Jon Cryer says he still makes a lot of money from “Two and a Half Men.”
“This is an engine that still generates amazing amounts of money,” he told Page Six in a recent exclusive interview.
“But it’s not so much a residual (due to),” Cryer added. “That said, I still have a sizable amount of money left over, mainly because I’ve been able to get a percentage of the show over the years.”
The 61-year-old actor played Alan Harper on the sitcom, which aired from 2003 to 2015, opposite Charlie Sheen and, after Sheen’s departure, Ashton Kutcher.
Cryer said being a part of such a successful show was “definitely life-changing” and “an amazing blessing”, stressing that he didn’t grow up with great wealth, “so I’m very aware of how lucky I am.”
The Pretty in Pink star added that it’s great to “not have to worry about paying rent every month,” adding, “It’s changed the way I deal with things on a day-to-day basis. I’m really looking for a job that makes me happy, and every day I realize how lucky I am to have it.”
In last year’s Netflix documentary “Aka Charlie Sheen,” Cryer revealed that while the “Platoon” star was making nearly $2 million an episode, he earned at least two-thirds less, and only started making $620,000 an episode after Sheen left.
Cryer promises he doesn’t care about the huge pay gap, but says he finds it “really interesting” that Sheen’s turbulent personal life, drug addiction, flirtations with porn stars, and arrests helped Sheen raise more money.
“His turbulent personal life, court proceedings, divorce and all that,” he noted. “That actually made him more willing to negotiate. I thought it was very, very funny at the time, and I still think it’s very remarkable today, because I believe the contract he negotiated was the highest paid contract for an actor in the history of broadcast television. And that’s because his life was a mess.”
Cryer joked that he considered driving his car off a cliff to get a pay raise, but said, “The benefits of messing up your life far outweigh the financial benefits.”
The Emmy Award winner is currently starring in the Off-Broadway revival of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”
“It’s incredibly moving and that’s why I wanted to be a part of it after seeing it,” Cryer said of the musical. Yes, this musical takes place at a school during spelling bee season. Tony Award nominee Lily Cooper and “Glee” alum Kevin McHale will also appear on the show.
“We’ve created something really beautiful with this production,” he said, adding that he believes it’s the perfect show for families to come see during the summer.
