Luke Grimes: 7 Luke Grimes movies and TV Shows you shouldn’t miss

Luke Timothy Grimes has steadily carved out a place for himself in Hollywood through his immense acting skills and ability to portray a wide range of complex characters across both film and television. With a charming demeanor and handsome personality, he can effortlessly take on any role and make the audience fall in love with it. Be it playing the formidable Kayce Dutton in Yellowstone or the duty-bound warrior, Marc Lee, in American Sniper, his performance is simply magnetic. Besides a successful acting career, Grimes has an enduring passion for music. He released his self-titled debut country album, Luke Grimes, in March last year. Here are 7 movies and TV shows Luke Grimes starred in.

Yellowstone

Category: TV show

Paramount Network’s neo-western drama series, Yellowstone, follows the journey of the Dutton family as they struggle to preserve control of their vast cattle ranch against mounting threats. Luke Grimes delivers an outstanding performance in the role of Kayce Dutton, the youngest son of the ranch patriarch, John Dutton. Kayce is one of the major characters in the show who finds himself caught up in an endless tug-of-war between honoring the beliefs and traditions of his family and following his own voice of conscience.

As a former Navy SEAL, he is often haunted by his military past that continues to affect his day-to-day life and personal relationships. Losing his mother at a very young age, Kayce shared a complicated relationship with his father. His bond with his wife, Monica, a Native American woman, and his son, Tate, further caused upheaval in his life as he stood at a crossroads, torn between the Dutton family’s legacy and the traditions of the Broken Rock Reservation. Grimes' portrayal of Kayce Dutton is simply phenomenal, especially in the cowboy attire, riding horses through the rugged terrains of Montana.

Happiness for Beginners

Category: Movie

Happiness for Beginners is a 2023 rom-com on Netflix, directed by Vicky Wight, that is based on Katherine Center’s novel of the same title published in 2015. Luke Grimes, playing the male protagonist, Jake, offers a refreshing take on the role. He is portrayed as an intense yet vulnerable character who grapples with his own struggles while developing a significant bond with Helen, played by Ellie Kemper. Jake, a former doctor who’s left his medical career behind because of his degenerative eye condition, signs up for a survival hike training on the Appalachian Trail to start afresh.

There, he meets his best friend’s older sister, Helen, who is going through a divorce. As the movie unfolds, the chemistry between the two is palpable. They exhibit mutual respect and genuine affection for one another. Jake is always at others’ rescue, be it when Helen injures her knee or needs help with her blisters or when Hugh’s leg twists and breaks against a decaying log. As he drops the news of his eye disorder that will slowly turn him blind, fans can't help but feel his agony. With the dry wit, pocket full of essentials, and a tenderness tucked neatly between the lines, Grimes keeps Jake low-key and comfortably familiar at the same time.

American Sniper

Category: Movie

Adapted from Chris Kyle’s autobiographical book, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History, the 2014 film by Clint Eastwood features Luke Grimes in the role of a Navy SEAL named Marc Lee. Although it is a supporting role, Luke Grimes delivers one of the most compelling performances of his acting career. Marc was no ordinary military officer; he was the first Navy SEAL to lose his life in Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a close friend of Kyle, played by Bradley Cooper, Lee highlights the strong emotional connections that keep soldiers going amidst times of distress and warfare.

"Growing up in Oregon, we had this electric fence around our property. We kids would grab on to it to see who could hold on the longest. War feels kind of like that. Puts lightning in your bones, makes it hard to hold on to anything else." Here, Marc compares the adrenaline rush of war with the harrowing yet thrilling experience of touching an electric fence in a particularly poignant scene in the movie that underscores his deep and conflicted relationship to warfare. Luke Grimes adds a certain depth to Eastwood’s war drama, American Sniper, honoring the quiet sacrifices of those that serve their nation.

True Blood

Category: TV show

Introduced as James Kent in Season 6 of HBO’s chilling fantasy drama series, True Blood, we get a glimpse of Luke Grimes’ versatility as an actor. He took on the supporting role of a vampire who challenged the conventional image of his kind. Not your typical bloodthirsty monster, James was a compassionate, mindful, and deeply humane vampire. James was at the vampire internment camp when fans were acquainted with his character for the first time, and he instantly became a favorite for his resolute conscience.

In a notable scene, he courageously resists participating in an act of forced sex with Jessica Hamby, played by Deborah Ann Woll, despite the risk of being subjected to severe punishment. As a result, he pays the price with a broken fang. Later, his relationship with Jessica takes a romantic turn on its own, steeped in respect and genuine love. Although James was also part of season 7 of the series, Grimes had exited before that, with Nathan Parsons stepping in to fill his place. However, it was especially because of Grimes' masterful acting skills that James became such a memorable character in the vast supernatural universe of True Blood.

War Eagle, Arkansas

Category: Movie

Robert Milazzo’s War Eagle, Arkansas is a film that truly captures Luke Grimes’ unfiltered talent and resourcefulness as an actor. This 2007 independent drama was a profound exploration of friendship, ambition, and hardships amidst the small-town life of Ozark, as seen through the eyes of Sam and Enoch. The two central characters are inspired by the true story of childhood friends Tim Ballany and Vincent Insalaco III in Arkansas. Luke Grimes steps into the shoes of Enoch Cass, a high school senior with a speech problem and a deep devotion to baseball, grappling with the conflicting demands of growing up.

As he approaches graduation, his friendship with Sam "Wheels" Macon, a boy with cerebral palsy, comes under significant strain, and he is torn between balancing his dreams and loyalty to Wheels. In a defining scene, we see Sam confronting Enoch about his decision to not leave for college, revealing deep-seated feelings of abandonment. Through a performance that is at once gentle and commanding, Grimes brings a certain poignancy to Enoch’s role, effortlessly depicting the turmoils of a man caught between societal expectations and youthful longings.

Brothers and Sisters

Category: TV show

Luke Grimes was cast as Ryan Lafferty, the illegitimate son of William Walker and Connie Lafferty, in ABC’s family television series, Brothers and Sisters. Introduced in Season 3, Ryan grew up under the impression that George Lafferty was his father until William was revealed to be his biological parent, further complicating the Walker family dynamics. With remarkable sensitivity, Grimes channels Ryan’s emotional upheaval, navigating the loss of his mother and the truth about his identity. His journey towards self-acceptance is truly touching and relatable for the audience.

Ryan was so benevolent by nature that, in spite of wanting nothing to do with his newfound family, he did not think twice before consenting to undergo a compatibility test for his half-sister Kitty Walker’s bone marrow transplant. He willingly became her donor and saved her life. However, Grimes' role may have been comparatively brief on the show, but his character surely left a lasting impression on the fans.

Taken 2

Category: Movie

In Olivier Megaton’s 2012 French action film, Taken 2, Luke Grimes takes on the role of Jamie, the lover of Kim Mills and the potential son-in-law of the one and only Bryan Mills. Although Grimes had limited screen time in the movie, his acting skills helped him make it an impactful one. In one scene, we see Jamie and Kim sharing an intimate moment at his place, which is abruptly cut short by Bryan's arrival as he tracked them through a hidden GPS on Kim’s phone. While Jamie remains courteous and calm, Bryan acts overprotective and hyper, making the situation tense between them.

Later in the movie, when Kim passes her driving test and the family heads over to a restaurant to celebrate, Jamie joins them, much to Bryan’s surprise. Kim playfully teases her father, asking him not to "shoot this one” as a hint to his prior disapproval. The scene suggests a turning point in their bond, giving way to mutual understanding and respect. Even in a supporting role, Luke Grimes delivers a notable performance. Through his interactions with the main characters, he brings a touch of warmth and comic relief to this high-stakes action thriller.