Before creating television hits like Yellowstone and Lioness, Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone, Lioness) tried to make living as an actor. According to The Hollywood Reporter, during a recent appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Sheridan reflected on the decision to leave FX’s Sons of Anarchy with host Howard Stern (Private Parts, America’s Got Talent).
Sheridan called the experience both the “worst” beating he had taken in Hollywood and “the greatest gift” of his career. The Hollywood Reporter notes that the experience ultimately pushed him toward the writing career that made him one of television’s biggest creators.
Sheridan appeared on Sons of Anarchy for two seasons, earning about $10,000 per episode on the 13-episode drama. He explained that the salary was not enough to cover his expenses while living in Los Angeles, forcing him to work another job after leaving the set each day.
As production prepared for season three, the report notes Sheridan asked for a raise. He made it clear he was not asking for the same salary as stars Charlie Hunnam (Pacific Rim, The Gentlemen), Katey Sagal (Married… with Children, Futurama), or Ron Perlman (Hellboy, Beauty and the Beast).
The Hollywood Reporter notes that, according to Sheridan, producers offered to increase his rate to $15,000 per episode but only guaranteed him 10 episodes. After doing the math, he concluded that the proposal was not actually a raise and declined the offer.
“I realized my value is I’m imminently replaceable and that my business did not respect me,” Sheridan said. “So, I quit the show… that’s when I decided that I was going to write.”
Sheridan’s career has changed dramatically since making that decision. mxdwn recently covered The Madison becoming another major success for the writer, with the Yellowstone spinoff drawing eight million viewers for its premiere and setting another record for one of his television projects.
The record highlights how Sheridan has grown from an actor struggling for recognition into one of television’s most influential creators. The Hollywood Reporter notes Howard Stern praised Sheridan’s decision following the talk.
Today, Sheridan oversees an expanding slate that includes Tulsa King, Mayor of Kingstown, 1883, 1923, The Madison, and Landman. What once felt like a career setback has become the turning point that launched one of television’s most successful creative runs.