Created by Ben H. Winters.
Tracker premiered on February 11, 2024, right after Super Bowl LVIII.
Distributed by CBS Studios and streams internationally on Paramount+.
Series Review
Tracker is an exciting TV series starring Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw, a skilled tracker who helps find missing people in exchange for reward money.
In Season 1, we follow Colter solving new cases each week while slowly learning about his mysterious family past.
Season 2 brings bigger challenges, more danger, and deeper emotional stories as Colter’s world grows.
By Season 3, the family mystery becomes the heart of the show, with shocking secrets and tense action moments.
Overall, Tracker is a mix of action, mystery, and emotion.
It’s the kind of show that keeps you hooked with its smart storytelling, beautiful scenery, and strong lead performance.
Fans who enjoy crime dramas and adventure series will love following Colter’s journey from episode to episode.
Ratings
• IMDb: 7.1/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
• Google Audience Score: 72% liked this TV show.
Tracker (TV Series) Actors
Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw
DOB: January 29, 1977.
Bio: American actor, writer, and producer known for his commanding screen presence and emotional range.
Rising from daytime television to primetime success, Hartley earned widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Kevin Pearson on This Is Us, a role that showcased his depth and vulnerability.
Role: Colter Shaw is a self-reliant “rewardist”, a professional tracker who uses his survival skills, intuition, and intellect to locate missing people and solve dangerous cases across America.
Operating out of his RV, Colter lives off the grid, driven by both moral conviction and the lingering trauma of his family’s past.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–3 (39 eps).
What to expect: Confident fieldwork, tense stakeouts, rugged tracking sequences and a lead who’s equal parts charming rogue and wounded son.
Interesting facts: Hartley also serves as an executive producer on Tracker, helping develop Colter’s moral compass and backstory.
He’s known for doing many of his own stunts and maintaining a hands-on approach to storytelling.
Notable works: This Is Us, Smallville, The Young and the Restless, Revenge.
Robin Weigert as Teddi Bruin
DOB: July 7, 1969.
Bio: Emmy-nominated American actress celebrated for her nuanced portrayals of strong, complex women.
With roots in theatre and a breakout role as Calamity Jane in Deadwood, Weigert has built a career defined by emotional honesty, sharp intelligence, and the ability to ground even heightened material in reality.
Role: Teddi Bruin is one of Colter Shaw’s key contacts, a case researcher and logistics coordinator who works alongside her husband, Velma, to track down leads and organize Colter’s “rewardist” missions.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (13 eps).
What to expect: Smart, dry scenes where procedural savvy meets moral friction, Teddi is the brain to Colter’s brawn.
Interesting facts: Weigert’s background in theatre helps her deliver dialogue with a natural rhythm and emotional clarity.
Critics have praised her for adding depth and humor to what could have been a purely functional procedural role.
Notable works: Deadwood, Big Little Lies, Smile, Angels in America (stage).
Abby McEnany as Velma Bruin
DOB: 1968.
Bio: American writer, comedian, and actor best known for creating and starring in the critically acclaimed Showtime dramedy Work in Progress.
With a background in Chicago’s improv scene, McEnany brings a distinctive blend of humor, authenticity, and emotional intelligence to every role.
Role: Velma Bruin is Teddi’s wife and a crucial member of Colter Shaw’s support team.
She helps manage logistics, vet potential cases, and handle communication when situations spiral beyond control.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–3 (33 eps).
What to expect: Earthy, candid beats, Velma grounds the show’s procedural elements in real-world bluntness and loyalty.
Interesting facts: McEnany’s casting brought a dose of authenticity and representation to the series.
Their real-life experience in improv and storytelling helped shape Velma’s dry wit and human depth.
Notable works: Work in Progress (creator and star), Chicago improv and stand-up comedy.
Eric Graise as Bobby Exley
DOB: March 6, 1990.
Bio: American actor, dancer, and singer who has steadily built a reputation for bringing authenticity and charm to every role.
A double amputee, he has become a strong advocate for inclusivity and authentic representation of disabled performers in Hollywood.
Role: Bobby Exley serves as Colter Shaw’s tech and information specialist, the brains behind the screens who tracks signals, hacks databases, and keeps Colter connected to critical intel.
Whether coordinating logistics or offering quick digital solutions, Bobby provides a grounded counterbalance to Colter’s field instincts.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–3 (33 eps).
What to expect: Quick humor, intelligent dialogue, and scenes that blend tech expertise with emotional insight.
Interesting facts: Graise’s background in dance and movement gives his on-screen work a natural rhythm and confidence.
He’s also outspoken about the importance of accessibility in the entertainment industry, using his platform to inspire young performers with disabilities.
Notable works: Step Up: High Water, Locke & Key, Queer as Folk (2022).
Fiona Rene as Reenie Greene
DOB: April 5, 1988.
Bio: American actress, producer, and creative director known for her sharp intelligence and emotional range on screen.
With a background in theatre and immersive performance art before transitioning to film and television, she has built an impressive resume across procedural dramas and streaming thrillers.
Role: Reenie Greene serves as Colter Shaw’s lawyer and legal fixer, the pragmatic voice who manages the fallout from his high-risk tracking jobs.
She deals with contracts, liability issues, and local authorities, keeping Colter’s operations just on the right side of the law.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–3 (39 eps).
What to expect: Sharp courtroom/office scenes, canny lines about liability and reputation, and a moral center when legalese meets lived consequence.
Interesting facts: Rene’s casting added a sophisticated, modern energy to Tracker.
She has spoken about the importance of portraying powerful women in procedural dramas who operate with both intelligence and integrity.
Notable works: The Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix), I Know What You Did Last Summer (2021), Stumptown.
Jensen Ackles as Russell Shaw
DOB: March 1, 1978.
Bio: American actor, producer, and director best known for his long-running role as Dean Winchester in Supernatural.
A Texas native, Ackles began his career in daytime television before becoming one of genre TV’s most recognizable faces.
Role: Russell Shaw is Colter’s estranged older brother, a figure wrapped in mystery and emotional complexity.
The brothers share a fraught past linked to their father’s death and the survivalist upbringing that shaped Colter’s worldview.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–3 (4 eps).
What to expect: Tough, complicated reunion scenes, flashbacks, and family revelations that shift the series’ emotional center.
Interesting facts: Ackles joined Tracker after acclaimed turns on The Boys and Big Sky, reuniting him with a fanbase that values his mix of heroism and emotional depth.
His addition brought major buzz and expanded the show’s emotional stakes.
Notable works: Supernatural, The Boys, Big Sky, Batman: The Long Halloween (voice).
Melissa Roxburgh as Dr. Dory Shaw
DOB: December 10, 1992.
Bio: Canadian actress best known for her starring role as Michaela Stone in Manifest.
She began acting in her teens, earning early credits in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules and Supernatural.
Role: Dory Shaw is Colter’s younger sister, a biologist whose intelligence and compassion stand in contrast to Colter’s rugged, lone-wolf lifestyle.
Her appearances shed light on the Shaw family’s fractured history, revealing how each sibling coped differently with their father’s shadow and loss.
Seasons & Episodes: S1-2 (2 eps).
What to expect: Intimate, domestic scenes that humanize Colter and give stakes to his private quests.
Interesting facts: Roxburgh’s role adds a strong emotional thread to Tracker, expanding the story’s scope beyond procedural storytelling.
Her casting also reconnected her with genre audiences who followed her through Manifest’s five-season journey.
Notable works: Manifest (as Michaela Stone), Star Trek Beyond, Valor, Supernatural.
Sofia Pernas as Billie Matalon
DOB: July 31, 1989.
Bio: Moroccan-American actress known for her work in adventure and action dramas.
She began her career as a model before transitioning into acting, earning recognition through roles in The Brave, Blood & Treasure, and Jane the Virgin.
Role: Billie Matalon is a fellow tracker and former romantic partner of Colter Shaw.
Their history adds both tension and chemistry to the series, Billie is resourceful, clever, and unafraid to challenge Colter’s methods or ethics.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (3 eps).
What to expect: Sharp, efficient scenes that complicate Colter’s lone-wolf ethos.
Interesting facts: Pernas’ appearance in Tracker reunites her on-screen with her real-life husband, Justin Hartley, marking a fun meta element for fans.
Notable works: Blood & Treasure, The Brave, Jane the Virgin, The Young and the Restless.
Jennifer Morrison as Lizzy Hawking
DOB: April 12, 1979.
Bio: American actress, director, and producer best known for her versatile performances across television and film.
She gained early fame as Dr. Allison Cameron on House and later became a household name as Emma Swan in Once Upon a Time.
Role: Lizzy Hawking is a childhood friend and one-time confidante of Colter Shaw.
Her reappearance in his life brings emotional depth and context to Colter’s guarded personality.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (1 eps).
What to expect: Warm but tense reunion scenes that reveal backstory.
Interesting facts: She has also directed several short films and episodes of television, including Once Upon a Time.
Notable works: House, Once Upon a Time, How I Met Your Mother, Warrior.
Lee Tergesen as Ashton Shaw
DOB: July 8, 1965.
Bio: American actor recognized for his commanding performances in both television and film.
Known for his breakout role as Tobias Beecher in HBO’s Oz, Tergesen has built a reputation for portraying layered, emotionally volatile characters.
Role: Ashton Shaw is Colter’s father, a complex, haunted figure whose actions and philosophy profoundly shaped Colter’s worldview.
Appearing through flashbacks and memory sequences, Ashton serves as both a mentor and a mystery, embodying the emotional and psychological heart of the Shaw family’s unresolved trauma.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (1 eps).
What to expect: Troubled, revealing scenes that shift the emotional stakes.
Interesting facts: Tergesen’s casting added emotional heft to the family storyline and expanded the show’s tonal range into darker territory.
Notable works: Oz, Generation Kill, The Americans, Desperate Housewives.
Wendy Crewson as Mary Dove Shaw
DOB: May 9, 1956.
Bio: Canadian actress and producer with an extensive career in both film and television.
Known for her commanding yet empathetic screen presence, she’s appeared in major Hollywood films and award-winning Canadian dramas alike.
Role: Mary Dove Shaw is Colter’s mother, a pivotal figure in the Shaw family’s past.
Her history and choices form the emotional backbone of Colter’s journey, as revelations about her life and her role in the family’s unraveling come to light in later seasons.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (3 eps).
What to expect: Quiet but seismic reveals and scenes that reframe Colter’s origin story.
Interesting facts: Crewson’s casting was a major narrative anchor for the show’s expanding mythology, praised for lending emotional weight and authenticity to the family storyline.
Notable works: Air Force One, The Santa Clause trilogy, Saving Hope.
Peter Stormare as Valts
DOB: August 27, 1953.
Bio: Swedish actor and musician celebrated for his intense, often unpredictable character work.
He excels at portraying eccentric, menacing, or morally ambiguous figures, bringing instant gravitas and dark humor to any role.
Role: Valts is a guest antagonist and criminal-handler figure who appears in select case-of-the-week episodes.
His character intersects with Colter’s tracking work, often forcing Colter into tense, high-stakes confrontations.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (1 eps).
What to expect: Charismatic, unsettling scenes that raise the stakes for Colter’s fieldwork.
Interesting facts: He is also an accomplished musician and voice actor, adding versatility to his performances.
Notable works: Fargo, Prison Break, John Wick: Chapter 2, The Big Lebowski.
More Actors
Season 1 (2024)
• Marley Shelton as Erika Kennedy.
• Diana Maria Riva as Detective Helen Brock.
• Gil Birmingham as Gus.
• Martin Roach as Clay Porter.
Season 2 (2024–25)
• Chris Lee as Randy.
• Pej Vahdat as Leonard Sharf.
• Brent Sexton as Keaton.
• Michael Rady as Elliot Rusch.
Season 3 (2025)
• Jules Willcox as Lisa Rodgers.
• Kai Lennox as Raymond Ockman.
• Nevis Unipan as Hailey Rodgers.
• Andy Magee as Kurt Foster.
FAQ – Tracker TV Series
What is Tracker about?
Tracker is an action-drama starring Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw, a lone-wolf tracker who finds missing people and lost items for reward money.
Where was it filmed?
Tracker was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, which stands in for different U.S. locations throughout the series.
How many seasons and episodes are there?
As of 2025 the show has 3 seasons and 35 episodes.
Where can I watch Tracker?
It airs on CBS (linear) and episodes are available to stream on Paramount+.
What age rating is it / is it kid-friendly?
CBS lists the show as TV-14, it contains some violence, tension, and mature themes, so parental guidance is advised.
Conclusion
Tracker stands out as a thrilling mix of mystery, action, and heart.
Justin Hartley shines as Colter Shaw, giving the show both charm and intensity.
Each season builds on the last, from exciting manhunts to deeper emotional stories that explore family and trust.
It’s a series that balances weekly adventures with a strong ongoing mystery, keeping viewers coming back for more.
Whether you love detective dramas or character-driven action, Tracker delivers a satisfying and entertaining ride.