Hollywood actor Neal McDonough is out of a job after refusing to take part in sex scenes as part of a production, a decision the actor says he made out of respect for his Catholic faith.
McDonough is perhaps best known for his role in HBO’s Band of Brothers, where he played Lieutenant Lynn “Buck” Compton. He also played Sean Cahill on Suits, Deputy District Attorney David McNorris on Boomtown, and Dave Williams on ABC’s Desperate Housewives. He appeared on the silver screen in the films Proud Mary, Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, The Guardian, Star Trek: First Contact and several Marvel Cinematic Universe titles.
McDonough practices the Catholic faith and has strong Christian convictions. His deeply held beliefs cost him a job recently when he refused to perform sex scenes on Scoundrels, an ABC series. According the Christian Post, McDonough was fired as a direct result of his faith-based decision.
“It was a horrible situation for me,” he said. “After that, (being fired for refusing to perform sex scenes with co-star Virginia Madsen) I couldn’t get a job because everybody thought I was this religious zealot. I am very religious. I put God and family first and me second. That’s what I live by. It was hard for a few years.”
This standard of moral behavior on film or TV isn’t new for McDonough. Throughout his 30-year career, he has remained true to his “no sex scenes” policy. Even when he did his stint on the very sexualized series Desperate Housewives, he didn’t compromise.
“When Marc Cherry signed me, I said ‘I’m sure you know but I won’t kiss anybody,” McDonough added. “He was like, ‘But this is ‘Desperate Housewives!’ I said, ‘I know.’ He paused for about five seconds and said, ‘All right, I’m just going to have to write better.’ And we had a great time.”
Although McDonough was ultimately fired for standing up for his beliefs and faced a temporary blacklist as a result, he doesn’t regret his choice. He did it for his family. McDonough and his wife Ruve Robertson have been married for 16 years, and have five children together. He credits he and his wife’s relationship as part of the reason behind his “no kissing” and no sex scenes policies. As he says when he refuses to kiss coworkers, “these lips are meant for one woman.”
“Almost 20 years, five kids and just one heck of an awesome life later, to have her as my partner in everything, I’m just the most blessed guy I know,” McDonough continued. “That’s why I got to church every day and say ‘thank you’ to God for everything He’s given me. And most importantly, thank you for giving me Ruve, because without her, I most certainly would not be talking with you right now.”
McDonough represents a small but brave minority of actors and actresses who have stood up for what they believe, both spiritually and politically, sometimes forfeiting their job and facing a blacklist. Antonio Sabato Jr. is another actor who has experienced this backlash firsthand and has been barred from various projects because of conservative political leanings and the fact that he supported President Trump.
“They don’t want to say Jesus; they don’t even want to mention His name,” he explained. “It’s a shame! They need Jesus. I think Jesus needs to be more relevant to everyone in Hollywood. If you talk about this president or being conservative, you’ll be blacklisted. I was completely blacklisted from Hollywood.”
Though they are few in number, there are actors and actresses in Hollywood who will stand up for their faith and their moral leanings. Hopefully, more and more will join their ranks and begin to change the trends promoted and embraced by Hollywood’s elite.
~ 1776 Christian
