Neal McDonough has built a career portraying antagonists across various productions, including Justified, Van Helsing, Tulsa King, and the Arrowverse. On the Paramount Network drama Yellowstone, he delivered a memorable performance as Malcolm Beck, one of the notorious Beck brothers who targeted the Dutton family in Season 2. Despite his significant role in the popular series, McDonough has never watched an episode of the show.
In a recent conversation with Raymond Arroyo on the Arroyo Grande podcast, the actor explained that he avoids viewing any of his own work because it is too painful and difficult for him. McDonough immerses himself so deeply into his characters that revisiting them becomes challenging. This habit extends to film premieres, where he and his wife, Ruvé McDonough, attend the red carpet event but leave during the actual screening before returning for the afterparty.
When asked about his reluctance to see the final product, McDonough clarified that this does not stem from a lack of confidence in his abilities. He stated that he knows he performed well because he was present on set and trusts the talent God gave him. While he admits to being poor at tasks like pounding nails or telling jokes, he acknowledges his wife's assessment that he is skilled at acting. Although he will likely never watch his portrayal of Malcolm Beck, the character remains one of the most effective villains in Yellowstone.
Beyond his viewing habits, McDonough has also expressed uncertainty regarding the fate of his character on the show. Malcolm Beck appeared in six episodes and made things personal by kidnapping John Dutton's grandson, Tate, which led to an assault on the Beck brothers and Malcolm's apparent death. However, speaking to TV Insider in 2022, McDonough questioned whether his character truly died, noting that viewers never actually saw Malcolm's eyes close.
Regardless of the ambiguity surrounding Malcolm's end, McDonough looks back fondly on his time with creator Taylor Sheridan, who he said gave him full creative freedom as a villain. He currently stars as Cal Thresher in Tulsa King, another series created by Sheridan and starring Sylvester Stallone, which has been renewed for a fifth season.
Sources: TVLine.