Neal McDonough's Surprising Star Trek Role Before Villain Fame
Before becoming Hollywood's go-to antagonist in hit shows like Yellowstone and Tulsa King, Neal McDonough played an unexpected heroic character in one of Star Trek's most acclaimed films.
Neal McDonough has built his reputation as Hollywood's master of menace, the actor who can freeze a room with just a glance. American audiences recognize him as the ruthless Malcolm Beck from Yellowstone or the calculating Cal Thresher squaring off against Sylvester Stallone in Tulsa King. These performances showcase an actor who specializes in power plays and calculated intimidation.
However, decades before Taylor Sheridan discovered his talent for portraying dangerous men, and years before Marvel fans met his Dum Dum Dugan, McDonough wore a completely different type of uniform. In 1996's Star Trek First Contact, he portrayed Lieutenant Hawk, a dedicated Starfleet officer whose brief appearance left a lasting impression. This wasn't McDonough as the scheming mastermind or commanding presence audiences know today. Instead, he played a loyal officer simply doing his duty, and in true Trek tradition, he made the ultimate sacrifice.
The Evolution of Hollywood's Premier Antagonist
Certain performers seem destined for heroic roles, while others naturally gravitate toward darker territory. McDonough clearly belongs in the latter category. His recent work as Cal Thresher in Tulsa King perfectly demonstrates his mastery of controlled menace. Thresher operates as a ruthless businessman who guards his territory fiercely, and his confrontations with Stallone's Dwight Manfredi feel more like calculated threats than simple disagreements.
This reputation developed gradually over years of memorable performances. McDonough first embraced his darker side on Desperate Housewives as Dave Williams, a character who appeared to be just another friendly neighbor before revealing something far more sinister. His portrayal of grief-driven instability felt uncomfortably realistic, avoiding typical television melodrama in favor of genuine psychological complexity. As McDonough explained to the Los Angeles Times: "Dave is this really sweet guy next door, and then something tragic happens to him, and his personality splits in half. You like Dave and you feel for him, but he also creeps the hell out of you."
This breakthrough led to other memorable antagonist roles, including Robert Quarles on Justified, where he seamlessly shifted between charm and terror, and Malcolm Beck on Yellowstone, proving that wealth combined with cruelty creates lasting damage. Beck's influence extended far beyond his screen time, reshaping entire power structures and affecting multiple characters' lives.
From Starfleet to Stardom
McDonough's villainous expertise actually traces back to his Star Trek experience, where he learned his craft alongside legendary performers. Reflecting on that early role, he shared with Den of Geek: "Patrick Stewart became such a paternal figure to me because he knew it was my first big movie. Jonathan Frakes, who also directed, took it upon himself to bust my nuggets every single day on set. They said, 'Look, we only have you for a short amount of time. You're about to die, you're the red shirt guy. So we're going to make fun of you all day long.'"
Later tie-in novels revealed additional depth to Hawk's character, confirming him as gay, though the film itself never explored this aspect. For McDonough, this early experience provided an unlikely foundation that influenced everything that followed in his career.
What's Next for Cal Thresher?
Regarding McDonough's future in the Tulsa King universe, the show has definitely kept that door open. Season 3 concluded with significant developments as Dwight Manfredi declared war on longtime Tulsa liquor baron Jeremiah Dunmire after purchasing a historic distillery from Theo Montague. Dunmire's brutal retaliation involved attacking Theo and burning his mansion with him inside, prompting Dwight to respond by burning Dunmire alive in the finale.
While the season didn't end on the same type of cliffhanger as previous installments, several storylines remain unresolved. Cal Thresher's arc represents one of the biggest question marks. Having transformed from enemy to reluctant ally, Thresher now holds significant political power after winning the Oklahoma governor's race. The real question isn't whether he'll honor his agreement with Dwight, but rather what that partnership means when one party wields state-level authority and political connections.
Paramount+ has already renewed the series, with Season 4 taking shape around these political complications. The addition of Gretchen Mol as series regular Amanda Clark, a Tulsa politician, suggests the show plans to explore these power dynamics further. If production follows Season 3's timeline, fans might see new episodes as early as mid-May, though no official date has been announced.