Who Is Luke Matthews? Everything You Need To Know About Dax Shepard On ‘The Ranch’

Earlier today, new episodes of The Ranch premiered on Netflix. The first half of the season dealt with the disappearance of Rooster (which we detailed here) and Colt and Abby welcoming a baby into the world. Those two stories drove the narrative for the first five episodes of Part 6, but the biggest development in the second half of the season centered on Garrison’s newest rancher: Dax Shepard’s Luke Matthews.

This isn’t the first time Shepard and Kutcher crossed paths on the small screen. From 2003 to 2012, Shepard made frequent appearances on Kutcher’s MTV prank show Punk’d. Fifteen years later, the two actors have reunited on Netflix.

Who exactly is Luke Matthews? Here’s everything you need to know about Dax Shepard on The Ranch.

*** Part 6 spoilers ahead ***

WHO PLAYS LUKE ON THE RANCH?

Actor Dax Shepard portrays Luke Matthews.

WHEN DOES DAX SHEPARD MAKE HIS RANCH DEBUT?

The character of Luke Matthews makes his first appearance in Part 6, Episode 6 (“Pass it on Down”). After being charged with drunk and disorderly conduct, Wilkerson drops an inebriated Matthews off at the Bennett Ranch. Turns out that, surprise, Luke is Beau’s nephew (Colt’s cousin). Before Luke’s mom passed away, she revealed that his father was Greg Bennett, Beau’s brother who died in Vietnam.

Luke, an army veteran who served in Iraq, pops in to say hi on his way to California. Luke is suffering from PTSD, so Beau invites him to stay at the ranch. Colt is initially against it, but Beau persists.

Shepard appears in the final five episodes of Part 6.

DOES LUKE REPLACE DANNY MASTERSON’S ROOSTER?

Luke Matthews and Rooster are two separate characters, but they share many similarities. Perhaps feeling guilty about his last conversation with Rooster, Beau takes Luke under his wing, even offering to set him up with a counselor at the VA center, but Luke is hesitant to accept his help. Beau gives Luke an ultimatum: take the meeting or leave the ranch.

Beau: Let me make this real simple. If you wanna stay here, you’re gonna take that meeting.
Luke: Then maybe I shouldn’t stay here.

The similarities between Luke and Rooster don’t end there.

Rooster was originally supposed to run the new ranch with Colt. In the season finale, Luke invests in Colt’s ranch, effectively becoming a partner. But both their business and personal relationship takes a hit when Colt discovers Luke is dating Rooster’s ex-girlfriend, Mary (Megyn Price). The season concludes with Luke and Mary leaving Garrison for California.

WHERE HAVE I SEEN DAX SHEPARD BEFORE?

The actor is known for portraying Crosby Braverman on NBC’s Parenthood and has appeared in many films, most notably Idiocracy, Emplyee of the Month, CHIPS, and Without a Paddle.

WILL DAX SHEPARD BE BACK FOR SEASON 4 (PART 7) OF THE RANCH?

It’s important to remember that Shepard’s not a series regular on The Ranch; he signed on as a recurring guest star for Part 6. The season finale’s ambiguous ending may have more to do with the fact that Shepard is the male lead opposite Lake Bell in Liz Meriwether’s comedy pilot Bless This Mess. If Fox orders the show to series, Shepard may only be able to appear in a handful of Season 4 episodes.

Where to stream The Ranch