an actor or as a creative soul, only he stands as a person. He’s from that part of California [that I’m from]. He’s from Ventura. I’m from Santa Barbara. And in getting to know him over the past five years, I’ve learned a lot about just being a gentleman on set and just being a class… He has [a] a family. I have three children, a wonderful wife. And I think he’s just someone to look up to. And then creative, his storytelling, his will and desire to continue to push the envelope as… a creator… is inspiring.”

The series helped launch the western comeback in Hollywood.

After the Costner-led “Yellowstone” became a smash hit, streaming service Paramount+ ordered the series “1932,” about the roots of the Dutton family. In February, the service also announced that the first prequel, 1883, would be returning for a second season. Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are among its stars.

Despite the show’s success, Hauser admitted that leaving his family behind to shoot in Montana for an extended period of time was “not easy.” He and his wife, photographer and former actress Cynthia Daniel, have been married since 2006.

“The kids are getting older,” he says. “I have an 18 year old, a 14 year old and a 9 year old. Being away for five or six months a year isn’t easy. But I’m trying to come back. They come up in the summer when they’re not in school and not exercising. We make it work. But always trying to do better when it comes to making sure I’m there… especially for my two eldest boys. You absolutely need me. So navigating the two is work.”

Hauser noted that he always strives to help his kids explore the great outdoors, especially while he’s filming. The actor, who grew up in Oregon, previously told People magazine that his childhood was filled with horseback riding and “driving around with cows.”

“They love to fish,” he boasted. “We fish a lot on the Bitterroot and this is our time to just hang out and talk about life and what’s going on with them. And then we sit out there a lot under the stars. Montana is a very peaceful place to spend time with loved ones, family and friends… You obviously have to study for a week, but on the weekends I give them as much time as I can. I’m just navigating through time for them.”

Playing Rip Wheeler is not an easy task. Hauser described how the role required grueling hours of “cowboy camp,” his daily training to ride and rope with ease.

“You have to invest time in the saddle,” he said. “There is no way around. You’re going to hurt the first week, 10 days… you have to be great as a rider. And Taylor [Sheridan] It’s been great to be able to team up with some of the best in the industry over the five years when it comes to continuing to grow and not just get better [in] my job as a cowboy but also in the world of a great horseman. So I am blessed and lucky to have these people around me. And I will keep doing it. I mean there’s no way you can ever be great at it. It’s just one of those things that you have to keep working on.”

Plus, being right in the mountains of Montana has its perks. Hauser said he learned some valuable lessons from real cowboys in the process.

“It’s all about discipline and continuous driving,” he said. “It’s important to always be on the lookout for the little diamonds they give you along the way, whether it’s rappelling, cutting or horseback riding. We are with some of the greatest professionals in the world when it comes to horseback riding. You open your ears and listen. Luckily, I think they’re pretty happy with what I’m doing.”

Shortly before landing the role of Wheeler, Hauser broke his back when he fell off a horse while filming The Last Champion. At first he was worried about being able to ride again, but as the saying goes, if you fall off a horse, you’ll get back on.

“It’s been a little rough, but a lot of it is mental,” the star said. “And what I found [with] Getting back in the saddle is that I’ve strengthened my back because your core is such a big deal when it comes to riding. And so it actually helped me when I broke my back…three months before I got the job, and then got back on the horse and really just trained my core.”

“It fixed my back,” he insisted. “In fact, it starts to hurt when I stop driving. So in the months that I take time off between ‘Yellowstone’ and returning to work, I still need to make sure my core is strong. Because as you get older… your body starts to fall apart.”

Hauser beamed when told he should probably be sitting on a horse.

“I started out like this and I think I’ll end up like this,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.