If you’ve been binge-watching Longmire on Netflix or caught it back in the A&E days, you know Branch Connally is a character you love to hate—or maybe just love. He was the young, ambitious, and slightly arrogant deputy who thought he could do a better job than Walt Longmire. He had the money, the family name, and that chip on his shoulder that made for some of the best tension in the show.
But the question usually isn't just about the character. People want to know about the man behind the badge.
Bailey Chase is the actor who plays Branch in Longmire. He didn’t just play the role; he inhabited it. Chase brought a specific kind of intensity to the screen that made Branch feel like more than just a "villain" or a rival. He was a guy trying to step out of the shadow of a powerful father and a legendary boss. Honestly, the show felt a little emptier after he left.
Why Bailey Chase Was Perfect for Branch Connally
It’s funny how things work out. Bailey Chase didn’t actually set out to play the deputy. When the show was being cast, he originally auditioned for the lead role of Sheriff Walt Longmire. The producers liked him, but they had a problem. He was too young. They told him he lacked the "life experience" for Walt—which is just Hollywood speak for "you don't look tired enough to have a grown daughter and a dead wife."
Instead of sending him home, they asked if he’d be interested in playing a new character they were creating specifically for the TV show. See, if you’ve read the original mystery novels by Craig Johnson, you might have noticed someone missing. Branch Connally doesn't exist in the books. The writers loosely based him on a character named "Turk" from the first novel, The Cold Dish, but Branch was mostly a fresh creation. Chase took that blank slate and ran with it. He wanted to make sure Branch wasn't just a one-note antagonist. He wanted him to be his own man.
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The Background of the Man Behind the Badge
Chase isn't just some city slicker pretending to be a cowboy. He was born in Chicago but grew up in Florida and spent plenty of time on his dad’s horse farm in Barrington Hills. He actually grew up riding ponies and horses, which is why he looks so natural in the saddle during those Wyoming (well, New Mexico) landscapes.
Before he was chasing criminals in Absaroka County, Chase was a scholarship athlete. He played football for Duke University while earning a degree in psychology. That might explain why he’s so good at playing characters with complex, often fractured, mental states. He later trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and spent time with The Groundlings in LA.
He’s been around. You’ve probably seen him in:
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (as Graham Miller)
- Saving Grace (as Detective Butch Ada)
- Ugly Betty (as Becks)
- As the World Turns (as Chris Hughes)
The Shocking Death of Branch Connally: What Really Happened?
If you’re reading this, you probably know how Branch’s story ends. It was brutal. At the end of Season 3, Branch is confronted by his own father, Barlow Connally (played by the legendary Gerald McRaney). It was a "cold-blooded" moment that left fans absolutely reeling.
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Branch was murdered by his father on a shooting range. It was a dark, tragic end for a character who was finally starting to see the truth about his family’s corruption. But why did they kill him off?
There’s been a lot of rumors over the years. Some fans think the writers were "salty" about Chase wanting to leave. In reality, it was a bit of a mix. Chase has been pretty open in later interviews and even in a book he wrote about his life. He admitted that at the time, there were some tensions regarding the show's direction, the number of episodes, and pay. He sort of "puffed up his chest" and decided to move on.
It was a risky move. He didn't work as a series regular on a major network show for a while after that. He’s since described himself as a "work in progress" and acknowledged that his temper sometimes got in the way earlier in his career.
Regardless of the "behind-the-scenes" drama, the death of Branch served a massive narrative purpose. It forced Walt to reckon with his own failures and pushed the show into much darker territory as it transitioned from A&E to Netflix.
Life After Absaroka County
Since hanging up the tan uniform, Bailey Chase hasn't slowed down. He’s moved his family from Los Angeles to North Carolina to give his kids a more grounded upbringing.
In terms of acting, he’s stayed busy with roles in Grimm, 24: Legacy, S.W.A.T., and Chicago P.D. Most recently, he’s been starring in the film and series Homestead (2024/2025) and taking lead roles in Western-themed projects like Far Haven and Sod and Stubble.
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He seems to have found his niche in these "modern Western" and "pioneer" roles. Maybe it's the Duke psychology degree, or maybe it's just the way he wears a Stetson, but he has a way of making "rugged and conflicted" look very believable.
Where Can You See Him Now?
If you miss seeing Bailey Chase on your screen, you can find him in plenty of places. He’s active on social media and often does interviews for Western-themed magazines like Cowboys & Indians.
If you want to dive deeper into his career, check out:
- The Early Years: Go back and watch his arc in Buffy to see a very young, very different version of him.
- The Darker Side: His work in Saving Grace opposite Holly Hunter shows off that grit that eventually landed him the Longmire gig.
- The New Stuff: Look for Homestead if you want to see how he’s evolved as a lead actor in the last year or two.
Basically, Branch Connally might be gone, but Bailey Chase is still very much in the game. He’s one of those actors who just fits into the landscape of a Western, and even though his exit from Longmire was heartbreaking for fans, it solidified his place as one of the most memorable parts of the series.
Actionable Insights for Longmire Fans
- Watch for the Nuance: Next time you re-watch Season 1, look for the subtle ways Chase plays Branch’s desperation for Walt’s approval. It’s there, hidden under the arrogance.
- Explore the Books: If you haven't read Craig Johnson's Longmire novels, do it. It’s fascinating to see how the show created Branch from scratch and how his absence changes the dynamic of the original stories.
- Follow the Career: Keep an eye on the "Angel Studios" projects; Chase has been heavily involved with them lately, specifically with the Homestead franchise.