Taylor Sheridan’s “1923” Season 2 premiere episode (now streaming on Paramount+) pays a dedication to one of the Western series’ rising stars, Cole Brings Plenty, who died last year at age 27.

Brings Plenty played sheepherder Pete Plenty Clouds in Season 1 of “1923” and is the nephew of “Yellowstone” star and Native American consultant Mo Brings Plenty. The actor and activist was found dead last April in Johnson County, Kansas, a week after his family reported him missing.

Brings Plenty was destined for an expanding “1923” role after Season 1 appearances as Pete alongside central “1923” character Teonna Rainwater (Aminah Nieves). In the Season 1 finale, Pete rode off with Teonna and her father, Runs His Horse (Michael Spears). Teonna, a member of the Broken Rock Reservation in “1923,” had escaped life at an abusive Catholic boarding school in Montana and has been pursued by ruthless lawmen.

Speaking at the “1923” Los Angeles premiere this week, Nieves gave her own tribute to the actor, whom she called by his nickname “Coco.”

“Coco was my brother, ” Nieves told USA TODAY. “The only reason I’m here tonight is to honor him wholeheartedly.”

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.

Nieves said she talked frequently with Brings Plenty about the expanded role in the popular series, which evolves into a romance with her Rainwater character.

“He was so excited, especially when he learned that he was going to be in almost every episode,” said Nieves, who was willing to act the romance part. “It was like, ‘Wait, you’re (like) my sister, and I’m your brother, which is kind of gross.’ But he loved it.”

What happened to Cole Brings Plenty?

Cole Brings Plenty was found dead April 5 after being reported missing by his family nearly a week prior when the actor did not show up for a Zoom meeting with his agent.

Kansas police investigators ruled there was no evidence of foul play in Brings Plenty’s death, according to the Kansas City Star. The actor’s family has publicly challenged the investigation results. His father, Joe Brings Plenty Sr., told the Red Nation Film Festival in November that he is still “fighting to find out” what happened to his son, according to the Los Angeles Times. “We want a full investigation.”

In addition to his “1923” role, Brings Plenty made TV appearances in “The Tall Tales of Jim Bridger” and “Into The Wild Frontier.”

Chris McCarthy, the president and CEO of Paramount Media Networks, told the star-studded “1923” premiere that Brings Plenty’s family was in attendance. The actor is shown as “Pete” during an in memoriam that opens the Episode 1 credits.

Who plays Pete in ‘1923’?

In “1923” Season 2, Pete Plenty Clouds is played by Jeremy Guana. Nieves said the casting is fitting since Guana was a friend of Plenty Clouds’.

“Jeremy did his absolutely best to honor Coco in the biggest possible way,” said Nieves.