Taylor Sheridan earns honorary degree for impact on arts and Texas film industry
Taylor Sheridan, the creator behind Yellowstone and its sprawling franchise, is now an honorary graduate of Texas Christian University. The Fort Worth native will receive a Doctor of Letters degree during TCU’s May 9 commencement. The university is recognizing more than Sheridan’s creative success — they’re honoring his role in building the local film industry and opening doors for students.
Sheridan hasn’t just come home to Fort Worth in name only. His recent production Landman, filmed on the TCU campus, gave over 30 students hands-on experience in real TV production. More than 600 students, faculty, and alumni worked as paid or volunteer extras. It’s a pattern Sheridan has repeated — using his sets as training grounds for up-and-coming talent.
How Sheridan is turning student involvement into a new pipeline for creatives
When Sheridan filmed Landman season one at TCU, he pulled students directly into the workflow. Film, Theater, and even Track & Field athletes had roles behind the camera and on set. These aren’t just cameo opportunities — students ran sound, handled props, and coordinated production. It’s real experience, not internships in name only.
“Taylor Sheridan’s work doesn’t just entertain, it opens doors,” TCU President Daniel W. Pullin said. The university’s Board of Trustees echoed that sentiment by awarding Sheridan the honorary degree. They see in him a bridge between education and industry — someone who’s invested in creating a path, not just telling stories.
From theater dropout to Emmy nominee — Sheridan’s unconventional path
Sheridan once studied theater at Texas State University before dropping out in 1991 to pursue acting. He spent years in front of the camera before finding his voice as a writer. That voice hit its stride with Hell or High Water, which earned him an Academy Award nomination. Since then, he’s built an empire of TV shows — Yellowstone, 1883, Mayor of Kingstown, and now Landman.
His scripts are raw, grounded, and deeply American. They’re filled with flawed characters fighting for survival — in the West, in small towns, in industries fading into dust. Sheridan doesn’t glamorize. He examines. And audiences can’t look away.
Sheridan’s storytelling is rooted in place — and he hasn’t forgotten Fort Worth
One of the most distinctive features of Sheridan’s work is its sense of place. Whether it’s Montana ranches or Texas oil fields, the setting is as much a character as the people. That’s part of why he keeps coming back to Texas — and why he’s using local universities like TCU as more than just filming locations.
“Storytelling is about knowing where you come from and daring to imagine where you can go,” Sheridan said in his message to graduates. It’s a line that sums up both his career and his mission now: empower the next generation to tell their own stories — and give them the tools to do it.
In the Heat of the Night and the influence on Sheridan’s writing
While Sheridan’s modern reputation is built on gritty Westerns and crime dramas, he’s long been inspired by classic cinema. He’s cited In the Heat of the Night as one of his favorite films — not just for its storytelling, but for how it used genre to explore deeper social issues.
Like that film, Sheridan’s work often starts as a procedural and becomes something more — a study of identity, power, and isolation. The relationship between Sheriff Gillespie and Detective Tibbs echoes in shows like Yellowstone and Landman, where uneasy alliances reflect a changing America.
What Sheridan’s TCU honor says about his place in the industry today
The honorary degree from TCU isn’t just a hometown nod. It’s recognition of a creator who has reshaped how American stories are told on TV and film. More importantly, it acknowledges a man who’s made a point of lifting others as he climbs.
Sheridan will also deliver the commencement speech at the University of Texas on May 10. For graduates across Texas, he’s becoming more than a name in entertainment — he’s a model of what’s possible when you combine grit, vision, and a commitment to your roots.