Actor and singer Luke Grimes, best known to fans as Kayce Dutton from the Western drama series Yellowstone, is totally crushing it. Grimes’s portrayal continues to capture audiences with his cowboy charm and down-to-earth personality in the Yellowstone spinoff, Marshals. The 42-year-old actor has also appeared in popular films, including Fifty Shades of Grey and American Sniper.

In Yellowstone, Kayce is a former Navy SEAL who works as a livestock agent in Montana. His other full-time job? Forever protecting the Dutton family legacy on the Yellowstone ranch, often finding himself caught in the middle of family drama, power struggles, and tension.

Now, Grimes returns to his role of Kayce in Marshals, which premiered on Sunday, March 1, 2026 on CBS. The series is set to air weekly on Sundays at 8 p.m., ET. (Spoilers ahead!)

Kayce Dutton Joins a Team of U.S. Marshals

CBS (CBS)

In Marshals, Kayce honors a new badge working with a team of U.S. Marshals led by Pete “Cal” Calvin (played by Logan Marshall-Green). Together, they serve to protect Montana against violence and corruption.

The series’ official logline reads, “Join an elite unit of U.S. Marshals, combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana, where he and his teammates must balance family, duty and the high psychological cost that comes with serving as the last line of defense in the region’s war on violence.”

Luke Grimes Says Kayce Dating Again Would Feel Like ‘Cheating’

Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2025 CBS(Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2025 CBS)

When the first episode of Marshals aired, fans were heartbroken to learn that one main character was absent: Kayce’s wife and the love of his life, Monica, played by Kelsey Asbille. According to Entertainment Weekly, Monica’s death occurred off-screen, and it’s suggested that she passed away after battling cancer caused by toxins dumped onto the Broken Rock reservation. Kayce still resides on the Montana land of the Dutton family’s ranch with his son, Tate, played by Brecken Merrill.

Grimes admits he was surprised to learn of this shift in Kayce’s storyline as well.

“It was his whole heart,” Grimes told Entertainment Weekly when speaking of his character’s relationship. He also noted that one particular storyline—Kayce returning to the dating pool—would feel as thought he’s “cheating.”

“Shooting a scene where I was kissing someone would feel like I was cheating. Like, I would feel so guilty. I really would, in Luke’s heart, feel like I was cheating on someone because it was just that important to him. It’s gotta take some time,” the actor shared. ”I just felt like if we went there too quickly, it would feel like we were doing it to have a storyline. It would feel very obligatory and, like, that’s the thing you have to do with your number one. Not in this case. Not when you’ve seen a guy for years and years and years be so madly in love with someone. It would almost feel like, ‘Was that all bullshit?’ If it ever happens, it should happen really organically and over time.”

Showrunner Spencer Hudnut noted that the first half of Marshals Season 1 will focus on Kayce understanding the importance of confronting his grief in order to move on.

“We’re being very mindful of that and respectful of that loss,” Hudnut told Entertainment Weekly. “That’s something Luke and I spent a lot of time talking about was: How far is too far, particularly in the first season, to go with him? He’s very protective of that relationship, as you would expect.”