The veteran actor suggested that the connection audiences feel with Sheridan’s work comes from something far more personal than genre or spectacle.
Why Kurt Russell Believes Taylor Sheridan Has Connected With Millions of Viewers
“The Madison” marks an unexpected television chapter for Russell after decades spent largely on the big screen. Looking back on that return, he remarked, “I hadn’t done any television for over 50 years when I did Monarch, and then The Madison.”
The series stars Michelle Pfeiffer as Stacy Clyburn, a woman struggling to move forward after the death of her husband, Preston, played by Russell. Speaking about the show’s themes, Russell described it as “really an adult themed show,” adding that “you can’t really appreciate [the story] until you have something like that happen to you at a certain time in your life.” He also acknowledged the unique reaction it has generated, saying, “I’ve never done anything like The Madison in terms of how it hits people.”
Russell also highlighted the story’s exploration of marriage and loss through Stacy’s journey. “Very few people have the opportunity to have a wonderful 40 year marriage, but where you had no idea how wonderful it was,” he said while discussing the relationship at the center of the drama. Referring to Stacy’s emotional struggle after Preston’s death, he continued, “How do you show that, how do you talk about that? She’s so wrought with not just guilt, but angst and anger at herself for not getting all of him.”
Asked who connects most strongly with Sheridan’s growing slate of television hits, Russell offered a concise answer. “It’s the silent majority.”
Expanding on that idea, the actor suggested that Sheridan’s characters and situations often feel immediately recognizable to viewers. “You keep finding yourself saying, ‘I know that moment,’ or ‘I know those people,’” he said, pointing to what he believes is the enduring appeal behind the creator’s television universe.
The writer, director, and producer built one of television’s most successful modern franchises with “Yellowstone” and its prequels “1883” and “1923,” while also expanding his slate with series including “Tulsa King,” “Lioness,” “Mayor of Kingstown,” “Landman,” and now “The Madison.”
