In a conversation with DAMAN, Ian Bohen talks candidly about his career, his personal evolution and his ambitions—both in front of and behind the camera.
With a career spanning various genres and mediums, Ian Bohen’s journey from supporting roles in TV shows and films during the early 2000s to fan-favorite performances in “Teen Wolf” and “Yellowstone” has been marked by persistence, versatility and a deep love for storytelling. Growing up in California, Bohen developed a fascination with film and acting that took root on the set of Kevin Costner’s 1994 film “Wyatt Earp,” an experience he now calls a full-circle moment given his current role playing alongside Costner on “Yellowstone.”
It goes without saying that this is a man with quite a story to tell…
DAMAN: Hi Ian, awesome to have you here. Looking back, was there a moment where you realized that acting was what you wanted to pursue as a career?
Ian Bohen: After working on “Wyatt Earp” when I was 16. I was hooked and that’s when I knew I wanted to pursue this to the exclusion of almost every other thing in life
DA: Do you have a preference for certain roles or genres?
IB: I love playing complex interesting human characters thrust into incredible circumstances. This can be contemporary drama, stylized supernatural or even just action. As long as the character has solid motivation and a point of view I’m interested in.
DA: Your character in “Yellowstone,” Ryan, has grown a great deal throughout the series. How would you describe his evolution so far?
IB: Ryan’s evaluation has been one of man’s journey from a follower into self-realization and individualism. He began as part of the collective, aspiring to be one of many who wear the brand, and emerged as a separate soul, ultimately making his own decision about his future.
DA: How do you relate to Ryan’s character? Is there anything about him that feels especially close to your own personality?
IB: Successful characters are cast on essence. Our filmmaker chooses actors to fill roles that they fundamentally align with. So, in that sense, I am completely Ryan and he is completely me. Drawn to camaraderie, playfulness and great loyalty, Ryan fiercely defends his clan and follows his heart forward towards his future.
DA: “Yellowstone” has been praised for its ensemble cast and complex character dynamics. How has working on this series influenced your approach to acting? And what will you take away from this experience?
IB: Our particular style of shooting has altered some of my long-held tenets about how you’re supposed to do things. I’ve learned that over-preparation is just as deadly as under and sometimes you don’t need to rehearse to get to the goal line. All in all, I suppose that what I’ll take away is that if you’re coming from great heat and meaning in your work, you can’t go too wrong.
DA: Without giving away too much, can you hint at one scene in the upcoming episodes that was particularly meaningful to film?
IB: There’s a scene on horseback that I have with Teeter [played by Jen Landon] that evoked so much inside the two of us that I can say it is a seminal moment in the season and one you won’t ever forget.
DA: How do you balance staying true to a long-running character like Ryan while also bringing something fresh to each new season?
IB: Thankfully, this isn’t my obligation to figure out. Our creator tasks himself with bringing fresh newness to each season in the writing and it’s our duty to put our characters’ lives into those words and scenes. There’s really no pressure to “do” it a certain way other than to serve the story by being faithful to the material.
DA: If you could go back to the start of your acting career, is there anything you would do differently or any advice you would give yourself?
IB: I would remind myself to not worry so much. Focus on relationships and life and don’t sweat the small stuff.
DA: You’ve been in the industry for some time now. How do you think has the entertainment landscape changed since you first started acting?
IB: New media and streaming have drastically affected the way filmed entertainment is created and distributed. No one goes to the cinema any longer. Content is consumed 24 hours a day on handheld devices and the attention span is approaching seconds rather than the length of an episode or film. It’s difficult to capture an audience and get them to return week in and week out when they’re being pulled in so many directions. I’d say we’re oversaturated at the moment, but the cream always rises to the top.
DA: How do you balance work and personal life? Especially with the demanding schedule of an actor…
IB: It’s the traveling and being away from a home base that’s the hardest part. I make sure to carve out time to connect with family and friends daily when I’m moving around so that I can stay focused on what’s important. Work is just that, a means to an end. And the end is peace in my personal life with the ones I love.
Work is just that, a means to an end. And the end is peace in my personal life with the ones I love.
DA: And how have you navigated difficult moments in your line of work?
IB: Alcohol. Just kidding, not really. To be serious, as with any hardship in any industry, a man must sit in stillness and focus on his priorities, have a clear understanding of the obstacles ahead and then plot the best path forward toward success in his mission. Then you drive through the smoke.
As with any hardship in any industry, a man must sit in stillness and focus on his priorities.
DA: You’ve also stepped into directing. Do you plan to pursue more behind-the-camera work in the future?
IB: I am more interested in our stories from a creator’s perspective. Imagining the world and the people in it, then writing it down and directing it on camera achieving your vision is where I want to spend the next chapter of my career.
DA: How has your experience as an actor influenced your approach to directing? Particularly in working with actors and understanding character development…
IB: It’s long been said that actors make the best directors given their experience and understanding of the artists’ minds after having done it. Actors speak, think and feel in a very specific language. A director fluent in that has a great chance of pulling the best out of the performer. Clint Eastwood is my go-to example.
DA: If you could work on any project or with any director or actor, who or what would it be and why?
IB: My daydream projects include the “James Bond” and “Mission Impossible” franchises, along with Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves to name a few. I’d also like to work with Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino.
DA: How do you want people to remember your work?
IB: At the end of the day, this is entertainment, predicated on the audience’s enjoyment. I want them to look back fondly at the drama and comedy alike and see themselves—and every aspect of their lives, trauma and delight and all—as normal human function and have a sense of peace that they and their lives and everything is going to be all right.
DA: You’ve built a strong fanbase over the years. How important is it for you to stay connected with your fans?
IB: “Teen Wolf,” in particular, was a seminal show for many fans during their formative years. And for that, it has a special place in their hearts. I love to connect with them here and there on social media and see what they’re reminiscing about on X or what photos they’re posting on Instagram. I like to comment on their stuff and check up on things. It’s fun to see people happy about something and I like to encourage their joy. “Yellowstone” also had its share of fans and I meet and got to visit with many of them out in the world just walking around. It’s fun.
DA: Do you have a dream location you’d really like to shoot in?
IB: I’m captivated by Asia. I’ve had the opportunity to shoot in India and Hong Kong but there are so many exotic areas of that part of the world I’d want to work in.
DA: Have you ever been to Indonesia?
IB: I haven’t been to Indonesia, but it’s at the top of my list to visit and work in.
DA: Are there any types of projects you’d like to tackle in the future?
IB: I’m focused on action/adventure at the moment and hoping to start a franchise that allows me to explore those opportunities.
DA: And lastly, what’s something about you that your fans might not know but would be surprised to learn?
IB: I’m a fanatical golfer and early next year, along with my business partner Luke Wessman, we’re launching Wemssman/Bohen apparel. It’s a new venture that I’m very excited about and we can’t wait to debut it.
Photography @lensbymi
Styling Kimberly Yvette Goodnight
Styling Assistant Theo Hobbie
Grooming Natasha Greissing for Exclusive Artists using Smashbox Cosmetics and Moroccanoil