Meet the Rising Stars of the Brutal Texan Epic Series ‘Landman’

Set against a backdrop of oil rigs, West Texas, and working drill sites, a new project from writer-director Taylor Sheridan is about to unfold—and it’s right in his wheelhouse

The showrunner grew up on a ranch in Cranfills Gap, Texas, and drew inspiration from both his personal experiences in the state and the Boomtown podcast, which explores billionaires and Texas’ economic boom.

Among the show’s biggest highlights is a cast that includes Demi Moore, Ali Larter, Jon Hamm, Michelle Randolph, and, notably, Billy Bob Thornton, for whom Sheridan specifically crafted the role.

However, there are three new rising stars in Landman that we want to highlight: Jacob Lofland, Michelle Randolph, and Paulina Chávez, who each secured roles in all ten episodes of the series.

Jacob Lofland made his film debut as Neckbone in Jeff Nichols’ Mud (2012) alongside Matthew McConaughey and Tye Sheridan. The role came naturally to him, as he already shared Neck’s adventurous traits and had boating and biking experience, which Nichols wanted.

Just weeks after spotting the casting call, he flew to Austin for an audition and landed the role within a day.

Outside of acting, Lofland enjoys fishing, boating, hunting, and dirt biking—a passion he picked up at six. By 11, he moved on from go-karts to racing a 600 MiniSprint after attending dirt track races with his family.

Michelle Randolph is an American actress and model known for her roles in A Snow White Christmas (2018), 5 Years Apart (2019), and the Yellowstone prequel 1923 as Elizabeth Strafford. Raised in Southern California, she initially gained attention in modeling, working with brands like Revolve and Forever 21 before transitioning to acting.

Michelle is passionate about animal welfare and works with rescue organizations, and she enjoys traveling, surfing, and hiking in her free time.

Paulina Chávez is an American actress best known for her role as Lexi in the Netflix series The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia. Born in El Paso, Texas, she began her acting career in local theater before gaining recognition in television and film. In addition to Ashley Garcia, she starred in The Fallout, which received critical acclaim.