Neil McDonough’s Perspective on Hollywood

Neil McDonough is determined to stay connected with his brother’s band in Hollywood.

At 59, he has reiterated a previous sentiment that the industry distanced itself from him after he refused to kiss his co-stars.

During a recent interview with TMZ, McDonough’s wife, Leve Robertson, emphasized that Hollywood didn’t truly abandon him. She stated, “The right people found Neil and kept him in the right place.”

They expressed their gratitude for Hollywood, wishing to continue sharing their message. Robertson noted, “We don’t want Hollywood to turn around.”

McDonough echoed his wife’s feelings, maintaining that the conversations about past events are ongoing. He mentioned, “If things had gone differently, we wouldn’t be here. Those challenges brought us closer together.”

The couple, who are parents to sons Morgan and James and daughters Katherine, London, and Clover, reflected on how their children would feel if they saw their father in intimate scenes.

Robertson acknowledged, “If they see their dad kissing another woman, it’s going to hurt them.” They’ve even joked about how they would explain swearing in movies to their younger kids.

Richardson highlighted the joy and fulfillment they feel during McDonough’s career in entertainment. “We can’t express how blessed we are,” she said. “All this talk about Hollywood sidelining Neil is just what’s happening.”

Earlier this week, on the “Nothing Left” podcast, McDonough shared insights from his two-decade journey in the industry. He stated, “I won’t kiss another woman on screen, and my wife was supportive. I had the real issue with it.” He reminisced about their decisions and the impact of having kids on his choices.

Despite his strong stance, not everyone understood McDonough’s perspective. “Intimacy means something different to me, and when I refused to go along, Hollywood completely turned me away,” he admitted, noting the two-year gap in his career that followed. It had a profound effect on his identity as an actor.

McDonough acknowledged that, following that period, his work included roles in shows like “The Brothers’ Band,” “Arrow,” and “Justified,” but he also began to struggle with alcohol off set.

He explained, “I never drank on set because I take my craft seriously, but afterward, it felt like I was losing myself.”

It was a turning point when he decided to quit drinking, leading to a significant shift in his life. “Everything changed,” he reflected. “I realized I didn’t need those crutches, and suddenly, I was getting calls again.”

McDonough, who married Robertson in 2003, didn’t specify which show he felt he was let go from due to his personal principles.

In previous statements, he revealed that he lost a role in the ABC drama “The Villain” because of his beliefs regarding intimacy. “It was a tough situation, and afterward, everyone viewed me as overly religious,” he shared, indicating that faith and family are his top priorities.

Fortunately, a producer from “Brothers’ Band” helped him get his career back on track.

“Graham Yost reached out to me, saying he wanted me to play the villain in ‘Justified.’ I knew this was my opportunity,” he recalled.

Recently, there’s been a shift in Hollywood regarding on-screen intimacy. In his upcoming film, “The Last Rodeo,” Robertson plays McDonough’s on-screen wife, which adds a personal touch to their professional collaboration.

“She was amazing in the film and sharing that moment with my real-life wife was incredibly fulfilling,” McDonough expressed during the podcast.