When Danny Masterson was led away in handcuffs, a lot of people looked toward the stars of The Ranch. They looked for a statement. They looked for a condemnation or a defense. Mostly, they looked for Sam Elliott.
The veteran actor played Masterson’s father on the gritty Netflix sitcom for years. Their chemistry was undeniable. It was that classic, grunting, blue-collar bond that felt real to anyone who grew up with a stoic dad. But since the trial and the eventual sentencing, the silence from the Elliott camp has been deafening.
Honestly, it's weird. You’ve got Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis writing letters to the judge—which went about as well as a screen door on a submarine—and then you have Sam Elliott. He just stayed out of it. Or did he?
The On-Screen Bond vs. Off-Screen Reality
Sam Elliott isn't exactly a guy who hangs out at Hollywood parties. He's a guy who lives on a ranch and speaks in a baritone that could shake the leaves off a tree. On The Ranch, he played Beau Bennett, the tough-as-nails father to Masterson’s "Rooster" and Kutcher’s "Colt."
They spent years together. Long days on set.
Masterson was written out of the show in 2018 when the allegations first started gaining serious traction with the LAPD. Netflix didn't wait. They cut him loose, and his character was killed off in a motorcycle "accident."
While Kutcher has been vocal—sometimes to his own detriment—about his struggle to reconcile the Danny he knew with the crimes committed, Elliott has been remarkably quiet. He didn't write a character letter for Masterson’s sentencing. He didn't show up at the courthouse. He didn't even release one of those polished PR statements that usually start with "My heart goes out to the victims."
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Why the Silence Matters
In Hollywood, silence is often interpreted as a stance. But with Sam Elliott, it’s likely a byproduct of his old-school philosophy. He’s from a generation of actors who don't feel the need to comment on every headline.
When you look at Sam Elliott on Danny Masterson, you aren't going to find a "smoking gun" quote. You won't find a video of him trashing his former co-star on a late-night talk show.
Instead, you find a professional distance.
There were rumors, of course. Tabloids love to claim there was "tension" on set after the news broke. Some sources claimed the atmosphere became "heavy." But no one from the actual production has gone on record saying Elliott and Masterson had a falling out before the firing. They were coworkers. They did the job.
The Contrast with Ashton Kutcher
It's impossible to talk about this without mentioning Ashton Kutcher. He and Masterson were best friends since That '70s Show. Kutcher’s public struggle with the situation was messy. He told Esquire that he wanted his friend to be innocent but "can't know" the truth.
Then came the letters.
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Kutcher and Kunis wrote to Judge Charlaine Olmedo, pleading for leniency before Masterson was sentenced to 30 years to life. The backlash was nuclear. They eventually posted a strained video apology.
Sam Elliott avoided all of that. By not engaging, he protected his legacy. He didn't try to play judge or jury. He let the legal system do what it does.
The Fallout on The Ranch
The show changed after Masterson left. It had to. The dynamic between the brothers was the engine of the series. When Dax Shepard was brought in to fill the void, the show took on a different tone.
Elliott stayed until the bitter end. He kept the lights on.
There is a certain irony in Elliott’s character, Beau, being a man of few words. Life imitated art. When the world wanted a soundbite, Elliott gave them the same thing Beau would: nothing.
Some fans feel he should have spoken up for the victims. Others respect that he didn't join the "celebrity circus."
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What We Actually Know
If you're looking for the hard facts on where they stand now, here’s the reality:
- No Contact: There is zero evidence that Sam Elliott has maintained a relationship with Danny Masterson since his exit from the show.
- No Support: Elliott did not join the list of 50+ people who wrote letters of support for Masterson's character during the trial.
- The Professional Exit: Elliott has continued to work on high-profile projects like 1883, focusing on his craft rather than the scandal.
It’s easy to project meaning onto a lack of words. We want celebrities to be our moral compasses. We want them to tell us how to feel. But Elliott seems to realize that his opinion on a criminal trial doesn't actually change the facts of the case.
Moving Forward: The Lessons of the Scandal
The situation with Danny Masterson changed how people view "work families" in Hollywood. It showed that you can work alongside someone for years and not truly know the dark corners of their life.
For Elliott, the focus remains on the work. He’s a guy who values the "western" code—honesty, hard work, and minding your own business. In his mind, the court has spoken. Masterson is in North Kern State Prison. The case is, for all intents and purposes, closed.
If you are following the aftermath of the Masterson case, don't expect a sudden tell-all book from Elliott. It's not his style. He’s already moved on to the next ranch, the next story, and the next sunset.
Actionable Insights for Following Celebrity Scandals:
- Check the court records: Celebrity "statements" are PR. Court transcripts and character letters (like the ones Kutcher wrote) are where the real story lives.
- Watch for the "No Comment": Sometimes the most telling thing a coworker can say is nothing at all. It indicates a total severance of ties.
- Distinguish the character from the actor: Fans often confuse Sam Elliott with Beau Bennett. Remember that one is a performer and the other is a script.
The drama of The Ranch ended years ago, but the real-life consequences for those involved are still being felt today. Elliott’s choice to remain silent might just be the most "Beau Bennett" thing he’s ever done.