How A Connecticut Doctor Accidentally Became A Consultant & Actor In New ‘Yellowstone’ Spinoff, ‘Y: Marshals’

This Connecticut doctor’s Yellowstone dream became a reality.

I think everyone daydreams about wandering onto a TV or movie set and suddenly being thrust into the action. It doesn’t happen that often… and to be frank, you’ve probably got better odds of finding a treasure chest at the beach. But one doctor by the name of Karen Soika got incredibly lucky, and now she’ll have an acting credit in the upcoming Yellowstone spinoff Y: Marshals.

CBS has given a 13-episode order for a program called “Y: Marshals,” and Luke Grimes – A.K.A. Kayce Dutton – will reprise his role. Yellowstone fans know well that one of the main character qualities of Kayce, the youngest of the Dutton siblings, was his prior military experience – specifically as a Navy SEAL. Based on the show’s proposed log line, it appears the series (which is set to air next spring) will explore his trained skillset a bit more:

“With the Yellowstone Ranch behind him, Dutton joins an elite unit of U.S. Marshals, combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana, where he and his teammates must balance family, duty and the high psychological cost that comes with serving as the last line of defense in the region’s war on violence.”

And with violence comes medical care… see where I’m going with this?

Soika first accidentally visited the set when she was contacted to drop something off at the Utah location where Y: Marshals is currently filming. Once she fulfilled the delivery, the doctor who lives in Utah but still has her practice in Connecticut decided to spark up some small talk with the nurse that was on staff at the studio, as she told CT Insider:

“I was asked to drop something off to a nurse, and I didn’t realize it was going to be a filming studio. I met the nurse and we were just chit chatting.

So jokingly with him, I said, ‘I’m actually a cosmetic surgeon if anyone needs Botox or any cosmetic procedures while they’re filming, I’ll make a house call. I live right down the street and I’m happy to help.’

I was joking because in medical school, I was actually an extra in a Sheryl Crow video. So I was like, ‘Oh, that’d be so fun. I should do it. I’m here, might as well see.'”

Sure enough, the nurse held on to the business card that Soika left with him.

That eventually led to the nurse handing the doctor’s information over to the casting director, because knowing that Soika was a real doctor, they thought she might come in handy to have around the set for certain scenes. Not too long after the fateful delivery that brought Soika on set, she was hired to the production team of the spinoff to help consult as a medical expert.

That then turned into a small role as an extra, as the Connecticut doctor explained:

“It was two gunshot wound injuries out in the field, and they wanted me to just make sure if someone really was shot, what kind of position would the body be in, obviously they’re not sitting upright, acting like they’re feeling great. They wanted me to just put input into that.

They then also needed me to play the role of a nurse in the hallway just as they were filming the main actors in the room. We were out in the hall just acting busy, like a typical hospital setting.”

Literally living out the dream of Yellowstone fans.

Karen Soika will be the first to admit that the stars really had to align for her to then rub shoulders with the stars of Yellowstone universe. She’s thankful that her profession opened the door to the opportunity, and Soika is hopeful that she’ll get another call to help out with the show in the near future:

“The funny thing was I was joking, and then it just fell into place. It was an interesting thing to be part of, but also at the same time, learn and appreciate where your medical expertise can come into play… I’d definitely do it again. I love it. They’re filming here until mid-December, so I’m sure as the medical scenes evolve and they come up, I’m sure I’ll do more for (the spinoff).”

Just goes to show that it never hurts to shoot your shot. And in case you haven’t had a chance to watch the teaser for the upcoming Kayce-Dutton-focused spinoff, check it out:

The post How A Connecticut Doctor Accidentally Became A Consultant & Actor In New ‘Yellowstone’ Spinoff, ‘Y: Marshals’ first appeared on Whiskey Riff.