Yellowstoneis now one of thebest Western TV shows of all time, and it wouldn’t have been possible if Taylor Sheridan hadn’t left a popular crime drama show. Taylor Sheridan is best known for creating some of the most successful Western TV shows in recent years, but he also has an acting career.
Taylor Sheridan’s acting debut arrived in 1995 in one episode of the action crime TV showWalker, Texas Ranger, and his first notable role was as Danny Boyd inVeronica Mars, in 2005. However, Sheridan’s biggest role, and one that changed his career, was David Hale inSons of Anarchy, which he played for two seasons.
Taylor Sheridan Played Deputy Chief David Hale In Sons Of Anarchy
Created by Kurt Sutter,Sons of Anarchyis a crime drama TV series that took viewers to the fictional town of Charming, California, to meet the title motorcycle club. Leading the club inSons of Anarchy’s first seasons were President Clay Morrow (Ron Perlman) and VP Jackson “Jax” Teller (Charlie Hunnam), with the latter eventually becomingSAMCRO’s President.
Throughout seven seasons, SAMCRO got involved in a variety of conflicts, not just with other clubs and criminal organizations, but also with detectives, police officers, and more. AmongSons of Anarchy’s best antagonists (but not a villain) was David Hale, played by Taylor Sheridan.
David Hale was the Deputy Chief of the Charming Police Department, but unlike his boss, Unser, he wasn’t on SAMCRO’s payroll. Instead, Hale wanted to get rid of the club out of sincere moral concern, while his brother, Jacob Hale Jr., wanted to do so for financial gain. Because of this, Hale constantly clashed with Jax and the rest.
Hale had a strong moral compass and adhered to the law, but he always did the right thing, even when that meant siding with SAMCRO for a while. Unfortunately,Hale was killed inSons of Anarchy’s season 3premiere episode, and his brother took over as antagonist.
Sheridan’s performance made Hale a complex antagonist that viewers sometimes despised, but other times sided with, and it was unfortunate that he was only around for two seasons and the first episode of season 3.
Why Taylor Sheridan Exited Sons Of Anarchy
David Hale’s death inSons of Anarchywas shocking (and graphic), but there was trouble behind the scenes for Sheridan. In 2021, Sheridan toldDeadlinethat he leftSons of Anarchydue to salary disputes that made him realize a bigger problem.
Sheridan explained that he was paid an unfair wage, earning less than “virtually every other person on the show,” and he couldn’t leave his second job. Sheridan’s attorney was told he wouldn’t get paid more because he wasn’t worth more, so he left the show. This showed a disappointing reality for Sheridan, who shared that the problem was how the business saw him back then.
Taylor Sheridan Was Able To Focus On Writing After Exiting Sons Of Anarchy
Taylor Sheridan also shared that leavingSons of Anarchyand having the above-mentioned realization about his place in the industry made him understand his true calling. Sheridan left acting aside and began to focus on screenwriting, with his first project as a screenwriter being the 2015 movieSicario, and he returned to TV in 2018 withYellowstone.
Yellowstonewas the beginning of a TV franchise, followed by the prequel shows1883and1923, and the upcoming sequel seriesThe MadisonandY: Marshals. While it’s unfortunate that Taylor Sheridan’s time inSons of Anarchywas brief, it was thanks to that thatYellowstoneand more now exist.
Sons of Anarchy
Cast
Sons of Anarchy is centered around the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original (SAMCRO), exploring the tensions between President Clay and Vice President Jax in the town of Charming. The narrative focuses on their differing visions for the club’s operations, blending legal and illegal enterprises.
Yellowstone
Yellowstone follows the Dutton family, led by patriarch John Dutton, as they defend their expansive ranch against external threats from land developers, an Indian reservation, and America’s first national park. Released on Aug 15, 2025, this series examines the complex dynamics and violent conflicts surrounding the largest contiguous ranch in the United States.
