Fans are furious on the internet that showrunner Taylor Sheridan is not giving enough attention to one character in Yellowstone. We’ve seen the Dutton household chef Gator in a few episodes from seasons 1 to 5. The character is played by real-life cook Gabriel “Gator” Guilbeau, who served as head of craft services on Sheridan’s set for the last few years.
Fans on Reddit discussed the character’s ill-treatment by the family, as they never seemed to take more than a few bites from all the luscious food that he made. They also had no idea where the character lived, despite him being there from dawn till dusk for the family.
Taylor Sheridan Has To Answer These Fan Questions About Gator In Yellowstone
Gator first appeared in the fourth episode of Yellowstone Season 1, titled The Long Black Train. He reprised the role in 12 more episodes throughout the five seasons. However, fans know nothing about the chef other than the fact that he cooks delicious food for the Duttons that no one cares to sit and enjoy completely.
Apart from a few of his recipes like Beth’s vodka smoothie, Gator’s food was largely unappreciated by the Duttons. Reddit user, u/Intelligent_Toe4030, shared about this disrespect for Gator’s food from the Duttons. Kevin Costner‘s John Dutton has on several occasions said no to Gator’s exquisite cuisine.
The user shared one instance where Gator prepares tasty bacon and elk sausage for John, who instead opts to eat choco chips with his grandson. In another instance, John doesn’t want to eat the grilled octopus that Gator made and instead chooses to eat only potatoes. Fans can also see a confused Gator in Season 4 when a vegan Summer asks about non-GMO and gluten.
u/bwann wanted to know where the chef lived in the show. Gator did not share a place with the Bunkhouse boys nor does he appear to commute back and forth from another place. The user even sarcastically asks whether the Ranch will go broke flying him in a chopper. u/bwann wrote:
What I want to know, where does Gator live? Does he have a room in the main house? His own cabin? Pretty sure it’s not the bunk house. Does he commute in from Bozeman? Did the ranch go broke flying him in in the chopper?
However, outside of the show, Gator is the one whom the cast would go to for a tasty meal on set (via Yellowstone | YouTube). The cook feeds 300 people a day in harsh conditions on the set of Yellowstone. Chef Gabriel Guilbeau reveals that even his mom now addresses him as ‘Gator’ (via Delish).
Gator Never Acted Before Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone
Gator’s stint with the entertainment industry began as a maintenance man on set. Soon, he was cooking for the crew on the set. When Taylor Sheridan wrote his character into the show for the first time, Gator was not at all ready. He shared with Delish that he was “shaking in my boots” because he had “never acted before”.
Gator shared that he didn’t realize he was “called to come do the hardest show on television.” The shoot of the series took place in harsh conditions. He shared his tough conditions:
I’ve had to cook on the side of a mountain, and bring food even higher up. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Fans sincerely hope that Taylor Sheridan gives Gator a bigger role in the show. One Reddit user, u/obiwanTrollnobi6, fantasized that Gator could turn into a one-man army when the Duttons are attacked and fight the attackers off. Chef Gabriel “Gator” Guilbeau has his own cookbook now, titled Yellowstone: The Official Dutton Ranch Family Cookbook.
Yellowstone is now available for streaming on Peacock.
