If you’ve been binge-watching Yellowstone on Paramount Network recently, you’re undoubtedly one of the viewers who became intrigued when they saw the title card dedicated to Melanie Olmstead at the end of Season 2. There is no need to look any farther if you’re wondering who this person in the cast or crew is.
Yellowstone’s season 2 finale aired and a big section of the fandom rushed to social media to learn more about this supposedly essential character. Melanie Olmstead, it turns out, was a location and transportation lead on Yellowstone.
Working in the film and television industry since 2000, her credits include Hereditary, Point Break, John Carter, 12 Dogs of Christmas: Great Puppy Rescue (which she drove), Jackie & Ryan, Wind River, Snatchers, and many more (as a driver and site assistant). It’s wonderful to see the Yellowstone team show their appreciation for her labor, which is one of the more underrated areas of television production.
Who is Melanie Olmstead?
A courageous and gifted woman who dedicated her life to making Yellowstone a reality has passed away. In addition to her husband and three children, Olmstead died at the age of 50 from complications related to her cancer treatment.
Among the many television shows she has worked on, she has also spent time in Africa working with women’s education initiatives before beginning her career on film sets in the early ’00s.
While filming seasons two through five of “Yellowstone” in Montana, she was responsible for moving production personnel and equipment all across the state, which was physically exhausting yet fulfilling because of how many people adore this program!
One of the crew members who died in May of this year was a lifelong admirer of Yellowstone National Park’s animals, particularly horses, as she had made evident at an early age.
To describe her horse Mahogany on Facebook as “my lovely incredible girl” who is over 100 years old, she said, “My beautiful amazing girl.”
Her Age
Renee Olmstead was born on November 15, 1968, in Salt Lake City, Utah. She died at her home there on May 25th, 2019 after suffering from cancer for two years. At the time of her death, she had been married to Mark Jackson for twenty-six years and they have five children together – three boys aged fourteen or fifteen plus twin girls who are thirteen-year-old twins.
Renee Olmstead is a former actress turned stay-at-home mom with several kids living in Salt Lake City where she recently passed away following an illness that lasted about 2yrs.
Melanie Olmstead Parents & Family
Olmstead was a former military vet and the adopted daughter of Janet Corbridge. A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Melanie Olmstead was reared in the area by her adoptive parents Janet Corbridge and Reid Howard. Being from Salt Lake City and working on Yellowstone at the
same time was a perfect fit for Melanie, who found it fulfilling as a native and animal lover alike to be a part of the Yellowstone experience. When Loa Rose Hanson, Olmstead’s adoptive mother, died in 1979, her father married her now-widow Loa Rose Hanson.
Early life and Career of her
Melanie Olmstead was born in Salt Lake City on November 26, 1968.
She worked in the film and TV industry for a long time. Later, she worked on Benji: off the leash, Frozen, and Darling companion. She worked as a location assistant in the film Primary Suspect in 2000. In that year, she also drove to the Disney movie John Carter and 12 Dogs of Christmas: Great Puppy Rescue.
Yvette was popular because of the show on Yellowstone. In addition, she also plays a very important role in other movies.
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Her Husband
On December 31, 2015, Olmstead was happily married to her husband Annalise Ford until May 25 of 2019 when she lost the love of her life.
Cause Behind Her Death
It was clear that she and the rest of the actors and crew had a special bond. Their heartfelt homage to her is proof of this. Melanie Olmstead’s name was featured for the first time in the episode, Sins of the Father.
Following a two-year struggle with cancer, Melanie succumbed to her illness at the age of 50. (the official cause of her death). While surrounded by her loved ones and her spouse, Annalise Ford, at her Salt Lake City home, she passed suddenly only moments before the debut of Yellowstone season 2.
Every member of the Yellowstone cast and crew has been impacted by her legacy and influence. Melanie’s knowledge of Utah and love of animals (especially wild horses) have influenced the show’s portrayal of its characters as well as the way she handled the practicalities of getting to and from various filming locations.
Melanie had posted a photo of her own horse, Mahogany, on her own Facebook site while discussing her passion for horses: Horses have been a part of my life since I was a child, but I didn’t receive my first “only mine” pony until I was an adult. For my non-horsey friends, that’s nearly 100 years old in human years, yet she’s still doing fantastic!”
It’s refreshing to see Yellowstone’s willingness to display a strong sense of teamwork and respect for the effort that goes into bringing a movie to life, as Hollywood tends to downplay or overlook the effect of production teams or behind-the-scenes crew members.
On July 30, Melanie Olmstead’s close friends, family, and colleagues gathered to honor her life. The day before, they’d gone horseback riding in honor of their friend. “Melanie Olmstead’s celebration was spectacular! ‘Horsewomen, writers, and artists from all over the country gathered,’ noted one attendee of the gathering. I still feel the pain of a broken heart.”
That being said, Yellowstone fans and staff members alike will always remember Melanie Olmstead’s death and life.
Before the year ends, the fifth season of Yellowstone is slated to begin broadcasting.
