Even the brightest stars sometimes find themselves underappreciated and underpaid in Hollywood. While we adore their performances on screen, many actors, despite their fame and talent, have faced the harsh reality of salary disputes that led them to walk away from beloved shows. This article will examine 14 actors who dropped the project because they felt their pay didn’t match their contributions.
Terrence Howard
Terrence Howard, the charismatic star of Empire, left the show amid a heated salary dispute. Initially earning $125,000 per episode, he felt undervalued as the show became popular. Frustrated with his pay compared to co-stars, Howard claimed he deserved a whopping $120 million in back pay!
Shannen Doherty
The actress, known for her role as Brenda Walsh, was reportedly unhappy with her pay and treatment from the show’s producers. Rumors circulated that Doherty’s outspoken nature clashed with co-stars. Fed up with the drama, the producers decided to write Doherty’s character off the show.
Charlie Sheen
Known for his role as the charming Charlie Harper in Two and a Half Men, Sheen’s erratic behavior and substance abuse issues became too much for the network. After publicly bashing creator Chuck Lorre and demanding a hefty salary increase, CBS had enough, fired him, and replaced him with Ashton Kutcher.
Bruce Willis
Originally lined up to reprise his role in The Expendables 3, things took a turn when negotiating Bruce’s pay. Willis was reportedly offered $3 million for just four days of work, but he demanded an extra million. This didn’t sit well with Sylvester Stallone, so he dropped out of the movie.
Maggie Roswell
After giving life to several beloved characters on The Simpsons, Maggie left because she felt undervalued. After moving to Denver, Roswell flew in for her recordings, covering the travel expenses herself. When she requested a raise to $6,000 per episode to help with costs, the network only offered her an extra $150.
Valerie Harper
After starring as Valerie Hogan on the sitcom Valerie for two seasons, Harper asked for a raise of $100k per episode and 35% of profits, but Lorimar said no. She returned to work at a lower salary but was fired shortly after. Harper then sued and won $1.4 million in damages!
Suzanne Somers
In 1980, Suzanne Somers asked for her Three’s Company salary to be raised from $30,000 an episode to $150,000 to match what her co-star John Ritter made. ABC only offered a $5,000 raise. Somers was fired after missing two episodes, with the network willing to “destroy the chemistry on Company to make a point” about not giving in to her demands.
Rob Lowe
By the fourth season of The West Wing, Lowe decided to step away because his request for a bump was denied, even while his co-stars were receiving pay raises. He was also unsatisfied with how his character was being utilized. Despite the disappointment, Lowe returned for the series finale.
Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park
After the seventh season of Hawaii Five-0, Daniel Dae Kim and Grace Park departed the show due to pay disparities. They were reportedly paid less than their white co-stars, Alex O’Loughlin and Scott Caan. Describing the pay difference as significant, Kim revealed that CBS’s final offers were 10-15% lower.
Lindsay Lohan
As the star of the biopic about Elizabeth Taylor, Lohan felt her pay needed improvement for the high-profile role. With her career in a precarious state, she was determined to ensure her compensation reflected her talent and the project’s significance. However, when negotiations didn’t go as planned, she ultimately decided to step away.
Lauren Cohan
Noted for her role as Maggie Greene on The Walking Dead, Lauren Cohan left the show after her contract expired. She sought equal pay with her male co-stars during negotiations but felt the discussions were unsatisfactory. Cohan ultimately decided to walk away, although she returned to the series in a later season.
Hugo Weaving
Hugo Weaving played the villain Johann Schmidt, or Red Skull, in “Captain America: The First Avenger” and nailed it! He brought the character’s obsession with power to life. Although fans loved his portrayal, Weaving didn’t return for later films due to pay issues, and Ross Marquand took over the role.
Robert Duvall
Serving as the trusted consigliere to the Corleone family, Robert Duvall played Tom Hagen in The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, a gentle and logical character. Despite his significant contributions to the first two films, Duvall did not reprise his role in The Godfather Part III due to a salary dispute.
David Caruso
Recognized for his portrayal of Lieutenant Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami, David left the show after the first season. Though he was initially paid well, he wanted a better deal as the show gained popularity, but his demands still needed to be met. He later returned to the show for a higher pay.
