Neal McDonough discusses his decision not to watch 'Yellowstone'

<p>Neal McDonough, known for his role as Malcolm Beck in the series "Yellowstone," has stated that he has never watched the show. McDonough, 60, appeared in six episodes during Season 2 of the series.</p><p>In an appearance on the "Arroyo Grande" podcast, McDonough explained his reasons for avoiding viewing his performances. He mentioned that as a method actor, seeing his past work can evoke memories and emotions that he finds painful. "If I look at a frame of a show from 20 years ago, I know exactly the thought I was thinking. I know the song I was thinking about. I know where I was going. So going back to me sometimes can be really kind of traumatic and painful," he said.</p><p>He also noted that he often does not watch films he premieres, preferring to enjoy the event without viewing the final product. "I'll go to premieres of our films, and I'll do the red carpet. [His wife] Ruvé and I will walk in, out the exit, grab a nice dinner someplace, go to the party after. ‘How'd you like the movie?' 'It was great. It was awesome. I loved it.’ I just don't like to watch myself," he explained.</p><p>McDonough expressed confidence in his acting abilities, stating, "I was there on the day. I know I did a great job because God gave me a talent. I'm terrible at pounding nails. I'm not very good at telling jokes. But as Ruvé said, ‘Man, you can act.’ And so I don't need to look to see if it was good or not. They keep on hiring me, right? If they keep on hiring, I must be doing something right."</p><p>His choice to avoid watching "Yellowstone" is linked to a challenging period in his life, during which he felt his career was jeopardized. McDonough has claimed that he was fired from ABC's "Scoundrels" in 2010 after refusing to perform intimate scenes, which he believes negatively impacted his career and personal life.</p><p>Reflecting on that time, he said, "What time is the bar open? That was generally my thought process back then. It was, you know, fired from a show because I wouldn't kiss a woman. No one would hire me because they thought I was this religious nut bag, which is that I love my wife so much. And no one can understand it, no one could understand it."</p><p>McDonough has also discussed his struggles with alcohol during that period, noting that it became a significant issue after he felt blackballed in Hollywood. He stated, "I lost the house, lost the cars, lost everything." His wife, Ruvé, played a crucial role in his recovery, giving him an ultimatum to choose between her and alcohol.</p><p>McDonough and Ruvé have been married for nearly 23 years and have five children. They have also collaborated professionally on various projects, including "Boon," "The Warrant: Breaker's Law," "Homestead," and "The Last Rodeo." The couple met while McDonough was filming "Band of Brothers" in 2000 and married on December 1, 2003.</p>