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Landman has previously killed off a main character in a season finale — but is Sam Elliott‘s character next?
The second season, which premiered in November 2025, introduced Tommy’s (Billy Bob Thornton) dad, T.L. (Sam Elliott), who was originally staying in an assisted living facility and dealing with several health issues. His path crossed with Tommy’s again when T.L. ultimately moved into Tommy’s house.
Since making the switch, viewers have spent more time with T.L., who sometimes uses a wheelchair due to issues with his knees and hip. He has pondered mortality on multiple occasions, and in one past episode, Tommy even thought T.L. died during a nap.
The season 2 finale, which is slated for January 18, is titled Tragedy and Flies, which could indicate a death. As fans of Taylor Sheridan‘s hit Paramount+ show know, Jon Hamm‘s Monty was introduced as a main character but ultimately died by the time season 1 came to an end.
Elliott, 81, for his part, previously told ExtraTV that he was booked for two years on Landman. That could mean T.L. isn’t in real danger yet, or it could hint that he will die but return in flashback form.
After working with Sheridan, 55, on 1883, Elliott opened up about coming back for Landman.
“[With T.L.’s story line], it’s just on the page. I had time to think about it. I just wanted to be open to whatever comes my way,” he explained to Variety in November. “When you have that kind of material, you don’t look at a piece of material, or at least I don’t look at a piece of material, and say, ‘I’d really love to cry here,’ or, ‘Really love to make the audience cry,’ or whatever. It just has to come naturally.”
Elliott was thrilled to bring Sheridan’s work to life, adding, “One of the great gifts about Taylor’s material is that it just allows that kind of emotion to flow. I spent a good part of my time in tears this entire season, so it wasn’t something I expected, but it’s just something that happened.”
The actor related T.L.’s story to his own life.
“I’ve spent a good portion of my life growing up in the outdoors, and there’s something about Taylor’s material that I feel like it hinges on that in some respect. That really speaks deeply to me,” Elliott, who shares a daughter with wife Katharine Ross, explained. “It’s this man connected to the ground, what comes up out of the ground. It’s certainly not like 1883 where we’re out in the elements and all that all the time, but there’s something about what I value personally.”
He continued: “It’s like where I live. I live on the western end of Malibu. I’ve been there for 50 years with my wife and daughter. That takes me away from L.A. completely, and it’s a choice I’ve made. It’s probably not the smartest choice in terms of pursuing a career in the movie business.”
Elliott found it easy to relate to the challenges his character faces. “There’s something about this guy sitting in a wheelchair at 81 or 82 years old, however old he is, watching the sun go down. I mean, I don’t know how much more to say about it than that. There’s a reason for that,” he concluded. “He’s drawn to that, and he talks about it in episode 2, the light and the dust and the heat and the lack of moisture and the things we hate about that country. It hates us all day, and then it gives us this sunset. Those elements speak very, very strongly to me.”
New episodes of Landman stream Sundays on Paramount+.
