Neal McDonough, the 59-year-old actor known for his role on Yellowstone, has revealed that his refusal to kiss anyone other than his wife, Ruvé McDonough, on screen led to serious professional consequences. He says this decision resulted in Hollywood turning against him, shutting him out from acting opportunities for a significant period.
Contractual Stance Against On-Screen Kissing With Others
McDonough explained on the Nothing Left Unsaid podcast that he had always included a clause in his contracts specifying that he would not kiss other women on screen. He described his motivation as a desire to protect his marriage and family, especially as they planned to have children.
“I always had in my contracts that I wouldn’t kiss another woman on screen,”
he stated.
“My wife didn’t have any problem with it. It was me, really, who had a problem. I was like, ‘Yeah, I don’t want to put you through it. I know we’re going to start having kids, and I don’t want to put my kids through it.’”
Industry Backlash Resulting From His Refusal
McDonough recounted that his stance was met with confusion and hostility in Hollywood.
“When I wouldn’t do it, and they couldn’t understand it, Hollywood just completely turned on me,”
he said. The consequences were severe, as producers stopped offering him roles, and he found himself unable to secure work for two years. During this time, he lost not only financial stability but also his confidence and identity.
“They wouldn’t let me be part of the show anymore. And for two years, I couldn’t get a job, and I lost everything you could possibly imagine. Not just houses and material things, but your swagger, your cool, who you are, your identity, everything.”
Firing Over Refusal to Film Intimate Scenes
His refusal extended to intimate scenes beyond kissing, which caused him to lose a role on a television show. He recalled an incident involving a wardrobe assistant and a modesty sock required for a simulated sex scene.
“They came to my trailer and the wardrobe lady says, ‘Excuse me, would you like to be wearing a sock for the scene?’ I remember, I said, ‘I’m from Cape Cod and I don’t wear socks. I’ve never worn socks. I’m a loafer and no socks guy.’ She’s like, ‘What?’ And she closed the door and she walks away.”
A producer then clarified the request, leading to a standoff.
“They said, ‘Well, unless you do it, we’re gonna have to replace you,’”
McDonough recalled.
“I’m like, ‘Well, then replace me because I’m not gonna do it.’ And they fired me.”
The Aftermath of Being Fired and Its Emotional Toll
Flying home from Albuquerque after being dismissed, McDonough remembered the moment as a stark turning point.
“I remember flying home from Albuquerque and flying over the desert in New Mexico and realizing, ‘Okay, I just got fired from a TV show. I’d have a better chance of surviving in that desert than surviving when I land in Hollywood.’ And I was right.”
The ordeal was painful and costly, further complicated by legal action from the production company against him.
Sticking to His Principles Despite the Costs
Despite the setbacks, McDonough affirmed that his choices aligned with his personal and spiritual beliefs. He said,
“I knew I did the right thing for my marriage. I knew I did the right thing for [God]. And I knew I did the right thing for me.”
Past Incidents Confirming His Boundaries
In 2019, McDonough told Closer Weekly he was dropped from the ABC series Scoundrels in 2010 for his refusal to participate in intimate scenes, confirming a longstanding pattern of holding firm to his boundaries in Hollywood projects.
Incorporating His Wife Into His Latest Film Project
For his new film The Last Rodeo, which McDonough wrote, directed, and stars in, he cast his wife Ruvé in the role of his on-screen partner. He explained,
“Well, my wife is really hot. She is a good-looking woman, and everything else can pale as compared to my wife, Ruvé.”
He added,
“It was financed. It was ready to go and I said, ‘I am not doing the movie unless you play my wife. Because I am not going to kiss some other woman on screen.’ And she’s like, ‘Well, I am not an actor.’ I’m like, ‘Well, you are now. So let’s go.’”
Looking Ahead: Other Projects in Progress
McDonough’s experiences underscore the tension between personal values and industry expectations in Hollywood, highlighting the risks actors face when setting firm boundaries. His ongoing work, including the series Tulsa King, will be watched closely by fans interested in how he balances his principles with a demanding career.
