‘Yellowstone’ Star Reveals How Hollywood ‘Turned’ on Him Over Kiss Refusal

Neal McDonough is sharing the cost of staying true to his values in Hollywood. The 59-year-old “Yellowstone” actor recently revealed how his career took a devastating hit when he refused to compromise on a deeply personal boundary that he’d maintained throughout his time in the entertainment industry.

During an appearance on the “Nothing Left Unsaid” podcast, McDonough explained the contract clause that would eventually derail his career for several years. His decision wasn’t driven by his wife’s concerns, but rather his own convictions about maintaining certain boundaries in his professional work.

“I’d always had in my contracts that I wouldn’t kiss another woman on screen,” McDonough told hosts Tim Green and Troy Green. “My wife didn’t have any problem with it. It was me, really, who had a problem with it.”

The “Band of Brothers” star explained that his commitment to his family and his desire to protect his children from seeing their father in compromising situations on screen motivated his decision. He and South African model Ruvé Robertson have been married since 2003 and share five children together.

“I was like, ‘Yeah, I don’t want to put you through it. I know we’re gonna start having kids,’ and I didn’t wanna put my kids through it,” he shared during the podcast interview.

The Professional Fallout

McDonough’s stance on intimacy in his work eventually led to what he describes as complete rejection from the industry. When producers couldn’t understand his position, they made the decision to remove him from projects rather than accommodate his requests.

“Intimacy is a whole different thing for me. When I wouldn’t do it and they couldn’t understand it, Hollywood just completely turned on me and they wouldn’t let me be part of the show anymore,” he explained.

While McDonough didn’t specify which show led to his firing during the podcast, he previously revealed to Closer Weekly in 2019 that he lost his role on the ABC drama series “Scoundrels” in 2010 because he refused to film intimate scenes.

The consequences extended far beyond losing a single job. McDonough found himself unemployed for two years, during which time he lost not only material possessions but also his sense of identity and purpose.

“I couldn’t get a job and I lost everything you could possibly imagine,” he shared on the podcast. “Not just houses, material things, but your swagger, your cool, who you are, your identity, everything. My identity was an actor, and a really good one, and once you don’t have that identity, you’re kind of in a tailspin.”

Finding His Way Back

The challenging period took a toll on McDonough’s mental health and led him to increase his alcohol consumption as he struggled with feelings of inadequacy. However, he maintained his professional standards even during this difficult time.

“I never drank during the set. I never drank during work because I love my craft and I take it with the utmost seriousness in everything I do,” he explained. “But after work or days off or anything, I still feel like I wasn’t a man.”

McDonough’s career eventually found new life when “Band of Brothers” producer Graham Yost reached out with an opportunity on the series “Justified.” This role became his pathway back into mainstream Hollywood projects.

Today, McDonough has appeared in numerous successful productions, including “Yellowstone,” “Tulsa King,” “Arrow,” and “American Horror Story.” According to Celebrity Net Worth, his net worth is estimated at $4 million after a career spanning over 35 years.

Interestingly, McDonough found a creative solution to his no-kissing rule in his recent film “The Last Rodeo,” where his real-life wife Ruvé played his on-screen spouse, allowing them to share a kiss that aligned with his personal values.