Veteran actor Neal McDonough recently claimed that Hollywood "turned on him" after he refused to have an on-screen kiss with another woman.
Throughout his career in film and TV, McDonough has played both villainous roles and key supporting characters, whether it's Malcolm Beck on Yellowstone, Dum Dum Dugan in the MCU, or Damien Darhk in the CW's Arrowverse shows. In recent years, he has starred in various independent films and had supporting roles in Taylor Sheridan and Ryan Murphy shows.
Why is Neal McDonough Claiming That Hollywood Has Turned on Him?
In an interview on the Nothing Left Unsaid podcast (via TMZ), McDonough shared that he always has a clause in his contracts where he is not allowed to kiss another woman on-screen in respect to his wife.
"I’d always had in my contracts [that] I wouldn’t kiss another woman on screen. My wife didn’t have any problem with it. It was me, really, who had a problem with it," he said.
However, the veteran actor also claimed that the rule has cost him some roles, and Hollywood has allegedly turned on him as a result.
"When I couldn’t do it, and they couldn’t understand it, Hollywood just completely turned on me. They wouldn’t let me be part of the show anymore," McDonough continued.
"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. 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."
What Are Neal McDonough's Upcoming Projects?
Despite the hurdles that he experienced in Hollywood, McDonough is still active in the business, as he continues to work on various films and TV shows.
He recently starred in the drama film The Rodeo, where he also serves as co-writer and co-producer. He is starring in the upcoming horror-thriller film The Monster, with no release date set yet.
Last year, he reunited with Sheridan to star in the second season of Tulsa King, where he played the villainous role of Cal Thresher. It is unknown whether he will return in the third season.
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