Cole Hauser’s path to stardom wasn’t easy. Raised by a single mom, he lived a rugged, nomadic life—from ranches in Oregon to a boat in Marina del Rey. At age nine, he discovered his dad was actor Wings Hauser—after seeing him on TV.

He didn’t meet his father until 15. They lived together briefly, but addiction kept them apart. Cole soon found himself living alone on a docked boat, chasing acting dreams with no help. “That was an awesome time because it meant freedom,” he recalled.

Despite a Hollywood bloodline—his mom from the Warner Bros. family—Cole earned his career the hard way. His breakout role came in School Ties (1992), and decades later, he became a fan favorite as Rip Wheeler on Yellowstone. “Yeah, [my dad] is a huge fan of the show,” he shared proudly.

Now a family man with wife Cynthia Daniel and three kids, Cole values resilience. “Don’t be afraid to fail,” he tells his sons. His journey—from broken beginnings to TV icon—proves that grit, not legacy, is what truly lasts.