- Neal McDonough is a Christian man who has been through difficult times in his career.
- He was blacklisted in Hollywood for standing his ground.
- Neal eventually overcame the hurdles, and his acting career has since soared.
Neal McDonough has had his fair share of disappointments throughout his Hollywood career. He has lost many things and has been lost roles because of what he stands for, but his faith never wavered.
Neal McDonough grew up in a Christian household in Boston, Massachusetts, and is one of six children. The showbiz star’s family originally hails from Ireland, as his father immigrated to the US in 1947.
Neal’s family is Catholic, and he and his siblings were raised always to do the right thing. As a child, he went through many challenges, and he recalled:
“My 10-year-old self, my 11-year-old self, I remember, was kind of a mess. I had dyslexia. I had a speech impediment. I was kind of chunky. And that’s all that I really had.”
Once he got to high school, things did not get any better. He struggled to make teams and had no idea what was going on in life. Things started to look up for him after he played Snoopy in the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” where he got a standing ovation.
That was when Neal realized what he wanted to do with his life: acting. But a religious retreat made him more in tune with himself as he discovered his uniqueness.
It took a while for him to build his confidence, especially after moving to Hollywood and trying to make an impression with his craft.
But Neal’s iconic role in the mini-war drama series, “Band of Brothers,” propelled him to make his mark in show business. He became himself on-screen, and after becoming confident, he started to believe that everything is possible through faith.
Neal Gets Candid about His Rollercoaster Acting Journey
After finding his footing in the entertainment industry, things went awry again. Neal has claimed that in 2010, he was fired three days into filming the ABC series, “Scoundrels,” after refusing to shoot a sex scene.
Although the show only aired for one season, he revealed that he was blacklisted from the industry as a result, and his life came to a halt:
“There was a time when I wasn’t working. I couldn’t get a job because people thought I was this crazy religious guy. But that wasn’t the case. I love my wife, but I love my acting too.”
While on the hit show, the actor had a no-kissing rule, leading the creator, Marc Cherry, to make adjustments to accommodate his character in his writing. Neal once said:
“I won’t kiss any other woman because these lips are meant for one woman.”
Still, irrespective of his stance, after being shown the door on “Scoundrels,” he reportedly experienced tough times. The television star found it challenging to find acting gigs while also trying to stay faithful to his religious and ethical beliefs.
In a recent interview, Neal recalled how he was crucified after championing his faith in Hollywood, saying it was an “incredibly painful” experience while adding:
“I didn’t work for two years. I lost everything: house, cars, this, that. It was one of the most brutal times in my life for sure.”
He drowned his sorrows in alcohol until, one day, he asked God why he had forsaken him. He fell to his knees, weeping while beating himself up for thinking selfishly instead of being grateful for what he had. But at that moment, he also received a call to play a villain in the television show, “Justified,” in 2012.
Following that window of opportunity to get back on his feet, Neal divulged all was forgotten after that. He told himself that he wanted to give it his all, and he did:
“I came out of it on the other side. I’ve been working so much in the last several years, and I couldn’t be more thankful.”
Neal will not let his God-given talent go to waste. He is now able to co-create projects while juggling his acting career. The movie star is content with how things are and is proud of what he has achieved.
During his most recent televised interview, Neal spoke candidly about his latest film role in “The Shift,” wherein he stars as The Benefactor, aka Lucifer. It is a faith-based film from the Book of Job produced by Angel Studios.
The “Yellowstone” star admitted his stint in the movie changed his life. He now thinks differently and has honed his acting skills while portraying his character, which is still likable, though he plays the devil.
The movie follows a man named Kevin (Kristoffer Polaha) who encounters Lucifer, who challenges him to endure trials and tribulations to return to his normal life.
Neal explained that everyone goes through dark times in life and that it is through how one overcomes them that it dictates the type of person they are for God.
The “Suits” alum said films such as “The Shift” make one realize that life should not be taken for granted. Because we live on borrowed time, he believes in making the best of it by being the best version of oneself.
Interestingly, his character in the movie deviates from that, so trying to portray the role as authentic as possible tested his acting abilities.
Neal on Sobriety & His Love for His Wife
After getting his career back on track, Neal finally became sober and has been for eight years now. He said the last few years of his sobriety have been much better than the previous 49 years of his life:
“I couldn’t be happier. I’m blessed. I got a woman who adores me, and I adore her. And she forgives me for my failures and builds me to be a better man than I could ever be every single day.”
Neal met his film producer wife, Ruvé McDonough, more than 20 years ago in England. The first time he looked at her, he knew she was the woman he would marry and spend the rest of his life with.
The couple wed in December 2003 and have been married for 23 years. Neal and Ruvé welcomed five children together. Asked whether they would be following in his acting footsteps, the father of five revealed the duo’s 13-year-old daughter, London McDonough, has shown interest in acting.
Ruve McDonough (2nd from L), Neal McDonough (C) and family at the Wagmor Pets Inaugural Pet Gala at Yamashiro Hollywood on June 27, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
As for their other kids, they participate in sports at school and are doing well in terms of grades. The family patriarch gushed about what his children with Ruvé have achieved. “It’s pretty remarkable,” he said.
Neal has passed down his morals, work ethic, and beliefs to his kids. His wife is also a devout Christian herself. The pair put God before themselves and are driven by their faith in everything they do.
(L-R) Ruve McDonough, Neal McDonough, and family at the Los Angeles premiere of “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” 2022 | Source: Getty Images
Neal often talks about his relationship with God, whether at a Comic Con or on any platform. He said we are all his creation no matter which backgrounds we come from or what we believe in, and that makes us all brothers and sisters.
