I’ve got to tell you first off that this is not an April Fool’s joke. This is a real life morality tale coming out of Hollywood. Now, Hollywood isn’t typically the place where we often find tales of moral strength, on screen or in real life. But character actor Neal McDonough isn’t your typical actor.
He has one of those faces you know from television and movies. He’s probably most remembered for his roles in “Band of Brothers” and the movie “Minority Report.” Last year he had a recurring role on “Desperate Housewives” as the resident lunatic on Wisteria Lane and this year he landed a starring role on an ABC series. That’s a huge break for any actor.
But just this week, McDonough was suddenly replaced by another actor while filming “Scoundrels.” Why? Because McDonough refused to do some “heated love scenes” for the show.
According to reports, McDonough has always made it clear that he won’t do sex scenes because he’s a Catholic family man.
Deadline reports:
“It has cost him jobs, but the man is sticking to his principles,” a source explained to me. You can’t help but admire McDonough for sticking to his beliefs, even if he’s poised to lose as much as $1 million in paydays…
That’s pretty amazing. For many people, $1 million would buy at least a little moral gray area. For this story to come out of Hollywood is especially amazing.
It seems to me that in this day and age it’s pretty remarkable that someone doesn’t leave their morals at the door of their workplace. I think some politicians who separate their morality with their work could learn a little something from Neal McDonough. Maybe we all could.
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Check him out in Sci-Fi’s Wizard of Oz, TinMan. Nice show for older teens and up. If you have Netflix you can even watch it now. Nice to know that he’s a good man as well as a good actor.
Refreshing!
Wow… since I’m pregnant and overly sensitive/crazy, I’ve been convinced that the world is going to end before my baby is born due to the moral crumbling I see EVERYDAY! This gives me hope! :-) Seriously though… this is a wonderful thing. I just wish more in Hollywood/politics/normal life were like this!
I am an observant orthodox Jew who has a deep and profound respect for religious people of all faiths. I am impressed with this story, this actor and the comments I have seen thus far on this blog.
David
It’s good that he acknowledges that acting in sex scenes is sinful, even though it’s “just acting”. I was just thinking of this after watching Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw rolling around in bed together in the otherwise excellent movie The Blind Side.
James Caviezel kind of did the same thing, this is from the IMDB page, also herd him say it in a interview,
While filming High Crimes (2002), he refused to do any love scenes with on-screen wife Ashley Judd because it conflicted with his strong Catholic faith
Bravo!
I am really impressed with this. Great to hear! Stay strong, Neal. You are supported in your faith and admired.
Very cool!
Good for him.
Also, I really enjoyed Tinman.
May your tribe increase!!!
I wish more actors and actresses carried integrity and high principals. I also wish writers and directors didn’t show such steamy sex scenes. Most often it’s not necessary and detracts from what would otherwise be a good story. Here’s a couple of pats on Neal’s back for standing up for the values he believes in: faith, wife, family. I’m sure his consience is clean and he sleeps well at night.
The media is quick enough to report an immoral act by high profile individuals but will allow this to pass unnoticed - here is a man that could and should be an example to all of us in living our faith. God Bless him. Dcn. Geary
MAY YOU BE REWARDED IN WAYS NEVER DREAMED OF BECAUSE OF YOUR FAITHFULNESS. GOD IS NEVER OUTDONE IN GENEROSITY. GOD BLESS YOU.
BEA
In his incisive work “The Book of Proverbs,” Rabbi W. Gunther Plaut, makes this observation in connection with Proverbs 2: “Note that perversity can first be recognized in a man’s speech. The dirty mind first shows itself in dirty speech. Jewish culture has been remarkably free from the curse of lewd stories, which form the repertoire of morally dulled ‘entertainers’ and are tolerated by equally dulled audiences.”
Would that other actors follow Neal McDonough, and refuse to join the ranks of morally dulled.
So why did Neal even work on Desparate Housewives? Garbage TV #1
I would have to agree with Frankie.
If McDonough is a Catholic man who states he will not lower himself to the immoral acts of love scenes, why would he even work on Housewives? Anyone who works for the show Housewives, or for that matter any immoral show out there, is condoning it, saying that they are okay with the show, even if they are not the one in bed with someone elses wife! Speaking out of two sides of his mouth.
Well, I guess he has made one good stand, now let’s pray he’s convicted by the Holy Spirit to recognize the Truth in all matters and leave Housewives.
Hang in there Neal. Thank you sooo much for the great example. It is refreshing to hear about your conviction. Your wife has got to feel like a princess! I am sure God will bless both of you for your sacrifices. I pray for the conversion of souls in Hollywood and the media often. May God be close to you!
WAY TO GO NEAL!!!!! We need more people in all parts of life that have such good strong moral backbones! God bless you Neal and I hope that other Catholics in the business will follow your excellent example and that the execs will wake up and take notice that we are sick and tired of garbage being thrown at us and being called entertainment.
Neal, you are my and every wife’s hero! And I’m certain that your wife loves you for witnessing that she is worth more than $1,000,000.
Oh my gosh, when are we gonna stop idolizing celebrities for moral choices!?!?! they are not supposed to inspire us to be moral, they are to entertain us!!! That’s it, that’s their job!!! We all wanted to canonize Mel Gibson after he made the Passion of the Christ (By the way, the woman who played Mary Madelan in that movie has posed nude for magazines) but then he got drunk and made catholics everywhere cringe. Then we were overjoyed to hear that Nicole Kidman was a faithful catholic, until she did the movie “The golden compass”, an anti-religion and anti-god book and movie series. This guy will, sooner or later, take a dive somehow and comprimise on his morals and then we will all get on here talking about how terrible he is to do whatever he did. See ya all when this happens…..
I came upon this article today after watching Neal McDonough do a nude scene on Justified last night (was it Neal or a double?). Living in New Orleans must of my life and seeing first hand how people willingly downgrade themselves, I am completely turned off by nudity. Many do not consider this entertainment but vile behavior disrespecting one’s body. Why must people expose themselves? There is no reason for anyone to display themselves. I read that Neal was a good Catholic who respects his wife and family. That is not what I saw last night. First and last time watching Justified. I have not respect for actors. This world has fallen.
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