During the production of the first season of 1923, actor Brandon Sklenar, who portrayed Spencer Dutton—a World War I veteran and hunter—sustained a serious injury. This historical drama features an impressive ensemble cast, including stalwarts like Helen Mirren (Cara), Harrison Ford (Jacob), and Julia Schlaepfer (Alexandra). With the show’s recent conclusion of its second season, Taylor Sheridan is poised to launch a new chapter for the Yellowstone franchise. Sklenar is no stranger to the screen, having also appeared in It Ends with Us (2024), Westworld, and Midway (2019), but his role in 1923 notably stands out in his career.
In a candid conversation with his co-star Sydney Sweeney, known for her role in The Housemaid, Sklenar revealed that the filming process occasionally presented unexpected challenges. In one intense flashback scene, he was directed to execute an aggressive move with a helmet. Unfortunately, an accident occurred when Sklenar inadvertently struck himself in the head, resulting in a significant injury—a mishap he continues to carry a scar from to this day. For an in-depth look at their dialogue, read further below, as discussed in Interview Magazine:
SWEENEY: What’s the dumbest way you’ve ever injured yourself?
SKLENAR: Probably splitting my own head open with a helmet shooting a scene in 1923. That was pretty dumb.
SWEENEY: How did you do that?
SKLENAR: I was having to slam it down on this dude’s neck as he’s trying to kill me. And when we actually shot it, I had the helmet far enough in front of me to have some clearance. Then we had to shoot from his point of view, of me slamming it on his neck, and because of the angle I had to hold the helmet really close to me, and we had one shot, so the director told me to just go really ape-shit on it. So I came up and hit myself right here under my eye and just totally split my head open. They had to superglue it. Yeah.
SWEENEY: You have a scar now?
SKLENAR: I do. I got a pretty good scar right next to another scar that I already had there. But yeah, they had to CGI it into the other stuff we had already shot before, and now he just has this head wound the entire season if you look closely.
Implications of Sklenar’s Injury on 1923
A History of Injuries Among Yellowstone Cast
Sklenar’s incident was indeed serious, yet it was not an isolated event in the world of Yellowstone. Injuries typically accompany the demanding nature of filming, and many cast members have faced similar challenges. For instance, Jefferson White (Jimmy) has sustained permanent scars from horseback riding accidents, and Wes Bentley (Jamie) suffered a broken foot under mysterious circumstances. Additionally, Jen Landon (Teeter) dealt with significant discomfort after experiencing a severe rope burn that affected her sleep. Cole Hauser (Rip), too, has a history of injury, having once injured his back due to a fall from a horse.
Given the frequency of injuries among the cast, it was not particularly shocking that Sklenar found himself among this group. His incident, a complete accident, resulted from the direction given by his director, Ben Richardson, which lacked anticipation of such a mishap. Injuries such as Sklenar’s are common in Hollywood, yet they raise additional concerns when they occur during pivotal moments, especially during the filming of the debut episode of a promising series, leaving a lasting mark—both literally and figuratively—for Sklenar.
Reflections on Sklenar’s Injury in 1923
The Severity of Sklenar’s Injury
Fortunately, despite the lasting scar, Sklenar’s injury could have turned out more severe. Any trauma to the head or neck is inherently alarming, but the swift response from fellow cast and crew members proved crucial. Thanks to their quick actions to apply superglue, the bleeding was effectively managed, and the wound was closed without further complications.
For further insights, visit Interview Magazine.