“Hollywood Blacklisted Me for Refusing On-Screen Kisses” — Neal McDonough Opens Up
How Neal McDonough Was Blacklisted in Hollywood for Refusing to Kiss Other Women
Hollywood veteran Neal McDonough has revealed the heavy personal price he paid for sticking to his values: being blacklisted from the industry for refusing to kiss other women on screen.
In a recent interview, McDonough explained that his commitment to his marriage led him to insert a “no-kissing clause” in his contracts. Unlike most actors, he would not film romantic or intimate scenes with anyone but his wife.
“I 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 who had the problem,” McDonough shared.
The decision, he said, was about protecting his family and staying true to his values — especially as he and his wife were planning for children.
But McDonough’s stand was not without consequences. The actor recalled being fired from a TV show after refusing to wear a “modesty sock” during a simulated sex scene.
“They wouldn’t let me be part of the show anymore. And for two years, I couldn’t get a job. I lost everything — not just houses and material things, but your swagger, your cool, your identity, everything,” he said.
For two years, he faced rejection after rejection, effectively blacklisted in Hollywood.
Despite the setbacks, McDonough said he never regretted his decision. His career turned around when producer Graham Yost offered him a role in the hit series Justified, which marked the beginning of his comeback.
Since then, McDonough has built a reputation not only as a talented actor but also as a man of principle.
He is widely known for memorable roles in Band of Brothers, Desperate Housewives, Yellowstone, and more.
Today, Neal McDonough continues to thrive in Hollywood, proving that it is possible to succeed without compromising personal values.
“At the end of the day, I’d rather be true to my family and who I am, than win roles by being someone I’m not,” he said.