Yellowstone star Neal McDonough is stepping back after claiming this week that his career in Hollywood was ruined by his unwillingness to kiss women other than his wife on screen.
The 59-year-old actor had claimed on Wednesday on the Nothing Left Unsaid podcast that he ‘lost everything’ after getting fired from ABC’s Scoundrels, which allegedly made him persona non grata in the film and television industry.
But with his wife Ruvé Robertson by his side, McDonough claimed that being ejected from that series due to his moral code actually helped him to have a better, more meaningful career.
While speaking to TMZ on Thursday, Robertson emphasized that her message now is ‘Thank you, Hollywood,’ and she said the industry never ‘turned it’s back’ on her husband.
Robertson — a South African–born model, actress and producer whom McDonough tied the knot with in 2003 — noted her husband’s multiple collaborations with Steven Spielberg, which included major roles in his film Minority Report and the HBO miniseries Band Of Brothers, which Spielberg co-created with Tom Hanks.
The legendary filmmaker was also a producer on Flags Of Our Fathers, which McDonough appeared in for another acclaimed director, Clint Eastwood.
Yellowstone star Neal McDonough retracted his claims that his refusal to kiss women other than his wife on screen led to a career tailspin when he and his wife Ruvé Robertson chatted with TMZ on Thursday; seen May 12 in Fort Worth, Texas
McDonough claimed getting fired from ABC’s Scoundrels over his moral code helped him have a better career, and Robertson (L) emphasized that her message now is ‘Thank you, Hollywood’ because the industry never ‘turned it’s back’ on her husband; seen May 12
‘The right people found Neal and put him in the right places,’ Robertson continued, adding that McDonough wanted to ‘continue doing incredible films.’
She added that her husband’s temporary career troubles ‘guided’ him to the solid footing that he is on now.
‘We cannot explain how blessed we are and how happy we are,’ she said, before noting that they had been happily together for 25 years and shared five children.
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‘We are so fortunate,’ McDonough chimed in.
The couple even mused that they might not be together today if he had been kissing other actresses on set, as they attributed his moral code to helping to strengthen their marriage.
Their affection was unmissable, and Robertson interrupted her statement to give her husband a cute smooch on the lips, while he broke into song later in the interview.
Robertson concluded by saying they hoped that her husband’s enduring popularity could inspire other actors earlier in their careers, as well as people dealing with other personal struggles.
She also pointed out how Hollywood had played an instrumental role in helping McDonough get sober years earlier, and his success had allowed them to create their own production company.
In another clip, Robertson defended the couple’s strict moral code, and she claimed that their children get concerned just hearing their father swearing in movies and shows, much less get intimate with other women.
‘The right people found Neal and put him in the right places,’ Robertson continued, adding that McDonough wanted to ‘continue doing incredible films.’ She noted his multiple collaborations with Steven Spielberg, including a major role on Band Of Brothers (pictured)
added that her husband’s temporary career troubles ‘guided’ him to the solid footing that he is on now. ‘We cannot explain how blessed we are and how happy we are,’ she said, before noting that they had been happily together for 25 years and shared five children; seen July 8 in LA
Robertson concluded by saying they hoped that her husband’s enduring popularity could inspire other actors earlier in their careers, as well as people dealing with other personal struggles; pictured in Minority Report
Robertson joked that they would fib in the past and tell their children that McDonough’s voice had been dubbed over whenever they heard him curse on screen.
McDonough previously suggested that his refusal to kiss women other than his wife was a death knell for his Hollywood career.
The veteran performer chatted on Wednesday’s edition of the podcast Nothing Left Unsaid, opening up about a years-long slide he said was due to his strict adherence to his marital vows.
‘I’d always had in my contracts that I wouldn’t kiss another woman on screen,’ the Boston-born actor and strict Catholic told the podcast hosts Tim Green and Troy Green.
McDonough played the role of Malcolm Beck on six episodes of Yellowstone in 2019.
McDonough clarified that the contractual demand was at his behest, and not that of his spouse Ruvé McDonough, who he’s been wed to since 2003 and shares five children with.
‘My wife didn’t have any problem with it — it was me, really, who had a problem with it,’ said McDonough, who’s been seen on TV shows such as Desperate Housewives, Tulsa King and Meghan Markle’s one-time show Suits.
McDonough said it was impossible for Hollywood producers to get that he was dead serious about his demand — and they quickly stopped using him as a result.
McDonough previously claimed his refusal to kiss women other than his wife was a death knell for his Hollywood career; pictured with Kevin Costner on Yellowstone in 2019
McDonough clarified that the contractual demand was at his behest, and not that of his spouse Ruvé McDonough, who he’s been wed to since 2003. Pictured in 2022 in Monte Carlo
‘When I wouldn’t do it… they couldn’t understand,’ McDonough said of his refusal to kiss other women on camera. ‘Hollywood just completely turned on me, and they wouldn’t let me be part of the show anymore.
‘For two years, I couldn’t get a job and I lost everything you could possibly imagine.’
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McDonough’s movie credits include Star Trek: First Contact, Red 2 and Guns & Moses. He also starred as Lynn ‘Buck’ Compton in HBO’s war drama Band of Brothers (2001).
He said that the loss of work resulted in a domino effect in which everything dear to him began slipping away.
‘Not just houses [and] material things, but your swagger, your cool, who you are, your identity – everything,’ McDonough said.
‘My identity was an actor, and a really good one.’
McDonough said that the problems lingered for an extended period.
‘Once you don’t have that identity, you’re kind of lost in a tailspin,’ McDonough said.
McDonough’s Ruvé portrayed the role of his wife Rose Wainwright in the movie, and the two did kiss onscreen. Pictured in 2022
‘And I was in a big, ugly tailspin for a couple of years.’
McDonough’s most recent role came in the May feature film The Last Rodeo, which he was a writer on and played the lead role of Joe Wainwright.
His spouse Ruvé portrayed the role of his wife Rose Wainwright in the movie, and the two did kiss onscreen.
Prior to acting in the role, Ruvé, a native of South Africa, had a background in fashion modeling and film production.
The rodeo drama also starred Mykelti Williamson, Sarah Jones, Graham Harvey and Christopher McDonald.