Taylor Sheridan, the creative force behind hit series like "Yellowstone," revealed that a combination of meager pay and a perceived lack of respect from producers was the primary reason he quit acting on "Sons of Anarchy" and ultimately moved away from on-screen roles.
During an appearance on "The Howard Stern Show," Sheridan, 56, recounted his experience on the FX biker drama, which aired from 2008 to 2014. Despite the show's success, Sheridan said he earned insufficient wages to cover his living expenses in Los Angeles. "I would literally leave the set and go to my other job, because I didn’t make enough on that show to pay my rent and live," he stated.
Sheridan portrayed local police chief David Hale for the first two seasons of "Sons of Anarchy." He claimed he was paid significantly less than his co-stars, including Charlie Hunnam and Ron Perlman. Sheridan sought to earn the same $20,000 per episode as the series regulars but was reportedly met with resistance. "They said, ‘We’ll give you [$15,000], and we’ll guarantee you 10 episodes, that’s all you’re getting,'" Sheridan told Stern. He calculated that this offer did not represent a raise and was unacceptable.
According to Sheridan, his attorney was informed that his role was replaceable, with the producers stating, "We just don’t have to pay him because there’s 50 of that dude; I can recast him tomorrow."
Feeling disrespected, Sheridan informed the network after Season 2 concluded that he would not return for the following season under those terms. Hale's character was subsequently written off "Sons of Anarchy" in the Season 3 premiere in 2010, dying after being struck by a car in a drive-by shooting.
Sheridan's career trajectory shifted dramatically after his departure from the series. Following his work writing the 2015 Oscar-nominated film "Sicario," he created the immensely popular "Yellowstone," which ran for five seasons. He has since developed and showruns other successful series such as "Landman" and "The Madison," attracting major Hollywood talent.
While Sheridan largely transitioned to writing and producing, he has not entirely abandoned acting. He has taken on minor roles in his own shows, including "Yellowstone" and "Lioness." "Call it pride or ego or integrity, but I just realized I’ve maxed out what I can do as an actor in this industry," Sheridan explained. "So I’m not going to try to do it anymore. And the people who have all the power are the people telling stories, so I’m going to tell my own stories. That’s when I decided that I was going to write."
In October 2025, reports indicated Sheridan entered into a $1 billion deal with NBC Universal, moving from Paramount. He has also been critical of studio executives, stating in a separate interview that they understand "nothing."