Who is Dawn Olivieri? The Yellowstone actress played ruthless lawyer Sarah Atwood – the latest character to be killed off after Kevin Costner’s John Dutton in Paramount’s neo-Western show

Nov 27 , 2024

Dawn Olivieri, who played Sarah Atwood in Yellowstone. Photo: Getty Images

Following the shocking, midseason death of Kevin Costner’s lead character in Yellowstone, fans of the Western drama had to contend with the violent murder of Sarah Atwood, played by Dawn Olivieri

In June, Kevin Costner announced he was leaving Yellowstone, Paramount’s beloved neo-Western show about his character, John Dutton, his family ranch and his adult children, Kayce (Luke Grimes), Jamie (Wes Bentley) and Beth (Kelly Reilly).

Kevin Costner played the lead role in Yellowstone. Photo: AP

Now in the second half of its fifth and final season, the show saw Costner’s character meet an untimely death, upsetting many fans. And it had another shocking twist for devotees in its November 24 episode.

Sarah Atwood, the ruthless lawyer responsible for the Dutton patriarch’s death, was killed.

Actress Dawn Olivieri, who played Atwood, told The Hollywood Reporter that after Costner abruptly left the show, her character’s fate was sealed.

Dawn Olivieri played the villainous Sarah Atwood in Yellowstone. Photo: Getty Images

“But I don’t think I was supposed to go as soon as I did,” she said. “I think that was going to happen [with John], but because we had to wrap this all up at lightning speed, I think it had to go down the way it went,” she said.

In the show, Olivieri played a formidable villain as Atwood, but her off-screen life is starkly different. Here’s what to know.

Dawn Olivieri is a seasoned actress

Dawn Olivieri had recurring roles in Heroes and House of Lies. Photo: Getty Images