Now we know why Taylor Sheridan's Sons of Anarchy character was written off the FX crime drama

Did you know Yellowstone creator, Taylor Sheridan, starred in FX's original crime drama Sons of Anarchy? Yes! You heard that right: Sheridan played the role of David Hale, a young and ambitious Deputy Chief of Police in the fictional town of Charming, in the series Sons of Anarchy.

Hale opposed SAMCRO's (Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood) criminal influence, and that led to clashes, even with his chief officer, Unser. Introduced in Sons of Anarchy Season 1 Episode 2 Seeds as a recurring antagonist, Sheridan's character was written off in Season 3 Episode 1. But why did David Hale disappear after two seasons? David Hale was written off from Sons of Anarchy not because of creative choices, but due to Taylor Sheridan's decision to quit the show.

For the uninitiated, Sons of Anarchy premiered on September 3, 2008, and spanned seven seasons until its conclusion in 2014. This FX original crime series follows the life of Jax Teller, a conflicted biker in an outlaw motorcycle club, as he struggles between loyalty to SAMCRO and his desire to escape the violent life. After discovering his late father's vision for the club— to make it something nobler than just gun running and crime — he clashed with Clay Morrow, his stepfather. Amid gang wars, betrayals, bloodshed, and family drama, the series delves into Jax's journey on whether he could save his loved ones.

Here's why Taylor Sheridan walked away from FX crime drama Sons of Anarchy

Taylor Sheridan's decision to leave Sons of Anarchy was due to a contract dispute over unfair compensation. Sheridan was reportedly underpaid and overlooked. In a 2021 interview with Deadline, he revealed:

"I've always said Hollywood will tell you what you're supposed to be doing, if you will listen. At that time, they were offering me what I thought was a very unfair wage. It was less than virtually every other person on the show and not enough for me to quit my second job."

Taylor Sheridan continued that it was not limited to unfair wages, when he demanded more compensation, he was told that 'he was not worth more'. He revealed that when his attorney asked the show's business affairs attorney for a raise, he disrespected Sheridan and said:

"We're not going to pay him more because, guess what, he's not worth more. There are 50 of him. He is 11 on the call sheet. That's what that guy is and that's all he's ever going to be."

Sheridan told Deadline that it was at that point when he decided to quit Sons of Anarchy. He revealed it was not just salary disputes, it was how the business affairs attorney and the executives disrespected him, treated him as an 'option', and tagged him as an easily replaceable character. He said:

"I decided right there I didn't want to be 11 on the call sheet for the rest of my life. "

That was the last straw. Feeling disrespected, Sheridan walked away, and the writers had to scramble. Showrunner Kurt Sutter revealed to TV Guide (via Digital Spy) that Hale's death plotline was pre-planned as a backup option in case negotiations fell through. He revealed:

"We all creatively fell with Plan B, and that became the decision, and we moved ahead."

What happened to David Hale in Sons of Anarchy?

David Hale was run over by a van during a drive-by shooting at Half Sack's funeral in Sons of Anarchy Season 3 Episode 1. His death was abrupt but not random. Hale had been a rare voice of integrity in the fictional town of Charming, clashing with SAMCRO not due to malice but because he genuinely wanted to do good for the town. His final moments were quite chaotic. During Half Sack's funeral, a van opened fire on the crowd.

With his brother, Jacob Hale (Jeff Kober), rising as a political threat, many felt that David would stick around as a lawful counterbalance to SAMCRO's chaos. Instead, his sudden death cleared the way for Jacob to become a full-blown villain.

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After Taylor Sheridan walked away from Sons of Anarchy, he quit acting and focused on screenwriting. His first project, Sicario, became a hit, followed by Hell or High Water, which earned him an Oscar nomination. Tagged as one of the most successful writers of Hollywood, some of his notable projects include Yellowstone, 1883, Tulsa King, and Landman.

Also read:Is Taylor Sheridan's 10-year-old thriller Sicario superior to his work in Yellowstone?Details explored

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