It’s admirable – Neal McDonough is a loyal guy, especially to his lady love. His wife, Ruvé Robertson McDonough should appreciate this! However, McDonough went through a tough period when he was unable to get work for several years. In his contract, he states explicitly that he will not have any kissing or intimate scenes with anyone but his wife, Ruvé.
How He Met His Wife: A Love Story That Changed Everything
Neal met Ruvé when he was filming TV miniseries Band of Brothers in 2001. He later spoke to Adam Corolla on his show about when he met his wife:
I took one look at her and that was it, I knew it was destined to be for the rest of my life and I couldn’t be happier.
McDonough married Ruvè in 2003, and after 22 years of marriage, the couple has five kids. As a devout Catholic, Neal believes that his religion plays a very important part in his life.
Neal McDonough Talks About Clause
Neal had a guest appearance on Tim and son Troy Green’s podcast, Nothing Left Unsaid, and described his experience being blacklisted in Hollywood. He said “I’d always had in my contracts that I wouldn’t kiss another woman on screen. And for two years, I couldn’t get a job and I lost everything you could possibly imagine. Not just houses, material things, but your swagger, your cool, who you are, your identity. My identity was an actor, and a really good one, and once you don’t have that identity, you’re kind of in a tailspin. And I was in a big, ugly tailspin for a couple of years.”
In a 2019 Closer Weekly interview, Neal claimed he was fired from the series Scoundrels, creating even more difficulty because he refused to do an intimate scene. He was replaced by JAG alum David James Elliott. Neal, explaining further, stated “I was [surprised] and it was a horrible situation for me. After that, 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.”
Bouncing Back: Neal McDonough’s Inspiring Comeback After Career Setbacks
Thankfully, Neal has been steadily working post the Scoundrels “scandal.” Besides often acting as figures in law-enforcement and an occasional cowboy, McDonough found a role that suited him very well – Damien Darhk. He portrayed Damien on several of the CW series and fun fact, his wife’s name? Ruvé Darhk!
Besides the dark character Damien Darhk, McDonough has been staying quite busy. He has appeared in TV series Van Helsing, 9-1-1: Lone Star, Tulsa King, and Guns & Moses. He has also performed voice work.
More recently, he starred in streaming movie The Last Rodeo. McDonough both produced and acted in this. In the flick he plays Joe Wainwright, a retired rodeo rider who needs to ride again so we can earn money for his family. And who plays his wife Rose in flashbacks? None other than Ruvé! We’re happy that Neal gets to play the hero, help his character’s family – and kiss his lady love. He deserves it.
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