Neal McDonough refused to kiss on-screen; Here’s what Hollywood did to him

Veteran actor Neal McDonough, known for his roles in shows like ‘Band of Brothers’, ‘Desperate Housewives’, ‘Suits’, and ‘Yellowstone’, recently opened up about a tough chapter in his career. He shared that Hollywood turned its back on him after he refused to do kissing or intimate scenes on screen.

In a candid conversation on the podcast ‘Nothing Left Unsaid’, McDonough explained that he always had one rule in his acting contracts; he wouldn’t kiss any other woman on screen out of personal choice. He said his wife, Ruve Robertson, whom he married in 2003 and shares five children with, was never the reason behind it.

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“It was never about her. It was about me. I just didn’t feel comfortable,” he said.

But that decision had a serious impact on his career. “Hollywood just shut me out,” he admitted. “They didn’t understand why I couldn’t do it. When I said no, they just stopped calling.”

Neal McDonough went through a dark period professionally and personally. “For two years, I didn’t get any work. I lost everything,” he revealed. “Not just money and homes, but who I was. I always saw myself as a strong actor. When that part of me was gone, I felt completely lost.”

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Despite being in the acting business since 1990 and delivering memorable performances in films like ‘Minority Report’ and shows like ‘American Horror Story’, McDonough found himself struggling to find roles.

Things have started to turn around in recent years. Most recently, he played the lead in ‘The Last Rodeo’, a drama film by Angel Studios. In it, he portrayed a former rodeo champion who returns to the arena in a desperate attempt to raise money for his grandson’s brain surgery. The film made on a budget of around $8 million, earned $15 million at the box office.

Television has also given McDonough new life in his career. He played Malcolm Beck in the popular series ‘Yellowstone’ and had a recurring role on ‘9-1-1: Lone Star’ as Sergeant Ty O’Brien. He’s also joined the second season of ‘Tulsa King’, acting alongside Sylvester Stallone in a major role. The series, created by ‘Yellowstone’ writer Taylor Sheridan, is now streaming on Paramount+.