Neal McDonough, known for his acting roles, has a firm stance against performing intimate scenes, going as far as to avoid on-screen kissing.
Many actors have specific conditions or clauses in their contracts about what they will or won't do.
For instance, in the Fast and Furious series, action stars like Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, and Jason Statham all had agreements to receive an 'equal' amount of pain, ensuring none appeared to lose a fight, which posed unique challenges for production.
For McDonough, his decision to not kiss another woman on screen isn't about preserving an action star image but is rooted in his religious beliefs.
He's been quite open about this, stating, "I won't kiss any other woman because these lips are only for one woman."
He believes that even a scripted kiss would be infidelity under his religious views.
McDonough's love story began on the set of Band of Brothers, where he met his wife, Ruvé, in 2000.
For him, it was love at first sight.
The couple tied the knot in December 2003, three years after meeting, and have since welcomed five children.
However, McDonough's no-intimacy rule has impacted his career.
He shared with Closer Weekly how he was fired from the ABC series Scoundrels because of his stance.
"I was [surprised], and it was a horrible situation for me," he said.
"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."
Now, McDonough ensures his position is understood upfront to prevent similar issues.
When cast in Desperate Housewives, he informed creator Marc Cherry of his rule.
"When Marc Cherry signed me, I told him, 'You probably already know this, but I won't kiss anyone.'"
"'But this is Desperate Housewives!' Cherry said. I told him, 'I know.' He waited for a few seconds and then responded, 'Okay, I'll just have to write better.'"
McDonough feels fortunate in his career and personal life.
He expressed his gratitude, saying, "I'm the luckiest guy I know to have her as my partner in everything after five kids and a great life."
