‘Yellowstone’ Star Gets Candid About Losing ‘Everything’ After Refusing to Kiss Other Women Onscreen

The Hollywood celebrity established a solid career for years portraying some of the most well-known villains in movies and television. In the background, however, a very personal decision would put his determination to the test, change his course, and ultimately determine the legacy he is now building on his own terms.

Actor Neal McDonough talked candidly about how his career took a sharp turn once he decided to forego on-screen intimate encounters with other women in a July 30 episode of the “Nothing Left Unsaid” podcast.

McDonough, who is well-known for his memorable parts in “Boomtown” and “Desperate Housewives,” talked about a trying time in his life and profession that he called “transformative.”

McDonough remarked, “I’d always had in my contracts that I wouldn’t kiss another woman on screen,” after giving his choice some thought.

Additionally, my wife had no issues with it. Actually, I was the one with the issue. “Yeah, I don’t want to put you through it,” I said. We’re going to establish a family, and I don’t want to cause my children any hardship.”

His personal and professional lives were impacted by that decision, nevertheless. The “Yellowstone” star described how the business responded when he was asked to elaborate on the consequences of his position.

“For me, intimacy is something completely different. Hollywood simply turned against me and refused to let me continue to be a part of the show when I refused to do it and they couldn’t understand why.

I lost everything you can think of, and I was unable to find employment for two years. Not just homes and possessions, but your confidence, your poise, your identity, everything,” he said.

Beyond money loss, he characterized the two years as an emotional crisis. “My identity was an actor and a really good one,” he disclosed. “And once you don’t have that identity, you’re kind of lost in a tailspin.”

According to McDonough, the difficulties caused him to suffer with feelings of being misinterpreted and marginalized in his career, which ultimately resulted in the development of a drinking problem.

Nevertheless, McDonough managed to go forward. “Sometimes you need to be crucified in life to realize what life is really about,” he said, attributing his current success to the tribulations.

It has to do with family. It has to do with God. During your limited time here, it is important to consider what you can do to improve the planet.

His family and faith played a crucial role in his healing. The difference was significant, according to McDonough, who stopped drinking and resumed regular church attendance.

The clouds “literally parted,” he remembered. ‘Oh, I don’t need this crutch,’ I thought. Oh, I’m getting calls. Oh, I’ve succeeded. Yes, I do enjoy myself once more. Alright, I have a task to do and I am God’s child.

“At 59 years old, I’m more busy than I’ve ever been in my whole life because I have this clarity,” he continued, expressing a fresh sense of purpose and clarity. I’ve got a vision and a goal.

McDonough just starred in “The Last Rodeo,” which he also wrote and produced, completing the circle. He was able to play a character who reflected his own principles, which was a change from his typical evil performances. A rare on-screen kiss did occur in the movie, though, and only under one specific circumstance.

Ruve McDonough, McDonough’s wife, was cast as his character’s deceased spouse in order to respect his boundaries. He said, “I said, I’m not doing the movie unless you play my wife because I’m not going to kiss some other woman on screen.”

Despite not being an actress by trade, Ruve has modeling experience and gave a confident performance. “She crushed it,” McDonough said, adding that it was a significant high point in his career to be able to experience that moment on screen with his real-life wife.

The relationship between the two remains a pillar of McDonough’s life. The actor marked almost 20 years of marriage with a personal tribute in an Instagram picture from June 2023. “YES! YES! YES!” she said. Again, YES! 23 years together and nearly 20 years married. Asking Ruve to be my soulmate and life partner was the best choice I have ever made.

McDonough has been outspoken about his views on on-screen intimacy throughout the years. He acknowledged that his dedication to his wife had a direct impact on the parts he took on—and the ones he lost—in a January 2019 Closer Weekly piece.

According to the article, McDonough’s refusal to appear in romantic sequences led to his termination from the ABC drama “Scoundrels” in 2010. He said at the time, “I won’t kiss any other woman because these lips are meant for one woman,” alluding to his wife.

McDonough’s career includes work in theater, cinema, television, and voice acting, away from the limelight of personal headlines.

Among his cinematic credits are “Walking Tall,” “Minority Report,” “Star Trek: First Contact,” and his well-known performance in “Band of Brothers.”

He most recently played Daddy Warbucks in “Annie” and Whitey Bulger in “Finding Whitey” at Boston’s Wilbur Theatre.

He is also a versatile voice actor, having voiced Bruce Banner in “The Incredible Hulk” and characters in well-known video games like “Call of Duty: Zombies.” Audiences have also grown accustomed to his voice thanks to advertising campaigns for Cadillac and Fidelity.

Based on the same values that once sent Hollywood away, Neal McDonough’s career is still going strong and developing despite the obstacles that once kept him out of the spotlight.