Taylor Sheridan Reveals The Real Reason He Left “Sons of Anarchy”
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The popular crime drama Sons of Anarchy became a massive success among television viewers over a decade ago. Premiering in 2008, the show ran for seven seasons before wrapping up in 2014.
Created by Kurt Sutter, the show starred Charlie Hunnam as Jax Teller. Jax portrayed a motorcycle club member who struggled to change the direction of his organization while navigating a dangerous world of criminal activity.
Jax was seen as a conflicted character who wanted to protect his family while building a more hopeful future. He repeatedly found himself at the center of trying to futher himself personally while remaining loyal to the club.
By the third season, the show became FX’s highest-rated season, seeing an average of 4.9 million viewers per week.
Taylor Sheridan Explains Why He Left Sons Of Anarchy
Before becoming the creative mastermind behind the hit series Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan was an actor on Sons of Anarchy.
Sheridan portrayed Deputy Chief David Hale on the show, a law enforcement officer in a quaint little California town. His character, who appeared during the earlier seasons, frequently clashed with the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club.
Despite the show’s success, Sheridan eventually left acting and that decision ultimately helped him launch his incredibly lucrative career in producing.
During a recent interview with Howard Stern on The Howard Stern Show, Sheridan revealed the real reason behind why he decided to move on from Sons of Anarchy.
According to the producer, his career took a different direction following a dispute over compensation. While speaking to Sterm, Sheridan admits that he had to keep another job in addition to the show just to stay afloat.
“I literally would leave the set of that show and go to my other job, cause I didn’t make enough on that show to pay my rent and live,” Sheridan said. “So, after season 2, I told them, ‘Guys, I’m not coming back and doing this again for this price. I’m just not doing it.’ ” He didn’t want what stars like Hunnam, Ron Perlman and Katey Sagal were getting, but what the other “11 guys” were receiving.”
Sheridan recalled how his attorney pushed back against a business affairs executive over the pay being offered. The lawyer pointed out that even children making cooking videos on YouTube were earning more money.
After the producer apparently told him the company had plenty of people who could fill the same role, Sheridan realized that he was “eminently replaceable” and the business didn’t respect him.
“So, I quit the show. I told him, I said, ‘Look, whether you want to call it pride or ego or integrity, I don’t know what you call it, but I just realized I’ve maxed out what I can do as an actor in this industry. So, I’m not going to try to do it anymore,” Sheridan recalled.
It’s safe to say things ultimately worked out for Sheridan, as Yellowstone has become one of the most successful series on television. Eventually, he did return to acting, but on his own shows. Sheridan played Travis Wheatley on Yellowstone, Charles Goodnight in 1883 and Cody Spears in of Lioness.
You can watch Taylor Sheridan’s interview with Howard Stern below.
