Neal McDonough has opened up about a difficult time in his acting career when he was effectively blacklisted by Hollywood due to his refusal to perform on-screen kisses. This revealing account highlights how his personal convictions about intimate scenes led to professional setbacks.
The actor, known for his roles in Band of Brothers, Desperate Housewives, Minority Report, American Horror Story, and Suits, spoke candidly on the Nothing Left Unsaid podcast. McDonough explained that his insistence on a no-kissing clause in his contracts prevented him from securing prominent work for an extended period.
The Personal Reasons Behind McDonough’s No-Kissing Rule
McDonough disclosed that the decision was rooted in his own values and family plans. He stated,
I’d always had in my contracts that I wouldn’t kiss another woman on-screen. My wife didn’t really have a problem with it. It was me really who had a problem.
The actor and his wife, Ruvé Robertson, whom he has been married to since 2003, were looking ahead to raising their five children, prompting McDonough to avoid scenes he felt might affect their family dynamic.
Consequences of Standing Firm on His Artistic Boundaries
The fallout from McDonough’s stand was severe, impacting both his career and personal identity. He recalled,
For two years, I couldn’t get a job and I lost everything you could possibly imagine.
Sharing the emotional toll, he added,
My identity was an actor, and a really good one. And once you don’t have that identity, you’re kind of lost in a tailspin.
This period marked a significant challenge as McDonough grappled with the loss of his professional purpose.
McDonough’s Career Revival and Recent Work
Though McDonough did not specify exactly when this blacklisting occurred, he has since regained his footing in the entertainment industry. He recently starred in The Last Rodeo, a drama produced by Angel Studios about a former bull-riding champion. In addition, McDonough has continued to appear in popular television series such as Yellowstone, 9-1-1: Lone Star, and Tulsa King, proving his resilience and ongoing appeal as an actor.
This revelation highlights the pressures actors can face when their personal principles clash with industry expectations, and McDonough’s experience stands as an example of the high costs associated with maintaining those boundaries. His ability to return to notable projects suggests a possible shift in how such decisions are perceived moving forward.
