Actors often have a reputation of being willing to do almost anything on screen (I can say that – I am one). That could mean anything as mild as swearing, to portraying murder, to simulated sex. Some performers have limits on what they will or will not do – there are actors who won’t portray a gay person, actors who won’t take roles that demean women or minorities, actors who won’t do nudity, and so on and so forth. But one actor says he now refuses to kiss anyone on-screen who is not his wife!
Neal McDonough, who has appeared on shows like “Suits,” says that after he got married, to wife Ruve Robertson, he made the choice to no longer pucker up for the camera. A devout Catholic, he told Closer Weekly that “[his] lips are meant for only one woman.”
He married his wife in 2003, and says that their meeting two years prior was love at first sight. He even went so far as to immediately call the woman he was currently dating and break up with her. “[I] said, ‘I’m sorry, it’s not going to work out with us anymore – I just met the woman I’m going to marry.’”
He admits that, for awhile, his stance did impede his career. In 2010, he lost a role on ABC’s “Scoundrels” that would have paid him a million dollars. He was fired after three days on set. “After that, I couldn’t get a job because everybody thought I was this religious zealot.” He doesn’t deny his dedication to his faith, saying he puts God and his family ahead of himself.
After a few rough years, he says he is doing extraordinarily well now. He had a small, but memorable role in the first “Captain America” movie and had a recurring role on “Desperate Housewives” as Nicollette Sheridan’s character’s husband. Creator Marc Cherry wrote the role so that he wouldn’t ever have to kiss anyone. Today, he is starring in “Project Blue Book” on the History Channel.
He is still smitten with his wife, saying “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.” He credits his parents, both Irish immigrants, for his strong work ethic and family values.
McDonough is even grateful for the difficult times. “I think my acting got so much better because I really appreciated it. I took a shot on the chin, but I was not going to lose the fight. And it worked. My career has been phenomenal ever since.” He seems to realize how lucky he is, saying, “It’s pretty remarkable all the people I’ve gotten to work with and all the places I’ve gotten to travel to. And believe me, I appreciate every second of it.”
Besides “Project Blue Book”, you can catch McDonough in the upcoming Kevin Costner drama, and he says he has six movies in the works.
Writer Bio:
Amy Tallmadge lives in the Atlanta, Georgia area, with her husband, her two cats, and multiple incomplete craft projects. She is originally from Saskatchewan, Canada, and frequently works as an actress, voice over artist, audiobook narrator, and other fun creative things.
